Kreighshoer
Active member
Airbrushes - the always repeating mistery of modelling!
A lot of modellers face problems with their airbrushes and consider them a mistery where no mistery is! One thing i repeatedly read is that the airbrush is more like a paintspitter than a painting helper that can bring your models to life!
This may have several reasons - air pressure too high or too low, paint thinning ratio too high or too low, wrong distance between airbrush and object, too much beer ... various reasons that are more or less based on experience and trial and error!
But the fundament for having no problems anymore with the above mentioned issues is to take care of your airbrush!
The very first step of approaching a better relationship between you and your airbrush is to love your airbrush!
This may sound silly to some of you but i mean each and every word absolutely serious!
Love your airbrush!
Speak to your airbrush! build up a personal relationship, don't consider or treat it as a tool and your airbrush will pay back to you!
For this tip from me i took my trusty Iwata Revolution CR:
The very first thing when i buy a new airbrush (what i already did too often and still can't get enough! :roll: ) is to completely disassemble the airbrush to loose all fear of the delicate parts! Then i seal every single thread with lengths of teflon tape - you may also use bee's wax but you have to be very careful not to clog your nozzle when using wax! Teflon is easier to handle!
This helps to prevent the air and paint coming out of unwanted places and leaky spots!
After each session with your airbrush refill the cup with either distilled water or the thinner recommended for your color! Never use tab water!!! The nozzle, sealings and bearings in your airbrush don't like the lime in tab water! After that again fill the cup but this time use window cleaner and brush the cup empty and repeat that action with distilled water again! Take out the needle and let airbrush body and needle dry completely over night! If not you may have a clogged needle that loosens only with brute force!
After several sessions it helps a lot if you disassemble your airbrush and immerse the parts in special airbrush cleaners like e.g. Schmincke Aero Clean Rapid or my most preferred cleaner Createx Airbrush Restorer! When you do so you will be surprised how much color comes out of your airbrush! Proceed strictly as per instructions or else you may damage the airbrush! I do this repeatedly in a 2-3 months period!
This applies only to metal airbrushes with teflon sealings and bearings - soft plastic may be dissolved!
After having rinsed and reassembled all parts you think you are done?
Then you are mistaken!
This is the needle of my Iwata Revolution CR - looks pretty clean, doesn't it?
Then i have a nasty surprise for you!
Polish your needle carefully!
This is the needle before polishing:
and after the first run of polishing:
all dirt gone?
No!
Second run:
I use a two step polishing system, you don't have to but this is my preferred way of polishing!
Now all you have to do is to carefully wipe away any remaining polish from the needle and reinsert it into the airbrush body! Do this carefully with the trigger always pressed down and continuously rotating the needle until it sits flush with the nozzle!
Now you have a well prepared airbrush for doing a satisfying paintjob!
NOTE: I don't take over any responsibility if you damage any part of your airbrush while following those steps! Be careful and don't forget to ...
Love Your Airbrush!
A lot of modellers face problems with their airbrushes and consider them a mistery where no mistery is! One thing i repeatedly read is that the airbrush is more like a paintspitter than a painting helper that can bring your models to life!
This may have several reasons - air pressure too high or too low, paint thinning ratio too high or too low, wrong distance between airbrush and object, too much beer ... various reasons that are more or less based on experience and trial and error!
But the fundament for having no problems anymore with the above mentioned issues is to take care of your airbrush!
The very first step of approaching a better relationship between you and your airbrush is to love your airbrush!
This may sound silly to some of you but i mean each and every word absolutely serious!
Love your airbrush!
Speak to your airbrush! build up a personal relationship, don't consider or treat it as a tool and your airbrush will pay back to you!
For this tip from me i took my trusty Iwata Revolution CR:
The very first thing when i buy a new airbrush (what i already did too often and still can't get enough! :roll: ) is to completely disassemble the airbrush to loose all fear of the delicate parts! Then i seal every single thread with lengths of teflon tape - you may also use bee's wax but you have to be very careful not to clog your nozzle when using wax! Teflon is easier to handle!
This helps to prevent the air and paint coming out of unwanted places and leaky spots!
After each session with your airbrush refill the cup with either distilled water or the thinner recommended for your color! Never use tab water!!! The nozzle, sealings and bearings in your airbrush don't like the lime in tab water! After that again fill the cup but this time use window cleaner and brush the cup empty and repeat that action with distilled water again! Take out the needle and let airbrush body and needle dry completely over night! If not you may have a clogged needle that loosens only with brute force!
After several sessions it helps a lot if you disassemble your airbrush and immerse the parts in special airbrush cleaners like e.g. Schmincke Aero Clean Rapid or my most preferred cleaner Createx Airbrush Restorer! When you do so you will be surprised how much color comes out of your airbrush! Proceed strictly as per instructions or else you may damage the airbrush! I do this repeatedly in a 2-3 months period!
This applies only to metal airbrushes with teflon sealings and bearings - soft plastic may be dissolved!
After having rinsed and reassembled all parts you think you are done?
Then you are mistaken!
This is the needle of my Iwata Revolution CR - looks pretty clean, doesn't it?
Then i have a nasty surprise for you!
Polish your needle carefully!
This is the needle before polishing:
and after the first run of polishing:
all dirt gone?
No!
Second run:
I use a two step polishing system, you don't have to but this is my preferred way of polishing!
Now all you have to do is to carefully wipe away any remaining polish from the needle and reinsert it into the airbrush body! Do this carefully with the trigger always pressed down and continuously rotating the needle until it sits flush with the nozzle!
Now you have a well prepared airbrush for doing a satisfying paintjob!
NOTE: I don't take over any responsibility if you damage any part of your airbrush while following those steps! Be careful and don't forget to ...
Love Your Airbrush!
will make sure to take care and talk a little to my AB 
