Airbrush paint getting clogged in airway

[Scottl]

I have been using a Badger Patriot 105 airbrush for quite a while and it is a good product for my needs.

I've run into problems where paint is getting from the paint cup back along the needle towards the air intake and the trigger.  I keep the tip of the airbrush clean and flush it with lacquer thinner thoroughly after use (mostly acrylic paint) but when I come back to paint weeks later, the needle is stuck.  On full disassembly, I find there is paint on the needle back to the trigger that has cured. 

I assume this is not normal- does anyone have experience with this issue or a suggestion about how to prevent it?  I shouldn't have to fully disassemble the airbrush each time?

[bigdawgks]

I sometimes get a little bit (doesn't take much for it to stick the needle when it dries) of paint that works its way back into the rear of the cylinder. My guess is it might be the result of repeatedly pulling the trigger back and forth quickly for short bursts of paint. For this reason after any heavy use I always remove the needle and wipe it down. I don't reassemble the brush until after the drying time of the paint just in case.

I believe most brushes also have some sort of sealing device (either O-ring or maybe a brass insert) that the needle passes through to prevent paint getting blown back into the rear. It could be that your brush has a poor seal there.

[turbowhiz]

With my Iwata brushes, I always pull the needle every single time I'm finished painting.

Its always going to have a little diluted paint around it, even after flushing it.

I consider that just part of general cleaning routine. Skipping the needle pull leads to trouble in my experience.

[Scottl]

Thanks both for the responses.  That makes sense, I always leave the needle in after cleaning.  I'll try that when I paint some containers today and see how it goes.

[peteski]

My Badger 200 has a Teflon washer (more like short piece of white Teflon tube) through which the needle threads through, sealing the paint passage.  Those are replaceable.

I also pull out the needle and clean it after each paint session (after first spraying thinner through the airbrush until it comes out clean).

[Scottl]

Interesting!  I see from the parts diagram there is something like that 50-046 https://www.midwestairbrush.com/en-ca/collections/bapapa.  Not sure if I have one or have ever seen it.

[peteski]

Interesting!  I see from the parts diagram there is something like that 50-046 https://www.midwestairbrush.com/en-ca/collections/bapapa.  Not sure if I have one or have ever seen it.

Yeah, it looks like that Teflon seal.

[Chris333]

My needle goes through an O-ring. I hardly ever take it apart to clean, but when I do I put a drop of oil on the needle where it goes through the O-ring.

[nickelplate759]

My needle goes through an O-ring. I hardly ever take it apart to clean, but when I do I put a drop of oil on the needle where it goes through the O-ring.

Any particular sort of oil?

[Chris333]

Well I have no idea if it is the correct thing to do, but I use Labelle 104.

[MK]

Wouldn't that introduce oil to the paint?  Only because they say to use an oil-free compressor so you don't have oil in the air.

[Kentuckian]

My Iwata booklet says to use their oil after cleaning the needle.

https://www.iwata-airbrush.com/search.html?Search=Lube

[nickelplate759]

After reading about the Iwata oil, I found that Paashe sells lube for their airbushes as well.

[peteski]

After reading about the Iwata oil, I found that Paashe sells lube for their airbushes as well.

The Teflon needle seal in my airbrush needs no lubrication because it is  . . . Teflon^TM   
But I have applied tiny bit of oil to the needle adjustment screw threads.

[Scottl]

Update:  removed the needle each time I painted and seems to solve the problem.  I still don't have the Teflon bushing I am supposed to, but it does not seem to make a difference 

Thanks for everyone's response.