Listed below are some of the most common problems experienced while airbrushing, along with their recommended solutions.
Bubbling in the Gravity Cup or Suction Bottle
This issue is caused by air pressure entering the paint reservoir, often due to:
Air leak in air cap/nozzle area: Inspect for damage or looseness.
Tip dry/blocked nozzle: Paint has dried on or in the nozzle.
Loose air cap/head: The airbrush head assembly isn’t tightly secured.
Split airbrush nozzle: The delicate nozzle has cracked.
Solutions:
Loose Air Cap/Head: Tighten.
Tip Dry/Blocked Nozzle: Clean or replace.
Worn/Damaged Nozzle Seal: Replace.
Split Nozzle: Replace.
Spray Pattern Off-Center
This is typically caused by a bent needle tip. The fluid exits the airbrush and follows the bend.
Solutions:
Straighten the Needle Tip: This can sometimes be achieved carefully with a flat sharpening stone.
Replace the Needle: This is often the most reliable solution for a bent tip.
Airbrush Doesn’t Spray Paint
This can be caused by various factors, with the most common being:
Blocked nozzle: Due to poor cleaning or dried paint.
Loose needle chucking nut: The needle isn’t engaging correctly.
Improper/low air pressure: Not enough pressure to atomize the paint.
Paint being too thick: The viscosity is too high for the airbrush.
Solutions:
Blocked Nozzle: Clean or soak the nozzle thoroughly.
Needle not Moving with Trigger Action: Check and tighten the needle chucking/locking nut.
Paint Too Thick: Thin paint with appropriate reducer to a milky consistency.
Pressure Too Low: Increase air pressure. Sometimes, if paint is slightly too thick, increasing pressure can help atomize it.
Airbrush Sprays Paint When Trigger Depressed For Air
This happens because the needle isn’t sitting flush inside the nozzle. If the airbrush only sprays a blob of paint when the trigger is depressed, follow the “Air On – Air Off” procedure:
First, push down on the trigger (air on).
Then, pull the trigger back for paint flow.
After spraying, return the trigger forward (paint off) before releasing the trigger/air flow (air off). Shutting the paint flow off before the air flow will spray any residue paint off the tip of the needle.
Solution for continuous spray:
Unscrew the needle locking nut.
Gently push the needle forward until it rests inside the nozzle.
Tighten the needle locking nut.
Air Pressure Remains On When Trigger Released
This can occur due to:
Solvents or residue paint entering the air valve: Causing air valve seals to become swollen or sticky.
A loose air valve closure/guide screw: This will not compress the air valve spring enough to fully return and shut off air flow.
Solutions:
Disassemble internal air valve components, lubricate with airbrush lube, and re-assemble.
Replace air valve seals if they have been eroded by solvents.
Tighten the air valve closure/guide screw. This will compress the air valve spring and shut off air flow.
Poor Spraying or Spattering
This issue can be caused by a number of reasons:
Paint consistency too thick: Paint is not flowing smoothly.
Low air pressure: Not enough force to properly atomize the paint.
Damaged needle: A bent or burred needle tip.
Tip dry: Dried paint accumulating on the needle tip.
Paint consistency too thick: Reduce to a milky consistency.
Air pressure too low: Increase air pressure until paint atomizes correctly.
Dried paint/tip dry on the needle: Remove needle and clean with a cloth dampened with airbrush cleaner. Some airbrushes (e.g., Harder & Steenbeck Infinity, ALplus, and CRplus) have cut-away Crown/Pinch Caps that allow tip dry to be removed without removing the needle.
Residue paint build-up in the Needle Cap, Nozzle, or Air Cap: Clean or replace if needed.
Spray Pattern Spidering
This is mainly caused by:
Paint being over-reduced: It is too thin or runny.
Applying paint too heavily: Especially on a non-porous surface.
Operating at too high an air pressure.
Solutions:
Paint too thin: Add more paint to the mix or reduce the air pressure.
Too much paint being applied: Do not draw the trigger back so far, or increase the distance between the airbrush and the surface.
