Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I have (had?) a beautiful Mr. Hobby Procon Boy WA Double Action airbrush that I bought in Japan, but thanks to my housing situation never used more than a couple of times. Long story short, the instructions say never to take the needle out so I never properly learned how to disassemble it until tonight, so apparently I never gave it a proper clean. Hence my clog, hence my need to try and disassemble it. After a good hour agonizing over the parts and looking at YouTube videos, I finally figured out how to use the wrench to remove the nozzle and clean the needle. So as I was trying to clean it to put it away, I saw that even with the button all the way forward (so there should be air but no paint flow), my airbrush cleaner would spray out just by pushing the button. Thinking I had not correctly tightened the nozzle with my wrench, I took the covers off and tried to tighten it again...

And must have tightened it too far because part of the nozzle came off and there seems to be no way of re-attaching it. I can't see any bit with threads, all I have is the rectangle bit that the wrench fits over at the end of a tiny cone, and on the back side there is just a socket. Now if I try to cycle cleaner (or water, or I guess anything) through the brush, all it does is blow air into the cup.

Between the brush, compressor, various cleaning kits both in Japan and the US, and shipping it, I bet I've invested close to $400 in this thing. I'm not going to be happy if I've ruined it after using it about 4 times.

It is hard to tell by the description alone. Anyway you can post a couple pics of the end of the brush with comments to what you tried to do?

Just trying to offer what help I can.

Pictures are needed.

You may have sheared off a piece in which case you're SOL.

Or something else...

I know nothing about this type of airbrush but I can't imagine a device like this not being able to be disassembled. I've worked with Badger and Paasche exclusively and seen a number of others in action. A good airbrush is like an assault rifle, it should be capable of being broken down into its basic components, cleaned and re-assembled.

If you've got a good art supply store near you with an airbrush dept. they can most likely help. But do show some pics because it will help us get an idea of what's going on.

Pics would help as others have said, if you need to replace it, a master g44 airbrush from amazon is an Keats micron knock off, but a damned good one for 60 bucks!

A top grade airbrush is made to be disassembled for maintenance. The manufacturer will be able to provide replacement parts for anything you broke. You need to get an exploded diagram and compare all your parts with it so you can see what is missing or bent.

Alternatively, send the unit off to the manufacturer's repairs department.

I ruined my first airbrush similarly 15 years ago. Now I know that it was just badly designed, a good airbrush allows you to take out the needle with the turn of a screw or socket, clean it and put it back in. Same with the nozzle.

I wasn't able to repair the airbrush since the broken off part jammed the winding and even the manufacturer couldn't get it out. If you can get it out you could just buy a new nozzle.

Last airbrush I got is about 170$ and works perfectly (Evolution two in one).