I was airbrushing a couple of evenings ago, when I got called away from the garage for a couple of hours - a bit longer than I’d been expecting. When I came back, I found that the paint had dried in the airbrush. I had to replace the paint jar, and I’ve cleaned the needle and the tip. However, it now won’t spray anything. I’ve tried spraying pure paint thinner, from the replacement jar, the cup that came with the airbrush, and by just pouring some of it into the hole where the cup/jar clip in. All that happens is that air bubbles appear in the paint thinner. I’m using the same pressure as I was before. I’ve currently poured paint thinner through the airbrush and will be letting it soak for 24-48 hours, but I was wondering if anyone’s seen this before and how they were able to recover the airbrush?
You have the world famous & dreaded clogged airbrush! It seems to be more prevalent when using acrylic colors.
I would suggest that you disassemble your airbrush and soak it in the same thinner you use for the type paint you were spraying. It may take a long time to loosen the paint (a day or so) but that should get the paint to where you can reassemble the brush and flush it out with clear thinner and air pressure.
If that doesn’t work then try using a stripper of some sort like Chamelion (sp?) and doing the same process.
In the future if you get called away from painting take the time to clear out any paint in the brush and spray some clear thinner through it. It only takes a few seconds and can save buying a new brush.
if you have air bubbles coming out in the paint jar or cup then it is most likely a plugged tip. the needle will have to come out to clean it properly.
If you are seeing bubbles, make sure you check the hole in the lid of your paint supply jar where the airbrush pulls he paint from. What I have found is that when I see bubbles there is no air getting into the jar to backfill what is attempted to be pulled by the airbrush. If I don’t see bubbles but I am not getting anything out of the airbrush then I look to the airbrush being clogged.
I would also recommend soaking it for a day in laquer thinner. Also get some pipe cleaner to scrub the airbrush with. Make sure the airbrush is completely dry and free of solvents before shooting acrylics thru it again.
Shame on you…lol yes lacquer thinner will clean just about anything including any rubber O-rings left in the air brush so it’s imperative that you break it down and if you have any plastic parts such as the body on lower end single stage models like a Badger 350 DO NOT PUT IT IN THE THINNER! or you will end up with a blob that used to be the air brush body. If you were spraying acrylics I would recommend 91% Isopropyl alcohol first and if that doesn’t do it then try the lacquer thinner but you must thoroughly get rid of any traces of lacquer thinner by spraying alcohol through it yes the thinner does evaporate but it’s best to give it a final wash through with the alcohol as it will evaporate completely.
If you do any amount of airbrushing it’s worth investing in one of these airbrush cleaning pots, I have several and use them constantly.
I am in no means an expert on airbrushes. But being a newb, I’ve made similiar mistakes. Although, aside from the obvious of just bleeding the airbrush, its always nice to have some alcohol ready available to slip off the paint container, and replacing it with a container of alcohol. And bleed it real quick. Sure you have to use or maybe go out and buy and extra paint container for the airbrush, but it sure beats clogging. Just my two cents.
This is what I get for cheaping out on the airbrush…
When attempting to dismantle it to soak in the paint thinner, the tip of the nozzle broke off. Given that I have to order replacements from overseas (owing to the brand of airbrush) and that most of the hobby shops in my area carry Passche, I’ll get a new Passche one.