Airbrush Maintenance Question

[Gamec0cks5]

So I just got my new Iwata Revo BR in. I was reading the manual and it said to spray cleaning solvent throught the brush before using and immediately after. And to clean the needle do you just lightly wipe the needle down with the solvent? What else? What solvent do you use Denatured Alcohol??

Some help would be much appreciated. Gonna post this up at TU too but been getting more responses over here!

Thanks Guys!

[.dsaavedra.]

no need to clean it before you use it... i always just use water to clean mine because i only use water based paint. yeah i wipe the needle down several times while painting with a wet paper towel.

[Gamec0cks5]

Ok so just plain ol' water will be fine just spraying Createx?

[.dsaavedra.]

yup. its all i ever use. i've heard some people use windex, but i've also read from research that the ammonia in it can corrode some of the plated metal parts in the airbrush, so i don't run windex through it. theres always createx airbrush cleaner, but i don't think its necessary when water does the job fine.

[Gamec0cks5]

cool just used it to clean out my Dad's old Paasche that thing is a major PITA to clean compared to my Iwata

[madbass]

Also, be sure to coat the needle with the blue super lube that should have come with the brush when your finished cleaning. I put a drop or two near the tip and spread it all over the front half of the needle with my finger.

[Gamec0cks5]

I didn't get anything like that where can I get some?

[the crab]

Get yourself some dental brushed designed for cleaning around braces.  They work great for getting in the tight spots.  I also take the needle out and use a regular craft style pipe cleaner to clean the needle tube.

[madbass]

Medea Super Lube. I have had good luck dealing with Merri-artist. Listed under 'airbrush', 'airbrush cleaners'. It sounds expensive, but it lasts a looong time since you only need a drop or two at a time. I've had the same tube for a couple years now and used only 1/3 of it.

[Gamec0cks5]

Medea Super Lube. I have had good luck dealing with Merri-artist. Listed under 'airbrush', 'airbrush cleaners'. It sounds expensive, but it lasts a looong time since you only need a drop or two at a time. I've had the same tube for a couple years now and used only 1/3 of it.

ok thanks! That sounds great

[Gamec0cks5]

So I've been using my Airbrush more and more, and have been running water through the cup and cleaning it out with a wet paper towel in between paints and after words I will wipe down the needle carefully with the wet paper towel.

I have had a few times when the paint won't come out when I'm trying to do fine(small) stripes or lines. Is it the paint or my negligence ? It was once with Black opaque paint and pealized paint

[Gamec0cks5]

Any ideas?

[Siebert Outdoors]

turn the air pressure up a bit. That pearl paint is difficult to shoot compared to some of the others. It also sounds like the brush is gummed up.

Are you back flowing the brush by holding your finger over the outlet to make the water in the cup bubble?

[Gamec0cks5]

turn the air pressure up a bit. That pearl paint is difficult to shoot compared to some of the others. It also sounds like the brush is gummed up.

Are you back flowing the brush by holding your finger over the outlet to make the water in the cup bubble?

Ok what PSI Should I be running on?

No I am not back flowing it, when do I do that before I put new paint in and do it with water? Or do I do it after I put the paint in? Should I run some solvents through it? Denatured Alcohol? I don't wanna mess anything up 

[.dsaavedra.]

i run like 10 or 15psi when spraying fine lines, depending on the paint. normal spraying pressure for me is around 25psi.

when i'm cleaning in between colors after i get the cup all clean i will back flush it with water to clean out the nozzle. then i pull and push the needle back and forth in the slot (carefully!) to release any paint that got up behind the needle (towards the handle, not the needle). you shouldn't really have to run solvents through it if you're just spraying waterbased paints.

[BIG M]

C-tex paints can be a pain to shoot at times.   Pearls are usually pretty thick and the pearls like to clog up the tip.   After shooting a pearl color clean the brush and put fresh water in the cup and you will see the fine pearl floating, a little extra cleaning after those colors will help.