Lubricating my airbrush

[Eric Kirwan]

Hi

I have a bog-standard cheap and cheerful airbrush and compressor set that my wife bought me off ebay for my birthday.

I have read in a number of places that I should lubricate by airbrush after every strip and clean, but I don't know where exactly to lubricate and what is best to use. Can anybody advise please??

Thanks

[BarryW]

I dont lube mine but instead I use the Vallejo Airbrush cleaner as it lubes as well as cleans. (only good for acrylic paints incidentally)

[Guest]

I follow the same treatment as Barry. The only problem I have had is with am H & S. This was the trigger mechanism. The small piston which is moved up and down by the trigger to allow air through. Not realised it was slowly getting to a point where it was sicking. Took apart used airbrush oil and not be a problem since.

If you are using the brush regularly I do not think you need to lubricate at all. But I suppose it depends on the airbrush engineering.

Laurie

[monica]

hi I would follow the advice give by Laurie,Barry and they have help me so much with expert info ,as most off the lads who have used an AB for some time

[Guest]

Use Iwata medea superlube and it should work fine. If that does not work, strip it down and work out what the problem is.

cheers, John

[tanktrack]

I'm the same a Barry and use Vallejo cleaner after using water and screen wash , it takes longer to clean the brush than paint but it is worth the effort as you get a better spray and less problems .

[Guest]

I always use loads of water which gets rid of 95% of the rubbish. The worst area is the cup. I always end up with a skirting of junk stuck to the cup. I put a good dollop of Vallejo Airbrush Cleaner, removes anything (including wife hates smells), on a tissue and wipe around making sure none of the debris filters into the paint tunnel. Then finally I give a couple of cups of V.Air Cleaner.

Vallejo Cleaner is also great for removing the paint providing it is within a few days.

Laurie

[Guest]

On a particular video on airbrushing the presenter says to squeeze out a black head at the side of your nose and use that as lubricant.

I kidd you not.

[Guest]

Well my reaction, Harry, is that it would be just as well to remove that reply.

I kid you not. As quoted in the Caine Mutiny by the author Herman Woulk.

Laurie

[Guest]

Well he actually says run your finger down the side of your nose and use the skin oil ,same thing really.

But at least its not a sicking airbrush

I follow the same treatment as Barry. The only problem I have had is with am H & S. This was the trigger mechanism. The small piston which is moved up and down by the trigger to allow air through. Not realised it was slowly getting to a point where it was sicking. Took apart used airbrush oil and not be a problem since.If you are using the brush regularly I do not think you need to lubricate at all. But I suppose it depends on the airbrush engineering.

Laurie

[Ian M]

I too use the Vallejo cleaners, works great for Acrylics, For solvent based paints I just use what is best for the type of paint, then either a drop or two of white spirit or vallejo cleaner. Depending which is closest to hand.

The oil from the side of the nose (out side thank you very much), is a well known lubricant and is also THE thing to polish your nice Brier pipe bowl with and is great to rub on the ferrules of your fishing rod so you can part the sections later...

By the way, if your trigger is getting clogged with paint, this is a sign of two things...One the seal between the paint holder and the trigger that holds the needle is worn and needs changing or tightening, or that you pull the needle out the back when you take the needle out. Out from the front in from the back and you will not be dragging paint into the trigger area.

Ian M

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

I use concentrated screen wash to flush my AB out, then for a good clean I spray some IPA through to finish, to lubricate it I spray some GT-85 onto an area then apply a little with a Q-tip where needed.

Adrian

[colin m]

My needle used to stick once in a while. Following Stona's advice I know give it a light wipe with WD40. No more sticking and it's safe for acrylics.

[Guest]

What BarryW said is me too: no lube, clean with Vallejo AB Cleaner.

[Guest]

My needle used to stick once in a while. Following Stona's advice I know give it a light wipe with WD40. No more sticking and it's safe for acrylics.

Amazing what WD40 does and a good tip. Probably better than oil as it seems to disappear but do the trick. A panacea for most problems. Goes hand in hand with Velcro. If it needs sticking Velcro if it needs un-sticking WD40.

Laurie