I have an AZTEC airbrush, by TESTORS. It worked fine the first 2 times I used it. Cleanup took all of 1 minute, just like everyone says. But now, when I use it, no paint comes out, just the air!! What could be wrong? I know it’s not clogged, since the air comes out. I thought maybe there was an obstruction in the hose (the one that goes in the bottle) so I ran a stick through it, but that wasn’t it. I use Badger Model-Flex paint, so I know the paint’s thinned good, and I always stir it thouroughly. Can someone help me?
Make sure the vent hole in the top of the paint bottle is not closed. Check that the needle is not stuck. Does in move in and out when you operate the lever. Where the nozzle screws into the body make sure the washer is tight and not leaking air. To really clean the nozzle soak it in Model Master Dried Paint Solvent 50495.
Although you’re not supposed to take the nozzles apart, you pretty much have to from time to time. Unscrew the nozzle from the body and see if the plunger moves freely or is stuck “retracted”. You’ll need to pull it a little bit break it loose (it will come out completely), then reinsert it and reassemble.
What do you use to clean it? I finish painting by spraying a cup of Windex through it. I always take the nozzle off when done, to make sure that the plunger isn’t stuck.
HTH,
KL
I’m sorry, so do I. It is the worst expensive tool I’ve ever purchased.
Obviously it wasn’t cleaned well enough. To really get it clean you have to spray the appropriate thinner through until no hint of color comes out, or disassemble and clean each part. There have been times I thought it was clean and dropped the tip into a bottle of thinner, about 5 minutes later there was “paint” seeping out of it. It takes a lot of work to get it clean. For the kind of paint you are using I use a 50% alcohol water mix to spray through. I also take the plug out of the opposite paint feed socket and run a pipe cleaner through.
It is obviously clogged or paint would come out. The air takes a different path than the paint. The paint “venturi” is probably clogged and can’t suck the paint. Try using one of the paint cups rather than the bottle to see if the gravity will feed the paint in.
Model-Flex is an acrylic that dries out really quick and cloggs really easy. I thin it twice as much as recommended and use alcohol in the thinner (which is also not recommended by the vendor but works much better).
P.S. I don’t use the Aztec any more. I gave up and purchased a more usable brush.