What do you do if...

Franc Kaiser

Air-Valve Autobot!
... you only get "half" the spray output that you normally get?

I am plagued with this problem for a while now. I cleaned the AB for hours and hours, and it couldn't be cleaner. I checked every other item forth and back. The air volume and pressure is ok. Nozzle super clean. Everything else super clean. But it just doesn't have the right suction once I put the nozzle cap (aka "tip") on.

When testing the (super-clean) AB with water, it takes very long for the cup to empty, because the spray output is only at half or so the volume I am used to.... a rather thin, fine spray. This is great for details, but I feel like I am only half the man I am used to be. Working on any larger pieces becomes impossible.

Did this happen to anybody else? How did you solve it?
 
Ok, I'm just going to pop this link here
http://www.airbrushforum.org/thread...er-to-show-what-was-still-in-the-brush.14250/
I thought mine was clean too :)

possibly your paint is a little thicker than the brush would like ? Its all about finding the brush's 'happy place'

some of the other less obvious causes can be (and dont ask how I know this)

Chair is on the airhose
one of the two regulators or the MAC valve i have was turned all the way down


and as Basepaint has just posted its sucking air from somewhere.
- split hose
bad seal on one of the threads, i find the interdental brushes really easy for cleaning the threads then a dose of chapstick / beeswax will help seal it
 
Sounds like you might be sucking in air around the nozzle,or you still have paint stuck somewhere what brush are you using.
It's a Sparmax Sp20x (0.2mm). What I observed is that if I remove the tip and expose the nozzle and spray water through it, it all goes into one direction (upwards, at around 45% angle) - is this "normal"?
 
Ok, I'm just going to pop this link here
http://www.airbrushforum.org/thread...er-to-show-what-was-still-in-the-brush.14250/
I thought mine was clean too :)

possibly your paint is a little thicker than the brush would like ? Its all about finding the brush's 'happy place'

some of the other less obvious causes can be (and dont ask how I know this)

Chair is on the airhose
one of the two regulators or the MAC valve i have was turned all the way down
and as Basepaint has just posted its sucking air from somewhere.
- split hose
bad seal on one of the threads, i find the interdental brushes really easy for cleaning the threads then a dose of chapstick / beeswax will help seal it
Thanks JackEb! I like to assure you that it is really clean-clean (did all those steps outlined in that thread)...
 
It's a Sparmax Sp20x (0.2mm). What I observed is that if I remove the tip and expose the nozzle and spray water through it, it all goes into one direction (upwards, at around 45% angle) - is this "normal"?
No, its not, it means you have paint in the nozzle still,or the nozzles split or bent,check and see if the end of the nozzles still round with a magnifying glass also take the nozzle off and let it soak in some restorer a few hours and see if you can push out any old paint with the needle
 
No, its not, it means you have paint in the nozzle still,or the nozzles split or bent,check and see if the end of the nozzles still round with a magnifying glass also take the nozzle off and let it soak in some restorer a few hours and see if you can push out any old paint with the needle
Also check and see if the needles bent while you have it out.
 
No it not it means you have paint in the nozzle still,or the nozzles split or bent,check and see if the end of the nozzles still round with a magnifying glass also take the nozzle off and let it soak in some restorer a few hours and see if you can push out any old paint with the needle
So what you're saying is that, when removing the tip and exposing the nozzle, the spray vector should be horizontal, right? If so, then you're probably right on and the nozzle is compromised (maybe too much cleaning!). I am not sure what's worse - a broken nozzle, or finding out that the nozzle was still dirty (and then, melting into my chair because of shame and embarrassment... JackEB will telepathically send a triumphant 'I-told-you-so' my way...).
 
So what you're saying is that, when removing the tip and exposing the nozzle, the spray vector should be horizontal, right? If so, then you're probably right on and the nozzle is compromised (maybe too much cleaning!). I am not sure what's worse - a broken nozzle, or finding out that the nozzle was still dirty (and then, melting into my chair because of shame and embarrassment... JackEB will telepathically send a triumphant 'I-told-you-so' my way...).
We all did it at one time or another in our journey to airbrush!
 
Just to clarify the parts being discussed. . .
upload_2018-8-7_13-34-19.png

And i'll put this here, it may be helpful to someone.

upload_2018-8-7_13-28-51.png

And i would never say "I told you so" - if you read my little part of Basepaints thread above, you'll see that I was convinced my brush was clean.
 
Going with the names on jackies chart, it sounds like youre saying it sprays with the nozzle cap removed....
I believe you have a split or flared nozzle in this case. If not then it is leaning way off center .
It really shouldnt spray anything with the nozzle cap removed. Only if some portion of the nozzle disturbs the air stream will you get any paint at all with the nozzle cap removed.


Ill just throw out one other thing here. It is unlikely in this case since it wont cause your spray to go off in one direction but you may run into it in the future. Since your sparmax uses an o-ring at the nozzle base the o-ring can simply get worn out and be too thin so the your nozzle starts to recede from the position it should be in where it protrudes just a tiny bit from the nozzle cap. The amount of paint that comes out will diminish as it sinks into the nozzle cap hole over time and eventually get to where it just makes bubbles in the cup. Leaning way off center though could be an o-ring issue.
 
I was going to suggest backflushing and ensuring there are no bubbles in the cup until the needle is pulled back. I’ve damaged a nozzle by cleaning to enthusiastically :D, so although it was clean, it was also busted lol.
 
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