I have a new Paasche H model single action, siphon, gun and I cannot get it to pick up the paint. Getting air but no paint. I have taken apart, cleaned, etc…Its a new unit right out of the box. I am using or trying to use a water base acrylic paint thinned with windex…about a 60/40 ratio paint to thinner.
Any suggestions.
Thanks
Steve
Literally no paint at all? Using both the bottle and the little metal cup? Start with the cup if you just decided to go right into the bottle. For initial testing and to save money I’d just try to airbrush pure windex, or pure distilled water. Real paint will come in due time once you trouble shoot the issue.
I wonder if the unit was shipped with some protective stuff that needs to be removed, a film covering a key opening for example. If there is a vent hole in the bottle cap for example, is it sealed and that seal needs to be removed?
This useful website https://sites.google.com/site/donsairbrushtips/troubleshooting
has a number of tips including when you get air but no paint (scroll down).
Dave Nelson
Steve,
You didn’t mention which brand of acrylic based paint you’re using. Some brands require more thinning than others. For example, Duncan acrylics, which were popular among artists, generally require more thinning than Pollyscale acrylics due to the larger paint pigments.
Something else to consider: What size needle / aircap setup are you using? Paasche’s are usually numbered: 1-fine, 3-medium, 5-large. Whenever I spray Pollyscale with my Paasche’s, I always go with the medium size set up (#3), unless I “super thin it” for weathering washes.
I hope this is helpful [8D]
I was using Apple Barrel acrylic from Walmart thinned to the point you wouldnt want to paint anything becaue it was so runny…I also tried other needles. I have never used airbrushes before so Im sure when we discover the problem its going to be laughable!
Steve
I used both cup and bottle and absolutely no paint at all. Cked needles for any obstructions and even changed to other needles.
If you haven’t already, try Dave’s suggestion of attempting to get straight thinner/Windex/distilled water to run through. If that works, the paint may be clotting.
What is your air source, and is there a way to tell what the pressure is?
I’ve used a Paasche VL for years and acrylics have given me more of the type of trouble you are having than I want to talk about.
yes have run straight liquid and still nothing. Running at 20 psi. For some reason I get no “siphon” at all but air does come out of the nozzle…
Baffled!
Steve
Daff.
Take apart the needle valve,the valve that adjusts the paint flow,there will be a small rubber o-ring in there,if it is damaged or not seated properly,you will get no siphon action…Maybe it’s not in there at all??If you still have trouble,call PASSCHE…They stand behind all their products…
Cheers,
Frank
Daff,
One more thing I forgot to mention,turn up your air pressure,to 30,35…If you bought it new,there should have been a Manual with it that trouble shoots problem’s…All the ones I ever bought did…
Have Fun,
Cheers,
Frank
Took it apart and didnt see an O ring. Shouldnt the needles come out of the tip for cleaning? I turned the pressure up as you advised with no change. The “manual” just says do this and this and start painting. No tourbleshooting anywhere.
Guess time to call Paasche
As always, thanks for the help. Anything else come to mind shoot it may way.
Steve
[banghead]
Daff,
First off,on the VL H-model,you can not change the needle valve,for different spray patterns…It is set for Inks and thin paints. You should have with your air brush,a allen wrench,the round looking part,that your cup and bottle go in,there is a set screw,you loosen that carefully so do not loose the set screw and that whole part should come out,that is the paint flow needle. At the tip of that needle will be a slot in the side,make sure that is cleaned with no obstructions,where the tip of that needle goes in,there is a brass gasket,make sure there are no burrs on it…While that is apart,remove the very tip of the air brush and there you will find the O-ring…I can tell by what you have said,about cleaning you did not,for to really clean it you should do what I just tried to explain,That being said,fill up your bottle with alcohol or thinner and with at least 30 PSI point it at a piece of cardboard about 5 inches away,with your finger on the button held down so air comes out,keep turning the paint flow needle until it starts to flow,the more you turn the valve open,the more liquid will come out…From what I’m gatthering from your description,that you are not turning the paint flow needle on…That is why your just getting air…
Hope That Helps,
Cheers,
Frank
Will give it a try. I have been opening and closing the tip in hopes of getting some suction. Will let you know what happens
Steve
[banghead]
Daff,
The flow needle that I am referring to is inside the chrome looking cone shape,the fat end has what looks like a thumb wheel with grooves in it ,that is the part that has to be turned,clockwise to allow,fluid to flow,if you turn it all the way clockwise and still no liquid,that whole part has to be taken apart and that notch in the side of the needle and all the way through must be cleaned,If you did not open that cone by turning it clockwise when you first tried it,with paint in the bottle,the paint had no where to go, so it dried in the needle…I don’t know any other way to explain it…Like I 'M TRYING to say,that cone shape,is how you adjust the liquid flow,paint,thinner any liquid will not come out,until you turn that cone clockwise,the further you turn it the more liquid will flow…
Cheers,
Frank
I have tried to remove the needle from the tip but it wont budge. Any secret to removing / taking them apart?
Daff,
Did you remove the set screw on the bottom of the round part??The round part that the paint bottle goes into,then you have to turn the cone all the way clockwise until you see threads,then you have to push on the fat part of the cone,so that whole piece comes out,then unscrew the cone all the way clockwise…There are only three pieces to remove,the set screw,the needle and the cone,Those are the only critical parts of that air brush that MUST be clean…yOU MAY HAVE alot of dried paint in there,making hard to remove…
Cheers,
Frank
Daff,
To try to make it easier to understand,if you can use Google,type in http://www.paascheairbrush.com scroll down the page to,Model H Paasche air brush tutorial (taking apart and cleaning),it is a DVD,that shows and explain how to do it…
Cheers,
Frank
I find no tutorials at all on that site…
Daff,
You have to scroll down the page to find,Model H Paasche tutorial,just clicking on the web site,won’t show you the totorial,It’s about the eight one down…
Frank
well i just discovered something. I have no needles. I have three cones/tips, two might have needles in them but I cant them out. I have one tip / cone with no needles.
Daff,
What do you mean by tip??There are no tips,or needle’s on a H-Model Airbrush,sounds like you have a bunch of parts,that never been cleaned properly…I was under the impression,that it was new and you just did not know how to use it…Now I understand why you don’t have any instructions,Hit that web site again,scroll down to the ninth one and that’s where you’ll find the H- Model Tutorial…
I’m about ready to quit,
Cheers,
Frank