Weird Tip-Dry in Eclipse CS

Gore Hunter

Needle-chuck Ninja
Hello everyone! I've had some issues with my Eclipse these past days and don't know what's going on with it. As soon as I start spraying, I get paint accumulated in the tip of the nozzle (where it touches the needle). It seems almost as if paint is leaking somehow, cause it's too fast. No matter how reduced my paint is, the same happens. It's not a paint issue, I've used these paints and airbrush for quite some time, and know how to work with them. So my only guess is something's wrong with the nozzle, the needle or both. The other thing is, after a few minutes the paint begins to dry inside the nozzle, and the needle start sticking to it (at the end I have to actually pull the needle out of the nozzle). When I pull the trigger back paint doesn't come out inmediatly, so in some cases I get a load of paint all at once. I've pulled the needle back and give it a few "flushes", which only helps for a moment. Please, if anyone has any advice I would appretiate it. Or if there's already a topic about this, please let me know. Thanks in advance!

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PS: I forgot to mention that I've tried increasing pressure, but it only makes it worse cause the paint builds up even faster.


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Tip dry... very normal... rate will change with all the variables you change your paint with AS WELL as humidity, temperature, etc. What paint? Is it a blob or along the needle? If it's a blob are you double actioining accurately? Could also be dirty paint. When my eclipse starts doing that though I normally strip it all down and give the nozzle a soak overnight in some acetone and give it a good clean.
 
I know tip dry is normal, I'm used to deal with that, but this is different. I'm using Vallejo acrylics. They're not the best for airbrushing, but I've used them for the past 2 years or so and never had this problem before (also it doesn't happen with just one specific color). That's why I'm afraid there's something wrong with the nozzle or the needle. I've painted lots of things this way, so I know I'm double actioning correctly. I'll try to post a pic next time I try, but as you said, it's more like a blob.


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OK so being a blob probably not tip dry... If you press just for air (no trigger pull back..) do you get paint out? If so it sounds like the needle isn't seating properly. If you pull the needle back a few times without air will also form a blob. Try a good soak (nozzle only...) in thinners for a good clean out of the nozzle.
 
Yes, if I press for air the blob starts forming, but this is only after painting for some minutes and it's usually solved with a few flushes, but only for a moment. Thanks, I'll try soaking the nozzle and hope it gets better. Also, could it be that the nozzle is slightly dented? Would this be the result of that? At first sight I can't see any damage, but I'll give it a closer look again just in case...


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I think Markjthomson may be right about dirty paint. I was having same issue with my Exlipse. Turned out to be clumps in my paint. I tried a trick I read on here. Panty hose stretched over the paint bottle then screw the cap back on. Filter as you pour. Problem solved.
 
I think Markjthomson may be right about dirty paint. I was having same issue with my Exlipse. Turned out to be clumps in my paint. I tried a trick I read on here. Panty hose stretched over the paint bottle then screw the cap back on. Filter as you pour. Problem solved.

Great advice! I'll definitely try it :D
I soaked the nozzle and gave it a good clean and today it performed a bit better, but not like before. I think maybe I pushed too much the needle into the nozzle, cause I have the feeling that the needle tip steps out too much... is there a way to fix this? Aside of buying a new nozzle...

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You did not maybe try to polish the needle and not the surface is not super smooth anymore? Any texture on the needle, not matter how microscopic, will make the paint cling to it.
 
You did not maybe try to polish the needle and not the surface is not super smooth anymore? Any texture on the needle, not matter how microscopic, will make the paint cling to it.

No, I have never attempted that. Today I noticed I have to push the needle too much to prevent paint leaking from the nozzle. I guess it's that. The needle tip steps out more than normal, thus when double actioning paint starts building just outside the nozzle because the needle has to go a longer way back (that's just my theory). I've managed to temporarily improve performance by reducing my paint a lot, but I'll try to get a replacement asap anyway.


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^ Sounds like it, should be easy to tell having a look with a loupe. If its not flared/cracked you could try to gently ream the tip, could just be some gunk around the inner rim of the nozzle causing both the paint flow issue and the quick build up..good luck.
 
My experience with flaired nozzle is that it leaks paint at all times, never allowing needle to seat fully. What you described doesn't sound like that but more like you got dried paint around the bottle openings and when you clean them you are pushing crumbs of dried paint into the bottle. and thus your paint is contaminated. Try using a new bottle of paint after a thorough clean.
 
My experience with flaired nozzle is that it leaks paint at all times, never allowing needle to seat fully. What you described doesn't sound like that but more like you got dried paint around the bottle openings and when you clean them you are pushing crumbs of dried paint into the bottle. and thus your paint is contaminated. Try using a new bottle of paint after a thorough clean.

Thank you, I'll try that as well as straining the paint before use :))


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I wanted to thank everyone for your advice. After cleaning the nozzle thoroughly, and straining my paint before use, the blob and heavy tip dry stopped and even when a few days ago it still sprayed a bit weird, today I had no issues at all, so I can safely say it wasn't a flared nozzle issue, but a paint issue more likely. I was confused by all this because it is the first time it happened to me, although I've used this airbrush and these paints for quite some time. I call this topic solved, and again, thank you all! :)


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