Seems to me there was a thread on this before, but I can't seem to find it. I'm rather new to airbrushing, but all of a sudden I seem to be getting a lot of splatter whenever I use my brush. I have an Aztec 4709 with a compressor I bought from MicroMark. The tip I'm using is the grey (general purpose) tip, and is relatively new. I'm setting the pressure at around 15-20PSI, and thinning the paint at a 70/30 ratio. I paint with MM enamels. I also am fastidious when it comes to cleaning the tip.

I've tried playing with the pressure, using more and less, but that didn't seem to accomplish anything. Any ideas what might be causing the problem, or what I might try to solve it?

TIA

Mike

Hey MJ, do u think its water?? Do u have a water trap on your compressor? I'm new to airbrushing too and still use the propellant cans and have never run into this. Just a thought.....

It might be moisture, that will cause this problem. It could be the paint is to thin for the pressure needed. Take a look at the tip under a magnifying glass to check for Any defects at all, even a little bit will cause problems.

Hummm. I do have a moisture trap on the compressor, but maybe I have been getting a little lax with the thinning ratio. I kind of eye it up, if you know what I mean. I hadn't realized too much thinner equals spatter. I'll try playing with that and see what happens.

Thanks guys. Appreciate the help.

Cheers,
Mike

I don´t know the particular brush but I once had my Badger splattering and that was because of the needle was bent...


Toni

It could also be that you are too close to the subject... the spray doesn't have time to MIST and FAN before it hit the target, and you get a buildup of wet paint. As more air hits that wet spot, splatters occur.

"I also am fastidious when it comes to cleaning the tip. "

While I'm not familiar withthe Aztek, per se, I've been airbrushing for, well, let's just say a long time. I keep rediscovering the need for a perfect nozzle and needle. Any bend or small crack will mess up your spray pattern big time. No adjustment of pressure, distance or viscosity will fix this. Water spatter is inconsistent in its showing up. Suddenly, a big splooch of watered paint is expelled when H2O has built up. The rest of the time, your pattern is nice and tight. A bad needle or nozzle will consistently have spatter. You might be able to determine if it's the nozzle by turning the needle to see if the pattern changes. In the end, however, it'll save a ton of frustration to go out and replace the needle and nozzle.