Airbrush issues. Need suggestions on what it might be

[Jeff Johnston]

I went down to the garage this evening, and my plan was to airbrush some clear on a couple painted bodies. This is a Badger Cressendo 175 dual action.

Well...I mixed up the clear, went to spray it on, and I am getting bubbles blowing back down into the paint jar. Nothing is coming out of the end of the nozzle, and I am geting constant air blown down the tube into the jar. If I take the pin out, air comes out the end of the nozzle, but no paint.

So I took it all apart and cleaned everything. There is free air flowing through every part. I put it all back together and once again, air bubbles are blowing back down into the paint jar, and nothing comes out the end.

I will also say that I found the aurbrush on the floor which means one of my kids may have knocked it off the little stand and onto the concrete floor.

But I am stumped...I know I could run down to Michaels and replace it, but I'd sure rather fix it amd save myself a hundred bucks..

Any sugestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Zoom Zoom]

Something is blocking the flow of paint (not air); the same way as you "backflush" the airbrush when cleaning by covering the nozzle while you spray so it blows back into the cup or jar. You might try soaking the nozzle in some thinner; even a tiny bit of dried paint can cause a blockage. Make sure the needle is moving back and forth when you pull back on the trigger.

If you can't get it cleaned, you can replace the needle/nozzle, you don't have to replace the entire brush.

[Frank Steffens]

By jar, I'm thinking you mean a glass jar with a feed nozzle/cap that goes into the airbrush...if thats the case, look on the lid of the jar for a small hole, if this small hole is clogged with paint, it could cause the air bubbles you are talking about. If its a metal cup you're talking about, then like Bob said, its clogged somewhere in the feed to the airbrush.

Edited September 15, 2007 by Frank Steffens