Blocked Airbrush Needle

[Mackem]

Hi, anyone got any idea's on how to un-clog a 0.3mm airbrush needle?
I thought I'd cleaned it thoroughly but obviously not! 

John

[Tankie]

The best i've come across is the Badger airbrush cleaner aerosol - its very potent stuff (use in a very well ventilated area).  Just spray it in the paint cup feed, leave for a few minutes and blow air through. If its well jammed up you may need to repeat this a couple of times.

[971wright]

Hi You Could try putting the end of the airbush in thinners and leave it for a while then try blowing it through with thinners ,it worked for me ,or you might have to disassemble it (follow the insruction book and make sure you dont drop anything there could be some real tiny seals ) very carefully and clean it .

regards pete

[wargar]

The best i've come across is the Badger airbrush cleaner aerosol - its very potent stuff (use in a very well ventilated area).  Just spray it in the paint cup feed, leave for a few minutes and blow air through. If its well jammed up you may need to repeat this a couple of times.

I second this, fantastic, but expencive stuff.

[tankman]

Hi John the most effective cleaner for air brushes is cellulose thinners. Real nasty and very flammable but it will clean paint out of an air brush in minutes. The safest method is to strip the brush down and bathe the parts in a small amount of cellulose. Do this in a well ventilated area as it stinks the house out. Once you have soaked the parts give it all a wipe down and put everything back together and shoot a bit of cellulose through. I recommend doing this when you are going to lay the brush up for any length of time. Just ENSURE you follow all health and safety notices as this stuff can be very nasty if care is not taken when using. Hope this helps
Alan  

[STEINER]

Hi, anyone got any idea's on how to un-clog a 0.3mm airbrush needle?
I thought I'd cleaned it thoroughly but obviously not! 

John

John

Are you using acrylics or enamels ?  I have limited experience of airbrushing but I know this much, If you are using solvents to clean the AB you have to be careful because it could damage seals/ o type rings in the brush. The  stuff I use when cleaning acrylics is Isopropyl (rubbing Alcohol ) its also excellent and cheap to thin acrylic Tam paints with. Other people use acetone /glass cleaner, for cleaning. I have found when using acrylics through the AB, the needle/ tip /nossle cap can block or dry up after prolonged use. I have found that carefull use of an artists brush and thinners applied to the tip/nossle cap can help prevent this.

Here is a link to cleaning your AB   Airbrushing basics, changing colors, disassembly, airbrush

Cheers

STEINER.

[tankmad]

Hi John like tankman I use cellulos thinners just make sure you take out any  rubber seals first as it will melt them.
Stevie

[mcevoyi]

hi there

its a common problem with any airbrush .. paint will build up in the nozzel  ... even with proper cleanong between colours

as a rule i never clean between colours .. just blow the colour change thru ...

any way .. the best cleaner i have ever come across and i also use ot as a paint stripper .. is from a good hire shop ( not holfords ) is

traffic film remover  that is the cleaning agent addded to your jet power washer .. the holfords stuff is crap .. its very a very week solution .

try it ... its fab and a kind of pink colour ...

[Mackem]

Problem sorted. I stripped down the airbrush and soaked it in nail varnish remover overnight.
There were a few coughs and splutters at first but now it works fine.
Many thanks to all of you for the excellent advice.

Cheers
John