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
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
Remove auxiliary level
Remove the color cup from the side of the airbrush (also remove the plug on the opposite side the color cup) then, use the cleaning brush to clean the passage where the color cup goes.
Using the cleaning brush, clean the inside of the color cup nozzle.
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. (do not scratch the inside of the nozzle) Then set aside
Unscrew the Air cap and use the cleaning brush to clean the inside, then set aside (note: some gravity feed models do not have a detachable 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 by replacing the color cup and opposite side plug
Next screw on the Air cap.
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.
Insert Needle guidewith the cutaway facing down
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.
Lastly, screw on the handle
**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.
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Be creative, stay colorful and keep painting
