I've been using an airbrush a lot in the last year and just when I thought I had it cracked it starts playing up.

When I spray paint it comes out 'grainy' like its coming out in droplets albeit very small ones (as if its not atomising enough. I have to turn the compressor up very high to get rid of this effect but even then its still very grainy.

I've tried different thinning ratiosfor tamiya and vallejo paints I normally use but no joy. Its still the same. I've never had any problems with my thinning before anyway and i stick to the same ratios religiously.

I've stripped and cleaned my airbrush, replaced all the o-rings, replaced the air filter on my compressor, checked the water trap, checked that I have the correct nozzle and needle fitted and that they are undamaged.

I'm running a 0.4mm nozzle and needle on a H&S infinity as I bent my 0.2mm needle but this shouldn't really be the problem. Or is it?

Help please!

Thanks

Hmmm, think I might have solved the problem.....

The Harder & Steenbeck Infinity has an adjustment needle inside the intake valve where the air hose attaches. I slacked this off a bit and the airflow seems to have improved. I also cleaned out the separate air feed channel going from that valve, under the needle tunnel, to the nozzle area (internal). I used liquid reamer to flush it through.

It seems a lot better now although its hard to tell exactly as I was using a very thin batch of paint from earlier experiments. I'll try it again tomorrow with my usual mixes.

I've also ordered a 0.2mm needle to replace my old one......


Oh, the joys! I could crush a grape An evenings painting session wasted messing about.

one problem with tamiya is that it dries quickly mostly in the case of high air pressure.when it starts drying on the needle, it maycause what you are seeing. ive run across this on my airbrush when i first got it.

I've heard thinning Tamiya paints with glass cleaner will solve this problem.

Once a month if I have been using the airbrush a lot with Tamiya paint I take it apart and soak the pieces minus the O rings in cleaning solution for 24 hours to clean every last drop of paint from the air brush. You will be surprised at what does come out after that.

I'm currently doing the above. There was some improvement from last nights faffing but not that great.

Hopefully soaking it will do the trick.......