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While airbrushing, I am consistently having a problem with paint drying in the nozzle. Not on the needle (it does, but it is no big deal to stop for a min and fix tip-dry), but when it dries in the nozzle, I need to empty the cup, break the brush down, clean the nozzle, reassemble, etc. Is this happening to a lot of people? I know when it has happened because I will be spraying and paint will no longer come out when I pull the needle back, but it will come out when I push it back forward. I am using an Iwata hp-cs, vallejo game color thinned with distilled water to the consistency of milk or just a bit thinner, spraying between 20-35 psi.

Does anyone else encounter this on a regular basis? If so, how do you fix it, or at least an acceptable work-around? I have inspected the nozzle, and it does not appear to be damaged, bent, scrached, flared, etc...

Im assuming youre using a two stage trigger airbrush. I had that problem alot too. Make sure you minimize your empty air flow (spraying air with no paint) when using the brush. Just kind of a shot in the dark but it was a problem for me. I didnt even realize I was doing it half the time. Hope it helps.

Have you checked to see if you have paint accumulating in the mixing chamber? It is the little brass looking cone that sits behind the nozzle. Occasionally I get a paint build up in this chamber and I find that after longe airbrushing periods cleaning this out helps eliminate the problem you are describing.

Ashton

yea, that little bronze piece behind the nozzle can get cogged, and make it a pain to use. '

best way to clean it IMO is to soak it overnight in airbrush cleaner, then go at it with a toothpick. You can also push the paint gunk out through the nozzle with the toothbrush. DO NOT use the needle to clean it.... though a pin might work well.

Yes, it is the bronze piece that I am having problems with. I get a lot of paint drying and gunking in there even in short sessions. I've been using interdental brushes to clean it, but maybe I need to find something a bit better that will fit all the way through. The interdental brushes only go in about 95%.

I sometimes use the needle that came with my cheapo brush...

I push out long thin strips of gunk through the nozzle... eventually it gets cleaned.

Also, on the nozzle cover piece, make sure that both sides of the hole for the nozzle are clean. Paint build up between the nozzle protector and the nozzle itself can cause poor air flow.

If I use just regular soapy (dish soap) water, will that damage my brush in any way, or am I safe trying that? What brand of airbrush cleaner are you using? Mine just doesn't seem to pack the punch.

I'm using createx airbrush cleaner.

It doesn't really dissolve anything, it just loosens it up so I can get at it with a pick.

warm soapy water SHOULD be fine... I can't imagine it would damage it.

The only thing that I know for sure that you want to stay away from is Ammonia, so I figure warm soapy water should be just as good as AB cleaner, and a lot cheaper in the long run.... If anyone knows that I am wrong, please let me know though. Thank you all for your help!

http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=3131&page=1

This looks like a pretty good guide.

In my research I keep seeing people that use Windex, both to dilute their paints and clean their brush. Apparently a LOT of people do this. Funny thing is, Windex has Ammonia in it. Some solvents tend to erode rubber washers over time. That's why I tried to pick a brush that had teflon.

Another thing I've picked up is that most airbrush users thin their paints with the same item they clean their brush with.

PS I have no practical experience, but I've done mountains of research on it

Dez wrote:In my research I keep seeing people that use Windex, both to dilute their paints and clean their brush. Apparently a LOT of people do this. Funny thing is, Windex has Ammonia in it. Some solvents tend to erode rubber washers over time. That's why I tried to pick a brush that had teflon.

Another thing I've picked up is that most airbrush users thin their paints with the same item they clean their brush with.

PS I have no practical experience, but I've done mountains of research on it

I thin with thinner medium, which is basically pigment-less paint I think....

wouldn't work very well for cleaning!

That seems to be pretty close to what I'm doing currently. If anything, I'm actually a bit more thorough. Thanks for the heads up, I will try using a pin or needle to clean out the very end. Maybe there's something lodged where my brush isn't getting.

Suks wrote:That seems to be pretty close to what I'm doing currently. If anything, I'm actually a bit more thorough. Thanks for the heads up, I will try using a pin or needle to clean out the very end. Maybe there's something lodged where my brush isn't getting.

I think its likely that your just pushing the paint gunk up towards the top of the nozzle when you insert the brush.... use a pin, push it out through the tip of the nozzle.

I have been using 1:4 ratio of windex to water for quite some time and it works great....the rings in Iwata are Teflon, so the ammonia wont hurt them.

To the OP...it sounds like your paint might be drying in the mixing chamber, also if you remove the small silver nozzle piece at the front of the little brass part, you should able to get a brush through that to clean it. Also, I was having bad luck with the Vallejo Air paints and my brush clogging, I dont hardly use them anymore.

Ashton

Redfinger wrote:I have been using 1:4 ratio of windex to water for quite some time and it works great....the rings in Iwata are Teflon, so the ammonia wont hurt them.

To the OP...it sounds like your paint might be drying in the mixing chamber, also if you remove the small silver nozzle piece at the front of the little brass part, you should able to get a brush through that to clean it. Also, I was having bad luck with the Vallejo Air paints and my brush clogging, I dont hardly use them anymore.

Ashton

does that piece come off on the HP-CS? It seems to be stuck on in mine, but I haven't exactly tried to force the issue out of fear of breaking it.

Horst wrote:

Redfinger wrote:I have been using 1:4 ratio of windex to water for quite some time and it works great....the rings in Iwata are Teflon, so the ammonia wont hurt them.

To the OP...it sounds like your paint might be drying in the mixing chamber, also if you remove the small silver nozzle piece at the front of the little brass part, you should able to get a brush through that to clean it. Also, I was having bad luck with the Vallejo Air paints and my brush clogging, I dont hardly use them anymore.

Ashton

does that piece come off on the HP-CS? It seems to be stuck on in mine, but I haven't exactly tried to force the issue out of fear of breaking it.

This. I don't think the pieces are meant to separate in the HP-CS. I will definitely grab something narrow enough to get all the way through.

@redfinger - What paints are you using now? I started buying vallejo specifically because I had read good reviews about them in airbrushing, but I am definitely always looking to try new things.

well, I know the Iwata HP-B+ has a screw off nozzle... but it comes with a special wrench to remove it and everything.

I have an Iwata HP-CS, the little silver part on the end of the brass mixing chamber is meant to come off. It screws on and off.

To the OP I have had poor luck with the Vallejo Air line, but the Vallejo Model colors work well for me.

Ashton

Suks wrote:While airbrushing, I am consistently having a problem with paint drying in the nozzle. Not on the needle (it does, but it is no big deal to stop for a min and fix tip-dry), but when it dries in the nozzle, I need to empty the cup, break the brush down, clean the nozzle, reassemble, etc. Is this happening to a lot of people? I know when it has happened because I will be spraying and paint will no longer come out when I pull the needle back, but it will come out when I push it back forward. I am using an Iwata hp-cs, vallejo game color thinned with distilled water to the consistency of milk or just a bit thinner, spraying between 20-35 psi.

Does anyone else encounter this on a regular basis? If so, how do you fix it, or at least an acceptable work-around? I have inspected the nozzle, and it does not appear to be damaged, bent, scrached, flared, etc...

Well.. I guess it suks to be you...

Sorry, I had to.

Anyway, When I use an airbrush, I use Rubbing alcohol to clean it - on a little mediswab. Look for about 70% isopropyl - IT's great for cleaning paint off brushes, glue off wood and your finger when you slice it open with the razor saw!

In australia, you can get two-hundred of those little swabs for about 8$. I'm assuming its less in america.