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Hi

I'm a brand new airbrusher trying to figure things out and I'm having some problems during my first and second sessions.

I'm an ok painter with a brush so I noticed that the airbrush ate through paint like it was nothing while I was basecoating my horrors. How many infantry models basecoated should I get out the smaller sotar 2020's pot? I had to refill it 3-4 times just for 10 models..... I think I was doing psi around 20~


The second problem is my biggest and happened during my second session... I'm getting huge amounts of air pushing paint out of my pot and into my face/surrounding area.

I've looked online and they've said to clean the nozzles but nothings worked for me after an hour of gently brushing them.

I'm soaking the pieces now to try again later but I'm pretty discouraged currently.

Thanks for any advice.

It seems like 12 PSI is a good pressure to use. I would turn down the pressure but i dont airbursh. I have a sotar 20/20 but am scared shitless to use it haha I also dont have a compressor.

If you're getting bubbling in the cup there's something clogging your nozzle. Check that you haven't damaged your needle tip, clean out the nozzle, preferably with a reamer, and reassemble.

Also, what paints are you using? Are you thinning them enough? Especially if you have a fine needle, thick paint will clog the nozzle fairly quick. Also try adding a bit of flow aid and/or retarder when thinning.

And yeah, airbrushes go through quite a bit of paint. The Sotar has a small cup, though, so it's expected that you will need to refill a bit. Which is, tbh, a good thing. If you have a large cup and put a lot of paint in it you risk it starting to dry or separate.

Yep sounds like you have a clog.

Personally i got sick of stripping the damn thing and soaking it in whatever.

so i find that putting some isoproponal alcohol in the cup and spraying it out clears the clog.

then flush it with water.

Cant do much about the cup size.

You had to refill you pot 3-4 times for 10 guys??? Like full cups? If so, that's why to much.

I run mine at 30 psi. For 10 normal figs of a single basecoat i would say 10 drops plus 2 drops of flow improver.

The 20/20 was made to be more difficult to clog. if yours is clogging you paint is probably way to thick.

Agreed that 3-4 paint cups from the sotar is too much for 10 guys. However, the paint isn't going to magically disappear - it has to come out the nozzle so you might be using too much to lay down your basecoat.

I have a sotar 20/20 and the thing is I never use it to basecoat - it's a fine detail airbrush and isn't meant for basic priming unless you have the larger needle/nozzle conversion. Also, PSI is generally dependent on you paint thickness but 20psi is something i usually go with and dial up or down depending on what type of paint.

For the paint coming out the top cup, it means your tip is clogged so the air comes out the cup. make sure you clean it thoroughly - just youtube some airbrush cleaning tips and you'll be fine.

 Eggroll wrote:
Agreed that 3-4 paint cups from the sotar is too much for 10 guys. However, the paint isn't going to magically disappear - it has to come out the nozzle so you might be using too much to lay down your basecoat.

I have a sotar 20/20 and the thing is I never use it to basecoat - it's a fine detail airbrush and isn't meant for basic priming unless you have the larger needle/nozzle conversion. Also, PSI is generally dependent on you paint thickness but 20psi is something i usually go with and dial up or down depending on what type of paint.

For the paint coming out the top cup, it means your tip is clogged so the air comes out the cup. make sure you clean it thoroughly - just youtube some airbrush cleaning tips and you'll be fine.

Are you sure they sell a needle and nozzle conversion for the 20/20? i talked with badger and they do sell a pronged nozzle but they told me they only have one needle size for this brush.

 Snoopdeville3 wrote:

 Eggroll wrote:
Agreed that 3-4 paint cups from the sotar is too much for 10 guys. However, the paint isn't going to magically disappear - it has to come out the nozzle so you might be using too much to lay down your basecoat.

I have a sotar 20/20 and the thing is I never use it to basecoat - it's a fine detail airbrush and isn't meant for basic priming unless you have the larger needle/nozzle conversion. Also, PSI is generally dependent on you paint thickness but 20psi is something i usually go with and dial up or down depending on what type of paint.

For the paint coming out the top cup, it means your tip is clogged so the air comes out the cup. make sure you clean it thoroughly - just youtube some airbrush cleaning tips and you'll be fine.

Are you sure they sell a needle and nozzle conversion for the 20/20? i talked with badger and they do sell a pronged nozzle but they told me they only have one needle size for this brush.

There are 3 models for the 20/20 - at least on Amazon there are. There's a 2F, 2M and 2H. (Fine, Medium, Heavy). These have different nozzle and needle sizes and the sizes are denoted by varying colours on the back of the needles (black, clear, white).

http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Air-Brush-2020-2F-Gravity-Airbrush/dp/B000BROVIO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458594604&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Air-Brush-2020-2M-Gravity-Airbrush/dp/B003976L5E/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1458594604&sr=8-12
http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Air-Brush-2020-2H-Gravity-Airbrush/dp/B004AM75FM/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1458594604&sr=8-8

 Eggroll wrote:

 Snoopdeville3 wrote:

 Eggroll wrote:
Agreed that 3-4 paint cups from the sotar is too much for 10 guys. However, the paint isn't going to magically disappear - it has to come out the nozzle so you might be using too much to lay down your basecoat.

I have a sotar 20/20 and the thing is I never use it to basecoat - it's a fine detail airbrush and isn't meant for basic priming unless you have the larger needle/nozzle conversion. Also, PSI is generally dependent on you paint thickness but 20psi is something i usually go with and dial up or down depending on what type of paint.

For the paint coming out the top cup, it means your tip is clogged so the air comes out the cup. make sure you clean it thoroughly - just youtube some airbrush cleaning tips and you'll be fine.

Are you sure they sell a needle and nozzle conversion for the 20/20? i talked with badger and they do sell a pronged nozzle but they told me they only have one needle size for this brush.

There are 3 models for the 20/20 - at least on Amazon there are. There's a 2F, 2M and 2H. (Fine, Medium, Heavy). These have different nozzle and needle sizes and the sizes are denoted by varying colours on the back of the needles (black, clear, white).

http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Air-Brush-2020-2F-Gravity-Airbrush/dp/B000BROVIO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458594604&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Air-Brush-2020-2M-Gravity-Airbrush/dp/B003976L5E/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1458594604&sr=8-12
http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Air-Brush-2020-2H-Gravity-Airbrush/dp/B004AM75FM/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1458594604&sr=8-8

O wow I didnt know that! I have the Fine, do you know if the other needles are interchangeable? I really dont need medium or large because I have a Badger Krome but just wondering.

 Snoopdeville3 wrote:

O wow I didnt know that! I have the Fine, do you know if the other needles are interchangeable? I really dont need medium or large because I have a Badger Krome but just wondering.

I think it should be interchangeable but you need to buy the alternate nozzle and nozzle cap as well I believe. Double check with Badger though make sure you get someone who knows their product (unlike the first person you spoke to )

Lol I usually talk with the owner, I live 5 mins away from their HQ. I didnt even ask him if there were different sizes but honestly Fine is what I need anyways so it doesnt matter. Any bigger I can just jump on my Krome.