Airbrush paint getting clogged in airway

[robert3985]

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.

Having been airbrushing as a senior graphics and technical illustrator & technical model builder since 1971 (Battelle Memorial Institute), I learned an old airbrusher's trick about adjustment screws and threaded parts in general on airbrushes.  Since oil is anathema to most airbrushing projects, even a tiny spattering will totally ruin a nearly complete project...those old airbrush artists of the 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's used beeswax to lube their adjustment screws, as well as the multi head and other parts that need to be sealed but also adjusted.  Beeswax does that very well and also acts as a retainer to keep adjustments in place.  Just apply and heat quickly and not too much with a lighter so the beeswax melts into the threads, then put the screws in while still warm and VIOLA!...you're done.  Running air through the brush cools everything down very quickly.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Olivani]

When you pull the needle out, always pull it out the front of the air-brush, not the back. If you pull the needle out at the back, you pull paint into the Teflon seal.

[peteski]

When you pull the needle out, always pull it out the front of the air-brush, not the back. If you pull the needle out at the back, you pull paint into the Teflon seal.

You can't do that on my Badger 200.  The tapered nozzle is too small to allow the entire needle to come through.  Well unless you remove the entire nozzle.  Then you will need to get a new Teflon seal for the nozzle.  I have always pulled the needle (about 30 years) out from the back and the seal stays in place.  Plus doing this would mean getting the needle out of the adjustment assembly in the rear of the airbrush.  Also some airbrushes have a permanently attached metal ball on the back end of the needle.

Removing the needle from the back and cleaning it (wiping it on a lacquer thinner moistened paper towel) only takes few seconds. I do that after every painting session. I rarely disassemble the nozzle itself.

I suspect your airbrush is different.

[Olivani]

Yes, I have a normal air brush. Actually I have many normal ones. Iwata, Harder and Steenbeck, GSI Creos/Mr. Hobby, Revell (made by Badger) and many more. They are all easy cleaned and the needle can be pulled out the front with no problem. All have the nozzle just hold in place by the nozzle cap. No tools needed to remove it, no teflon seal at the nozzle.

[peteski]

Yes, I have a normal air brush. Actually I have many normal ones. Iwata, Harder and Steenbeck, GSI Creos/Mr. Hobby, Revell (made by Badger) and many more.

Um, I, or more accurately my airbrush has to take an exception to that. My Badger 200 is a "normal" airbrush. Single-action internal-mix made by a well known company. And it has a Teflon needle seal which does not come out. 



While I was looking for this diagram I did notice  that Badger sells a newer nozzle for it (like ones you describe), but I still don't see why I would want to pull the needle through the front.

And if some airbrush has a needle which looks like this one, I don't think the ball end will thread through the Teflon seal or the nozzle. It has to be removed from the back.

[Olivani]

They probably stopped with these ball end needles so people didn't need to pull paint into the teflon seal or the trigger mechanism anymore.

But hey, you do your thing, I do mine. It was a suggestion, that is all, a suggestion which is based on my experience I collected during the past 35+ years using an air brush 2 to 4 days a week.  For me it's the easier and "cleaner" way to clean the air brush. 

[peteski]

They probably stopped with these ball end needles so people didn't need to pull paint into the teflon seal or the trigger mechanism anymore.

But hey, you do your thing, I do mine. It was a suggestion, that is all, a suggestion which is based on my experience I collected during the past 35+ years using an air brush 2 to 4 days a week.  For me it's the easier and "cleaner" way to clean the air brush.

Like you said, we all do our thing. I just thought it was strange when you implied that I had an "abnormal" airbrush. I felt I needed to speak up, but in the end, whatever  . . . no big thing.

[robert3985]

All of my airbrushes are not built to be able to pull the needle out of the front multi-head, but, I've been a loyal Paasche user since I started airbrushing back in the late 60's.

Here's a bit of my airbrush arsenal...


Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore