u/Ast3r10n

So, today I encountered a problem I never had, or at least not to this extent.
I was starting my session as usual, with the AC on, Pro Acryl Payne's Grey in the same ratio I used the last couple of times (paint:thinner:flow improver 4:1:2), using the same airbrush from last session, an H&S Evolution with the 0.28 nozzle, 20 PSI on the compressor, same as before, no change to the pressure valve in the airbrush itself.

Got a clog after spraying less than 5 seconds. I look at the needle and it's basically covered in Payne's Grey, like it dried completely in those few seconds. I tried adding some flow improver, reducing pressure, raising pressure, adding thinner, adding paint, nothing really fixed the issue.

After a while I try moving to the second layer for today, which is Citadel Air The Fang, using an Infinity this time, with the 0.25 nozzle, starting at 20 PSI. Same problem, made even worse by Citadel just being more grainy and aerosolising worse today.

Then, I move to Russ Grey, also from Citadel Air, and I get the same issue, but this time it also sprays terribly: it's already super thin, and yet it just won't aerosolise correctly, spraying grainy and spotty. No amount of thinner and/or flow improver fixed anything, and when I decided to empty the cup to take a break, I could see some dried pigment droplets around the cup which weren't immediately removed by the airbrush cleaner. I'm adding a couple of pictures for context.

Now, I also noticed something weird: I generally have a shallow metal saucer with some airbrush cleaner which I use to rinse a drybrush to gently clean the needle tip if I can't pinch it (especially true on the Evolution, my fingers are slightly too large to pinch the tip). It generally stays for the entire session, but this time, it dried up in minutes.

Could it just be that the room was too dry after using the AC for most of the day, given the heat? Was I not considering a variable?

Thanks for the patience and help in advance, and happy spraying!

Russ Grey just separating in the cup

Pigment droplets after two passes of airbrush cleaner

I was wondering if I’m unnecessarily complicating my workflow: I currently have a cheap airbrush I exclusively use for priming, specifically Vallejo‘s Primer. Should I just use a better airbrush which is easier to clean but which I wouldn’t like to ruin? Say, a H&S Evolution.

I'm testing different paint consistencies in my new Harder & Steenbeck Infinity, specifically due to its 0.25 needle which I'm not as used to. For the moment, I tested three paints by three different brands:
- Pro Acryl Warm Yellow
- Vallejo Model Air Dark Earth
- Citadel Air Phoenician Purple

and I'm having mixed results.
The Warm Yellow doesn't seem to ever keep a steady flow, and feels way too thin, spider webbing even at 12 PSI.
The Vallejo Air was fine, probably the best out of the three, but it also felt like it needed no thinner whatsoever.

Phoenician Purple was a bit of a hit and miss. Sometimes perfectly atomised and covering well with little to no thinner (maybe 1:5 to 1:8 at maximum), other times clogging the airbrush way too easily.
In general, it seems to me it clogs quite frequently on all paints and doesn't keep a super steady flow. Am I doing something wrong? Am I testing the wrong paints and is yellow just terrible on such a small nozzle? Should I mix the paints even more?
Thanks to everyone in advance!