OK, I have my big pancake compressor set to 110 psi and the 3/8" coiled hose connected to the air filter. The filter is close coupled to a regulator gauge combination and its output to the Badger 350 airbrush and hose. I set the regulator to 25 psi and when I depress the airbrus to spray, the pressure drops to 15 psi.
Is this normal? It seems to me that the initial burst of air will cause a blob of paint until the pressure drops off and is steady.
You are correct, that’s why you always start spraying off the the side of whatever you are painting. I am using a 2 stage air brush so I control the air and paint separately which minimizes the problem but does not entirely eliminate it if I am not careful. Also I use a gauge right at the airbrush to set the pressure rather than the gauge on the regulator, I find that this works much better, you don’t have to leave it there just use it to set pressure at the air brush and then note the gauge at the regulator so next time you can get close to start and then fine tune to suit the paint you are spraying. you also may find that your pressure regulator is somewhat coarse in it’s regulating ability. I use a reg at the filter to drop the pressure to about 45 PSI and then another, better quality reg within 4 to 6 ft of the airbrush.