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I usually use Vallejo Flow Aid, but recently I happened to spray some GW paints the flow aid seems to do little work with those paints - at least with the light tones such as Calgar Blue, it splats, it clogs its terrible. So I guess the problem here wont be solved by flow aid, but with some acrylic thinner. Can someone more experienced suggest a solution or any generic acrylic thinner can do the trick?

If you are getting splatting and clogging it usually indicates the paint is too thick and you either need to use more flow aid in your mix or increase the air pressure. The mix should be like milk. I use GW paints with Vallejo Flow Improver through both my 0.35 nozzle Iwata HP-C as well as my infinity with 0.2 nozzle without issue.

It could also be caused by a slight burr on the tip of the needle - check by gently running your finger along the needle.

Edit: to rule out another issue, what size nozzle are you using?

This is exactly the same thing I do and it still clog and splatter, especially when it is very well thinned. If I think this anymore it just turns to water. The Needle should be 0.5, but for some reason on the box was written 0.3. It is Mig Airbrush.
When I spray Mr.Hobby thou I have less splatter, but when I start use bright tones it is just terrible. My Stormtalon model is now just ruined, its all in splatter dots.... I think I better quit airbrushing and get back to paintbrushes.

PS. I think the needle my be bent :(

Could be tiny chunks of dried paint in the pot, you could try filtering out a couple of drops of paint and seeing if that helps.

Also sometimes you find a pigment that doesn't like going through a small nozzle. I found a couple of paints in my collection that just clog incessantly through a 0.3 nozzle, I also have a 0.7 nozzle which I use for basecoating and almost everything goes through that (except model air paints when they go bad). But such paints are almost impossible to do find detail airbrushing with.

Hey don't let it beat you, its worth persevering. When you have it the consistency of milk is it still having splatter?

What concerns me is you mentioning a 0.3 needle vs. an expected 0.5. Are you able to check that the needle and nozzle are the correct size for each other? if the needle is too small for the nozzle and your paint is the consistency of milk it could explain some splatter.

Is the needle perfectly formed (you cant feel any burr at the tip running your fingernail over it?).

What pressure are you running your compressor at?

Stick with it, its a lot of trial and error. Shoot off at a sheet of paper before committing to the model until you find the right mixture in the cup.

Out of interest are you mixing the paint in the cup of the airbrush or separately then adding into the cup?

It may be GW paints themselves. I'm having a really, really bad time spraying bright yellows and whites - they just keep on clogging.

 DalinCriid wrote:
This is exactly the same thing I do and it still clog and splatter, especially when it is very well thinned. If I think this anymore it just turns to water. The Needle should be 0.5, but for some reason on the box was written 0.3. It is Mig Airbrush.
When I spray Mr.Hobby thou I have less splatter, but when I start use bright tones it is just terrible. My Stormtalon model is now just ruined, its all in splatter dots.... I think I better quit airbrushing and get back to paintbrushes.

PS. I think the needle my be bent :(

Just saw your note about the bend, is it up near the tip of the needle? that could certainly cause some splatter.

 Colour Of War wrote:

 DalinCriid wrote:
This is exactly the same thing I do and it still clog and splatter, especially when it is very well thinned. If I think this anymore it just turns to water. The Needle should be 0.5, but for some reason on the box was written 0.3. It is Mig Airbrush.
When I spray Mr.Hobby thou I have less splatter, but when I start use bright tones it is just terrible. My Stormtalon model is now just ruined, its all in splatter dots.... I think I better quit airbrushing and get back to paintbrushes.

PS. I think the needle my be bent :(

Just saw your note about the bend, is it up near the tip of the needle? that could certainly cause some splatter.

Not visible, you cant see it with eye, but when I sling a finger something rubs in the wrong direction.
But it may not be that, dark tones spray really good, the white colors seems to clog my brush :(
I mix all in the cup, the pressure is ~20 PSI

NOTE:
Non of this happens with Scale 75 golds that I previously used.



Automatically Appended Next Post:

 CragHack wrote:
It may be GW paints themselves. I'm having a really, really bad time spraying bright yellows and whites - they just keep on clogging.

I start to suspect this too. Maccrage Blue = No problem, but Calgar Blue is hell to spray. Unfortunately apart from Mr.Hobby I dont have other acrylic brands to test if this is the matter. I will buy some Vallejos and Scale 75 and check. If the problem persist I dont know what to do...