Diagnose my airbrush problem ..

[Skii]

Hi chaps

wierd one this, I have an AB-130 airbrush of the type available from here

http://www.everythingairbrush.com/acatalog/Gravity_Feed.html

I have an ongoing problem it in that it simply doesn't want to push the paint out, I've tried ultra thinning it, blowing pure Isopropryl alchohol through it (which it manages but it gurgles out like its blowing a raspberry or something)

I've stripped the airbrush down, pulled every possible component apart and scrubbed it with IPA and thinners, even threaded thinner-soaked string through the mechanism to get the deepest possible clean but still the problem persists, if I put my finger over the nozzle to get blow back it causes a very small stream of bubbles in the cup emerging from where the needle enters the front of the cup. Air supply is fine as I have a brand new compressor courtesy of the wife as a Birthday pressie, so it isn't that.

Any ideas peeps?

[little-cars]

Sounds like an odd one, probably an internal problem of some sort.

Is the needle moving properly when you pull the trigger back ???

Is the auxilury leaver and back end all assembles correctly ?

Is there a washer between the trigger and paint chamber ?

It's not worth sending one of these brushes away for servicing,

so if it's a major part of the internals that's gone then it's probably time to buy a new brush....

[Skii]

Sounds like an odd one, probably an internal problem of some sort.

Is the needle moving properly when you pull the trigger back ???

Is the auxilury leaver and back end all assembles correctly ?

Is there a washer between the trigger and paint chamber ?

It's not worth sending one of these brushes away for servicing,

so if it's a major part of the internals that's gone then it's probably time to buy a new brush....

Hi Paul

Yes the needle moves back and forth correctly and easily, everything assembled and appears to be moving correctly, so you are probably right its the internals, I've literally broken it down to the basic parts and nothing I can find is pointing to the problem, I guess I've had a good few years out of it so it wasn't too bad an economy

New brush time it is then.

John

[~Dan~]

My first thought was that maybe you might need a new washer somewhere.

I'm about to dig my air brushes out after a few years in storage, I anticipate much the same thing to happen if i didn't remember to loosen off the assembly before putting them away.

Edited December 21, 2009 by ~Dan~

[Mike]

The paintjobs weren't bad with it either

[tigger]

Sounds like there is air escaping somewhere I suspect that you may not be tightening the parts together enough or there is a damaged seal somewhere. Is there Rubber or teflon seals?? Are any missing?? Might be worth checking the assembly diagram.

Hope this helps

John

[Skii]

Cheers guys

I reckon the problem is buried deep in the body of the brush, somewhere I haven't managed to get to yet ! possibly a seal as a few of you have alluded to

John

[Mike]

Just be patient & see what Santa turns up with

[Skii]

Just be patient & see what Santa turns up with

'tis still a sad day fella, my 'old faithful' is dying, and she's done me proud over the years I was hoping to keep her as a back up for acrylics and other gooey mixtures but I guess it wasn't to be

(everyone say ahhhhhhhhhhhh)

[Mike]

<copy><paste>ahhhhhhhhhhhh

[denstore]

I´ve had a second hand airbrush that behaved like this. It had a broken nozzle. A fine crack, that was hardly noticable without a magnification gllass. Changed the nozzle, and everything worked perfect again.

What about the airflow, when you use it without paint? Strong, or might it be something that has clogged the air channels?

[Skii]

I´ve had a second hand airbrush that behaved like this. It had a broken nozzle. A fine crack, that was hardly noticable without a magnification gllass. Changed the nozzle, and everything worked perfect again.

What about the airflow, when you use it without paint? Strong, or might it be something that has clogged the air channels?

pretty strong, in fact I'd say normal. It just seems to 'pulse' any kind of liquid though it

[denstore]

pretty strong, in fact I'd say normal. It just seems to 'pulse' any kind of liquid though it

I would try with a new nozzle. If I remember correctly, they arn´t that expensive for the BD-series.

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

I would try with a new nozzle. If I remember correctly, they arn´t that expensive for the BD-series.

I have a similar brush (AB-120 with detachable cup) and have had the same problems. As denstore mentioned it could be the nozzle, I had to remove mine and reseat it using thread locking compound. If the nozzle is cracked then it will need replacing and securing with the afore mentioned thread locking compound else you will get leaks. I also had the same issue with a damaged 'O' ring. Fixed by replcing it. I assume the nozzle he is talking about is the small piece the needle seats against to stop the paintflow.

The nozzle is inside the circle area in the picture (AB-120 airbrush) below on my airbrush

[denstore]

The nozzle is number 3 here:

http://www.everythingairbrush.com/acatalog...130_SPARES.html

While your at it, change the O-ring as well, number 4. You might consider changing the number 6 o-ring as well.

[Skii]

cheers chaps - worth a try

[xlpainter]

hi do you spray primer through your gun if so it could have worn the needle down and not making a proper seal in the nozzle i use an old gun to spray primer because it so abrasive it will knacker air brushes very easy twist the needle to the point when it stops turning like it is bent then try using the air brush best of luck

[Skii]

hi do you spray primer through your gun if so it could have worn the needle down and not making a proper seal in the nozzle i use an old gun to spray primer because it so abrasive it will knacker air brushes very easy twist the needle to the point when it stops turning like it is bent then try using the air brush best of luck

No, primer comes from a halfords rattle can, I've tried my 2 spare nozzles and still no better, I think its a gonner..

[AdriaN (MLT)]

I use AB airbrushes myself. I had an AB132.. worked for a short while and one fine day stopped working well. The spray mist wasnt big anymore and at full trigger sprayed what youd get at about 20% trigger. I cleaned it and cleaned it and nothing happened. It got worse actually. So i put it away and now use the gravity feed version. Works well..

[~Dan~]

These AB airbrushes.... any good?

The prices seem too good to be true.

[denstore]

These AB airbrushes.... any good?

The prices seem too good to be true.

In my opinion, they are usually quite uneven, because of a bit sloppy tolerances, and quite cheap quality on some of the parts.

But, and I think this is a part of their popularity, sometimes you find a good example. But even if you do, the needles are usually quite soft, and wear fast.

But since they are cheap, its not the end of the world if you get a bad one.

I would probably not recommend one as a first airbrush, and definitly not to someone that want minimum of problems. I´ve seen people using the same Badger, Paasche or Iwata for ten years or more. I don´t see that happen with the AB series.

[~Dan~]

One of my Badgers dates back the the 1980s, although it has had so many replacement parts, it's practically new.

I was just wondering if they were worth a stab. It seems they may be.

[hazza]

In my opinion, they are usually quite uneven, because of a bit sloppy tolerances, and quite cheap quality on some of the parts.

But, and I think this is a part of their popularity, sometimes you find a good example. But even if you do, the needles are usually quite soft, and wear fast.

But since they are cheap, its not the end of the world if you get a bad one.

I would probably not recommend one as a first airbrush, and definitly not to someone that want minimum of problems. I´ve seen people using the same Badger, Paasche or Iwata for ten years or more. I don´t see that happen with the AB series.

Strange, mine works perfectly !

[denstore]

Strange, mine works perfectly !

Maybe not so strange. As I wrote, some seem to be better, some worse, and I have friends that are very happy with them. But others have had nothing but problems with them.

I have had three of the BD´s myself. One HP-100C clone, the BD-130. It was quite OK. A bit rough, and not the best airbrush for details. One Badger copy, BD-128, which was OK, except that the Badgers are already available quite cheap, and a BD-180, which was a joke, if you have tried the original Microns. Sure, it cost about a tenth, but the feeling of it was like if you had put pieces together by random. Ill fitting, rough and coarse, and the needle was looking like a sharpened piece of wire found in the backyard. And the BD-130 performed better.

So what´s my point? Probably that if you are looking for a cheap airbrush, you will get it. It will probably work, and it might even work well. But it can be a disaster as well. And, as with most things, in the end you will miss out on the nice feeling of owning quality equipment. It doesn´t matter if it´s cars or airbrushes or whatever. There´s a special feeling handling and using high quality stuff. And in general, I would say that it´s worth it.

[Skii]

UPDATE

Right then, I think I've solved the problem. I had replaced the o-ring between the airbrush body and the nozzle a while back, it seemed a lot thicker than the old o-ring which I didn't think was a biggie ..... it seems I was wrong. It prevents the nozzle from screwing on fully, and this tiny difference seems to prevent the airbrush from functioning properly - ie pushing fluid out. Anyhoo - I've taken the o-ring off completely and this baby is blowing water through like a firehose