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I've been using Vallejo Surface Primer/Model air through a Master Airbrush G22 at 30 PSI with a compressor fitted with a regulator and tank for months with no issue and everything has been great. I went to use it today and I have an odd problem. I engage my air supply and pull the trigger back and don't get any paint, all the way back. Then when I start moving the trigger forward I get a sputter of paint followed by a good spray which then will die down as I release the trigger until just air comes out again. Repeating the process gets the same results. I clean it after every use and I took it apart and gave it a solid cleaning several times today and I still have the same issue. Any thoughts?

Edited to add: Also once I get paint flowing through it after pulling the trigger all the way back and then moving it forward any attempt to increase the flow of paint by pulling back on the trigger kills the entire paint flow again.

Does it "pulse" when it's sputtering, like a heartbeat?

 Buttery Commissar wrote:
Does it "pulse" when it's sputtering, like a heartbeat?

No it just splats out a bunch of paint and then sprays normally while I continue to release the trigger. Until I pull back which stops the paint flow and restarts the process.

Pretty much 100% of issues I've had with my airbrush is it needing a clean.

Check the needle is setting right, ensure the paint cup to nozzle is clear, check the needle is secured fully forward.

Does it spray water any differently to paint?

Sounds like you should remove the needle from the length of the brush and clean it up some. Siunds like a dirty clog.

It did spray airbrush cleaner and water right away. I have been cleaning the needle by putting cleaner on paper towel and running it through. Is there a better way to clean the needle to make sure it's clean?

If you can drag your fingernail on the needle and it is smooth, it's fine. I'd suspect the nozzle personally

kb_lock wrote:
If you can drag your fingernail on the needle and it is smooth, it's fine. I'd suspect the nozzle personally

Of being damaged or dirty?

I am not familliar with your brush but I usually unassemble and clean it after ever go. So get the instrut and unbuild it, clean it and check the needle for bends. It is not really the best cleaning method to just spray cleaner. If you clean 99% paint build up off you will not notice. Then the trigger will start getting sticky like press it in, and it will slowly release. Or you only get a spray when it is pressed or let go.

Some times if you remove the rear end and move the needle you can see some build up or staining on the needle.

What paint do you use? What size nozzel as well the .3 always is a ... To me.

Dirty, damage usually doesn't provide no paint.

kb_lock wrote:
Dirty, damage usually doesn't provide no paint.

How does one clean the nozzle really well? I removed it to clean out the passage it screw into but the nozzle's opening seemed to small to even try and brush or put anything through it.

There are needle cleaning knife things, but a soak in something and a good poking with the needle itself can help. Also, if you're disgusting like me, blow through it backwards after soaking it

Ultrasonic cleaner. However what you're describing sounds like a nozzle clog or missing o ring from the vaporising chamber.

winterdyne wrote:
Ultrasonic cleaner. However what you're describing sounds like a nozzle clog or missing o ring from the vaporising chamber.

I'm soaking the nozzle in cleaner as I type. It was still very gunky especially the threads. I'm going to try and give it a better cleaning and report back. I double checked that all parts were in place and properly seated so I'm not sure if it's a missing part, but I can always check again.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
It's the nozzle, the thing is so full of paint it's insane. I'm not sure how it got so clogged or how I was getting the needle through it before. It's going to need some serious soaking because I can't get the needle through it any longer and it's so tiny I don't have a brush to get it out. I might have to look into one of those sonic cleaners winterdyne was talking about.

They're well worth the $30 or so they cost.

What do you guys think of using a bit of flow aid in the cup while painting to try and keep things from clogging up and getting a good clean in when I'm done. Will that effect the look of my paint or just drying time?

Shouldn't need it if you're using
VMA and their airbrush thinner.

OgreChubbs wrote:
I am not familliar with your brush but I usually unassemble and clean it after ever go. So get the instrut and unbuild it, clean it and check the needle for bends. It is not really the best cleaning method to just spray cleaner. If you clean 99% paint build up off you will not notice. Then the trigger will start getting sticky like press it in, and it will slowly release. Or you only get a spray when it is pressed or let go.

Some times if you remove the rear end and move the needle you can see some build up or staining on the needle.

What paint do you use? What size nozzel as well the .3 always is a ... To me.

I usually put cleaner in the cup and then swab it out with an old brush and dump that cleaner and gunk out. Then spray cleaner through til it's clear, take it apart and wipe down the caps, nozzle, needle and then put everything back together.

I'm using a .3mm nozzle needle setup and I use Vallejo Model Air and Citadel air, when this was happening I was using Vallejo. I've narrowed it down to a clogged nozzle, attempting to rectify that now.

Best of luck!

Unless your nozzel is plated or has an o ring on it, consider soaking it in acetone. You will need to seal the cup you put it in, as it can evaporate quickly.

(I just put a piece of cardboard on the top).

You need to break down your airbrush and clean all the parts inside.

Most likely, it's clogged at the nozzle, near the area where the needle pokes through. You will need an old needle, or a nozzle cleaning tool (they're about $5 on Amazon) to scrape the paint out of the inside.

If it's happening, though, there's a good chance that there is paint in the back of your airbrush too; this is especially true if your packing seal is loose (does your needle meet resistance when you slide it towards the cup? if not, it's loose.). It doesn't hurt to clean that at the same time since you have it all apart. You want to use pipe cleaners for this, but don't use any solvents, as there are non-metal, rubbery and plastic parts like O-Rings and the packing seal.