lgl007 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Hi guys... So I have very successfully built 4 aircraft now using my Paasche single action airbrush without fail... Today while spraying all the white bits for my F-14B project the airbrush started spitting water... first time ever... ok so I kept brushing and again it happens. Actually it happened about 7 times. Takes about 5 seconds of straying to kinda get it all back to normal again... I have a Badger compressor and I do have a moisture trap as well... I was using Tamiya XF-1 with only a few drops of Tamiya thinners. Anyone know what the problem may be? Now, I did notice alot of condensation on the inside of the moisture trap... more so then ever before... but I'm at a loss folks... any help you guys can provide to cure this problem would be most appreciated... Here's my equipment: Badger 180-1 Compressor: Paasche R-75AR Moisture trap/pressure regulator: -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Huey Gunner Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 What's the humidity like in Toronto this time of year? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Edgar Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Any moisture will come out of air all the time it's under pressure. The air in the airbrush hose is still under pressure so moisture is still likely to come out of it, even though it's been through the moisture trap on the compressor. It always pays to have a condenser-style moisture trap in your hose, as close to the airbrush as you can get it. Edgar Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lgl007 Posted July 25, 2009 Author Share Posted July 25, 2009 Paul... ya it's been bloody humid around here lately. Constant rain and such... today the relative humidity is 73% today. Could that be the problem? Maybe I should wait for less humid days to do my airbrushing? Would the humidity in the air cause this? Edgar... hmm... what is a 'condenser-style' moisture trap? -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Beary Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 I think a "condenser type" moisture trap might more correctly be called a cannister type trap. It is just an in-line moisture trap. It is hose specific...ie Badger hose vs Paasche hose etc. The advantage is that it can be placed anywhere along the hose and the closer to the A/B the better. Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Huey Gunner Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Would the humidity in the air cause this?Sure. A compressor retrieves the outside air then compress' it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lgl007 Posted July 25, 2009 Author Share Posted July 25, 2009 Hmmm... interesting... but be that as it may, would it not stand to reason that there would be constant water throughout the whole spraying cycle? This is sporradic. I guess you guys have answered my question... if indeed this is the result of humidity in the air then I'll just have to airbrush during very dry days... :-) -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Having said that, in the same environment as you, sometimes I have that "water spray" on dry winter days. Does not seem to matter. Some days it happens 3 or 4 times. Other days I can paint for 2 hours without an issue. I just wipe off the water and go at it again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nzgunnie Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Where in the system is the water trap? If it's right at the compressor the air will still be warm and holding the air. The moisture will not be removed. You need to have the water trap at the other end of things, as close to the airbrush as possible. This will allow the air to cool, and the water to condense and be trapped. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stevearado Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 I had the same problem with a similar compressor (Paasche). I had the regulator/moisture trap along with the in line trap near the brush and still got water spots. I ended up buying another compressor with a tank, a no longer have the problem. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
richter111 Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 I have seen, but have no used the tank method. The set up I saw had a red tank, like people use for filling tires in cars, used to store air. I don't know how the pressure is regulated, but I have heard it used. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johanl Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 (edited) Maybe you can try this ? I had that problem too. now, before I start airbrushing I disconnect the hose from the airbrush and let the compressor run for a few minutes while holding the hose in a straight line down under an angle. After a minute of so the water thats in the hose, condensed from the previous time I used the airbrush, starts coming out. (the hose is 4 m long). (If you hold your hand at a distance (1 inch) from the hoseoutlet, you can feel the water.) When the water stops coming out I connect the hose again to the airbrush and start. Never had the problem (spitting water while airbrushing) again. So, in my case, the water that was coming out of the airbrush was condensed water from the previous time that collected in the hose. Johan Edited July 25, 2009 by johanl Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lgl007 Posted July 25, 2009 Author Share Posted July 25, 2009 Hi guys... Thanks for all your responses. Going to try Johan's method first to see if that's the prob... failing that I'll have to think about other more invasive methods of trying to fix the problem as per all your various noted methods of dealing with the problem at hand... Thanks again guys... cheers! -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Av8fan Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 (edited) Johan, That is an interesting idea. I think it is worth trying. I remember my first water incident with a 1/48 F-4 phantom. Frustrating. My eventual plan is to have 2 hoses. One long hose from the compressor to the regulator/moisture trap, and a shorter hose from the regulator to the brush. I am hoping that this would be semi permanent setup to solve the moisture issue and also to get me building more. Edited July 25, 2009 by Av8fan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 I don't know about that cmpressor, but with mine I have to be sure to drain the air after my lst use for the dy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JasonB Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 You might also consider getting a room dehumidifier. I airbrush in a very damp basement and don't have a moisture trap, and usually get along fine as long as I keep a dehumidifier running. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big Kev Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 You might also consider getting a room dehumidifier. I airbrush in a very damp basement and don't have a moisture trap, and usually get along fine as long as I keep a dehumidifier running. I keep a container of Damp Rid on my workbench more-or-less permanently. It's a heavy crystalline substance that absorbs moisture out of the air, and kind of 'melts' into a reservoir underneath. Once it's all gone, flush it down the toilet and refill the container. Works like a charm! Kev Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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