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How to Dissassemble a Gravity Feed Airbrush

The most important part of taking up painting with an Airbrush is the cleaning and care for it. Taking time to properly clean your airbrush is what will be the defining attribute to a nice clean airbrush painting.

The saying used to be “your painting will only be as good as your equipment,” when it is in fact, ” your art will only be as good as how CLEAN your equipment is.”

We always hear that people have an airbrush but, it is in the garage collecting dust because ‘I couldn’t get it to work “. This prompted me to create a step by step on how to properly take apart your brush, clean it and how to put it back together. Here are the steps I have created for you below.

When removing parts, set aside in order, from right to left and refer to the Parts diagram when re-assembling your airbrush.

Unscrew the handle and set aside

Unscrew the needle chucking nut and set aside

Carefully remove the needle and wipe clean with cleaning solution and a paper towel. Look for any bending on the tip of the needle, then set aside

Unscrew the spring guide and set aside

Unscrew the handle assembly Note: In newer models this extra piece may not be included.

Remove the spring and set aside

Carefully remove the needle chucking guide (with auxilary lever) and set aside

Lift up the trigger and set aside

Unscrew the Needle cap and use the cleaning brush to clean the inside, then set aside

Unscrew the Nozzle cap use the cleaning brush to clean the inside, then set aside

Using the provided Spanner wrench, carefully unscrew the Fluid Nozzle and very carefully clean the inside with the flat edge of the needle. Then set aside

Unscrew the Head system base or Air cap and use the cleaning brush to clean the inside, then set aside (note: some gravity feed models do not have an air cap)

Next, use the cleaning brush and airbrush cleaner to clean the inside of the main body of the airbrush. Use a back and forth motion.



**Now that your brush parts are clean, we can re-assemble it in reverse.

Start with the screwing on the Air cap.

Screw on the fluid nozzle

Next screw on then the Nozzle cap

Next comes the Needle cap

Now very carefully, slide in the Trigger piston into the Air valve opening inside the brush.

Next insert the auxiliary lever which will be connected to the needle guide (in some models, the auxiliary lever is disconnected from the needle guide)

Replace the handle assembly 
Note: In newer models this piece may not be included

Slide the spring onto the needle guide.

Next, Screw on the spring guide completely but, not tight.

Next screw on the needle chucking nut but, not completely.

Now, very carefully insert the needle. Be very light handed when inserting the needle and be sure not to ram the needle forward against the nozzle.




**Needles and Nozzles are extremely fragile and can be easily damaged or lost. Be sure to handle them over a small dish in case you drop them.

Congratulations! Your Gravity-feed airbrush is now clean and ready to create magic!

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Be creative, stay colorful and keep painting….
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