Airbrush woes (2nd hand Badger 150)

[Lert]

I just can't seem to get a break with my tanking hobby - after the wrong parts delivered with my Leopard 2A6 and my insecurities regarding a KT barrel I bought, here's the latest thing-that-goes-wrong-for-Lert ...

I borrowed a 20 y/o Badger 150 airbrush from a buddy of mine, along with his compressor. The compressor is a simple jobby, 2.5 bar with air tank for constant pressure. The Badger seems to be complete according to this manual I found online and seems to be clean according to me cleaning it according to this page and not seeing any left-over paint in any of the passages anymore, but it just won't work for me ...



All the passages are clear, I can blow through them and water flows throw them, but it just won't suck up / spray out paint or water during normal operation for me. I know this combo of compressor and airbrush should work, because this combo has worked before.

Is there anyone here who has a Badger 150? Is there anyone here who can give me some tips to try? Is there some simple adjustable thing I'm missing?

My apologise for being such a n00b with this kind of thing.

[palepainter]

Does air pass through the front end when you have it all assembled and depress the trigger?

[Lert]

Yes - a good amount, too. If I block it the paint bubbles, so that passage is clear too.

[ALPHA]

OK Lert....I think I know your problem...but check three things first


reassemble the rear portion..on the Badgers...you really don't have to worry about this area when cleaning...when you put it back together make sure you have 50-042 seated in the correct position..it has a tendency to spin when putting in the rest of the parts...you can tell it's set wrong if you can't pull the trigger all the way back...the best way is to put the needle in first..then drop it in and allow it to follow the shaft

Ok now about the paint...if all the holes in part 50-037 and 50-0161are clear...(hold them up to a light source to make sure)...then the reason why paint isn't coming up through the feeder is because the entire HEAD assembly isn't seated tight enough...on the badger..and copies of it..the head must be very tight...otherwise you loose vacuum or suction...also check the nylon washer 50-055 for cracks ...an "O" ring usually works better if you can find one small enough...but just make sure that's in good shape

Hope that helps ..Good Luck with that airbrush..it's a good one

ALPHA

[Lert]

50-042 is seated correctly. It's dark and late now so I'll doublecheck 50-037 and 50-0161 tomorrow, though I think they are clear. Washer 50-055 seems intact, but I can try to get a replacement somewhere. Thank you for the tips!

[wibblywobbly]

I regularly get exactly the same on my airbrush, took a while to figure it out.

Ensure that the needle is pushed right in before it is clamped.
Check that every last micron of paint is removed from the needle.
Stick a cotton bud soaked in airbrush cleaner down the neck from the paint reservoir and give it a long scrub to remove dried paint.
Half fill the reservoir with cleaner and leave it to soak overnight.
Use cleaner and back pressure.
Check that the spring 50-042 is in the right way around.

There are channels inside that get clogged and that I can't see, and although it blows air, and the back pressure works, the air is unable to draw paint from the reservoir.

Hope this helps.

[Lert]

Wobbly, thanks for the tips. The needle is entirely clean - I made doubly sure of that. As for the rest, wouldn't it just be easier to soak the forward part of the airbrush - excluding the part where the pressure hose connects - in thinner / cleaner overnight? Making sure washer 50-055 isn't included in the bath, ofcourse.

[ALPHA]

50-042 is seated correctly. It's dark and late now so I'll doublecheck 50-037 and 50-0161 tomorrow, though I think they are clear. Washer 50-055 seems intact, but I can try to get a replacement somewhere. Thank you for the tips!

No problem Lert...also ...I forgot to ask...what kind of pressure you running...Siphon feeds take a little Higher than gravities

ALPHA

[Lert]

2.5 bar, that's 36 PSI.

Ofcourse, my compressor is 20 years old too and doesn't have a gauge so I can't tell if it's still putting out that kind of pressure, but that's factory spec.

[ALPHA]

2.5 bar, that's 36 PSI.

Ofcourse, my compressor is 20 years old too and doesn't have a gauge so I can't tell if it's still putting out that kind of pressure, but that's factory spec.

15 to 25 should provide good enough vacuum...what I also forgot to say is it also could be your mix...not sure what tip is on your
gun...it's hard to tell just by looking at it...but if the tip is the fine illustration tip...the mix has to be thinned quite a bit
anyway the best way to check your flow is to use tap water first...then adjust your mixes accordingly
But make sure the entire head assy is tight first..Even the smallest leak will cause a disruption in the flow

ALPHA