Can You Clean An Airbrush With Water

Airbrush Cleaning

View/Download Cleaning Instructions PDF

New users who stick with airbrushing have 2 things in common:

They larn how to clean their airbrush properly.

And they clean with the correct tools.

These iii videos from our QuickTech Experience Playlist volition show you lot how to use the Iwata Cleaning Kit to perform three levels of cleaning: quick clean, end of spray session clean and a deep clean. Nosotros use a gravity feed airbrush for these videos but these techniques can exist adjusted to virtually any airbrush model.

Quick Color Change

It is important to make sure your airbrush's color cup is clean earlier changing colors. This is especially true when switching between colors that are on the contrary side of the color bike, like xanthous and violet. In this video nosotros show you how to perform a quick color alter with a gravity feed airbrush. If you are spraying a color with a high pigment load like white, you may have to affluent your colour cup several times before you are ready to change over to the next color.

End of Spray Session

To have a smashing airbrush experience every time, its important to clean your airbrush at the end of each spray session. In this video we show you step by footstep how to clean a gravity feed airbrush using our Iwata Airbrush Cleaning Kit. Follow this cleaning routine and your airbrush will be ready to use the side by side time you lot pick information technology upwards to paint.

Deep Clean

Sometimes airbrushes accept bug. You might see bubbles in the color loving cup, a diminished spray blueprint or possibly your airbrush won't spray at all. Luckily most airbrush problems can be resolved with a thorough cleaning session. In this video y'all'll larn how to deep clean an airbrush and so you tin get dorsum to spraying again.

You'll come across in the video that we soak the nozzle, nozzle cap and needle cap in Medea Airbrush Cleaner. This helps interruption up dried pigment and makes information technology easier to scrub off. But please do not soak, immerse or "wet dock" your entire airbrush in whatsoever liquid. Ever. This tin can cause more problems than it solves.

Use caution when removing and reinserting your airbrush nozzle. Nosotros recommend using our Nozzle Wrench (available as office of the Iwata Airbrush Cleaning Kit and the Iwata Professional Maintenance Tools or sold separately every bit part CLNW1). If y'all are using the small spanner that was included with your airbrush or another tool, take extra care not to over-tighten as this can cause this delicate part to break.

Do you lot have an Eclipse CS? Nosotros fabricated a video but for this airbrush since it has an unique compression fit nozzle. Check it out in our QuickTech Experience Playlist.

Prefer a footstep by footstep airbrush cleaning guide?

Here's what you demand to know…

The airbrush needs to exist cleaned simply in areas which come up in contact with paint The paint flows from the pigment reservoir into the airbrush, around the tip of the needle and out through the caput assembly. These areas must be kept clean for optimum performance of the airbrush.

Follow these recommendations…

Have a cracking airbrush experience every time you spray by cleaning your airbrush regularly and before paint dries.

Exercise a quick paint flush (step 1) between color changes. If yous're ending a pigment session complete steps 1 and 2. Continue with steps 3-eight if your airbrush is clogged, spraying unevenly or to preclude paint build-up.

i. PAINT Affluent - DO Between COLOR CHANGES AND AT THE END OF A PAINT SESSION

For Gravity Feed Airbrushes:

1a. Remove cup chapeau (if nowadays) and dump out excess paint from color cup.

1b. Alternate between using the Iwata Washing Castor with Medea Airbrush Cleaner (or appropriate cleaner) and wipe the cup out..

1c. Spray the cleaner or water through the airbrush until it sprays articulate. Spray into a spray out pot or paper towel.

For Siphon Feed Airbrushes:

1a. Remove paint bottle from lesser of airbrush.

1b. Fill a make clean bottle (not included) with Medea Airbrush Cleaner (or appropriate cleaner) and attach it to the airbrush.

1c. Spray the cleaner or water through the airbrush until it sprays clear. Spray into a Spray Out Pot or paper towel.

For a quick paint flush use the Medea Airbrush Cleaner With 360 Nozzle (not included).

Continue airbrushing with a new color. If catastrophe an airbrush session, move on to stride 2.

2. REMOVE AND Make clean THE NEEDLE

Disconnect the airbrush from the air source.

2a. Unscrew and remove the dorsum handle. Place your handle on a safe surface such equally the Iwata Airbrush Cleaning Mat with its raised ridge which keeps parts from rolling abroad.

2b. Loosen the needle chucking nut by paw.

2c. Pull the needle out. Needles are extremely precipitous and delicate. Be careful not to drop or damage your needle while cleaning.

2d. Make clean the needle with a minor corporeality of Medea Airbrush Cleaner past wiping only towards the abrupt needle point. Merely wipe the needle in a back to front management so as not to puncture yourself.

If your airbrush is clogged, spraying unevenly or to prevent paint build-upwardly:

Leave the airbrush disassembled. Place the needle on a safe surface similar the Iwata Airbrush Cleaning Mat and continue on to steps 3-8.

If yous are ending an airbrush session:

Gently push button the needle dorsum into place. The needle is fully seated when it comes to a consummate terminate. Tighten the needle chucking nut. Reassemble the airbrush and connect your air source. To make certain your needle is fully seated, make full the color cup or a bottle with water and push the main lever down simply to test for air. If water sprays out your needle is not fully seated. Water should only spray when you pull the trigger dorsum (plough the fluid adjustment knob if unmarried-action airbrush). Tighten the needle chucking nut if no h2o sprays. If not working properly, bank check assembly and go through all of the cleaning instructions.

3. REMOVE THE NOZZLE

To reveal the nozzle (4), unscrew the needle cap (ane) and nozzle cap (2) past hand. For the Iwata Eclipse airbrushes, remove the nozzle caput cap (3) with the nozzle caput cap wrench (included with the airbrush).

For Iwata Eclipse airbrushes (compression fit nozzle):

The nozzle (4) for the Eclipse BS, SBS and CS is a prepare and SHOULD NEVER Exist SEPARATED.

Do NOT USE the Iwata Nozzle Wrench on compression fit nozzles.

3a. The nozzle is compression fit into the airbrush body. To remove, press against trunk of nozzle at an angle. Check inside the nozzle caput cap if nozzle appears to be missing. Use the blunt stop of the needle to remove.

For airbrushes with a threaded nozzle:

3a. Identify the Iwata Nozzle Wrench* over the flat sides of the threaded nozzle base and plough left to unscrew.

*The Iwata Nozzle Wrench fits all Iwata and NEO airbrushes excluding the Iwata Eclipse Series and the NEO TRN2 Side-Feed Trigger Airbrush.

4. CLEAN THE NOZZLE AND CAPS

4a. To loosen paint, soak your nozzle, needle cap, nozzle head cap (if compression nozzle) and nozzle cap in Medea Airbrush Cleaner (or solvent) for NO More than 10 minutes.

NEVER soak your unabridged airbrush in liquid. Never store your airbrush with spray medium or cleaning agents in the fluid loving cup.

4b. Using an actress minor cleaning brush dipped in Medea Airbrush Cleaner, scrub your nozzle, needle cap, nozzle head cap (if compression nozzle) and nozzle cap.

WARNING: Nozzle contains Nickle.

5. CLEAN THE PAINT PASSAGE

5a. Dip an extra small cleaning castor or pipe cleaner into a pocket-size loving cup of Medea Airbrush Cleaner.

5b. For gravity-feed airbrushes, push cleaning brush downward into the colour cup pigment passage towards the front end of the airbrush (1). For bottom-feed airbrushes, push button pipage cleaner or cleaning brush upwardly into bottle articulation, deep toward the front of the airbrush (two). Scrub back and forth, twisting in and out. Echo until in that location is no paint droppings on the brush or pipe cleaner.

5c. Use the cleaning brush or pipage cleaner dipped in Medea Airbrush Cleaner to clean the paint passage from the front of the airbrush (3 and four). Clean until there is no pigment debris on the brush or piping cleaner.

6. Cheque PARTS AND PASSAGE FOR Harm AND PAINT Debris

The Iwata LED Magnifier has two levels of magnification plus white and blue LED lights. Use information technology to:

Look at your nozzle for cracks or dents or to check for distortion.
See if yous take a bent needle.
Check for paint debris within airbrush paint passages.

If parts are damaged you will need to reorder that specific role. Contact your Iwata retailer to society. If y'all are airbrushing often, you may want to have an actress needle and nozzle as these parts tin can be damaged easily.

vii. Clean THE Exterior OF YOUR AIRBRUSH

Clean the outside of your airbrush with a small-scale amount of Medea Airbrush Cleaner. Use a pipage cleaner dipped in Medea Airbrush Cleaner to clean tight areas where paint can build up.

eight. REASSEMBLE AND LUBRICATE THE AIRBRUSH

For airbrushes with a threaded nozzle:

8a. Lightly dab Medea Thread Sealer confronting 2 contrary sides of the nozzle threads. Careful to not let sealer to enter the interior of the nozzle.

8b. Screw the nozzle back onto the airbrush with the Iwata Nozzle Wrench. Make sure nozzle is snug. Do not over tighten.

8c. Lightly dab Medea Thread Sealer against 4 opposite sides of nozzle cap threads But, located on the airbrush body. Conscientious not to allow sealer to enter the interior of the airbrush head. Spiral the nozzle cap and needle cap back on finger tight.

For Iwata Eclipse airbrushes (compression nozzle):

8a. Lightly dab Medea Thread Sealer confronting 4 reverse sides of the head cap threads ONLY, located on the airbrush body. Conscientious to keep sealer away from the air and paint passageways.

*The nozzle caput cap compresses nozzle to airbrush. Make certain nozzle caput cap is snug. Do not over tighten.

8b. Place the nozzle into the airbrush head base. Screw on head cap and gently tighten with head cap wrench. Do not over tighten.

8c. Lightly dab Medea thread Sealer against 4 opposite sides of nozzle cap threads ONLY, located on the airbrush caput cap. Careful not to allow sealer to enter the interior of the airbrush head. Screw the nozzle cap and needle cap back on finger tight.

OPTIONAL LUBRICATION: Iwata Lube is not necessary every time you clean your airbrush.

If your principal lever is dull to rise, lubricate the air valve O-band: Make certain handle and needle are still removed from the airbrush.

Depress main lever and pull back, employ only one drop of Iwata Lube to the base of main lever stem.

Motion onto 8d.

If your principal lever does not movement backward and forwards smoothly, lubricate the needle packing:

Make sure handle and needle are nonetheless removed from the airbrush.

Identify only one driblet of Iwata Lube where the taper of the needle begins and spread evenly around tapered edge.

Move onto 8d.

8d. With primary lever depressed, gently re-insert the needle and so every bit not to harm the sharp tip. The needle is fully seated when it comes to a complete finish. Do not employ excessive forcefulness.

8e. Tighten the needle chucking nut by mitt to hold needle in place. Do not over tighten.

8f. Spiral the handle back on to the airbrush.

nine. TEST YOUR AIRBRUSH

In one case reassembled, connect your air source, make full the colour cup or a bottle with water and push the principal lever downwardly only to test for air. If water sprays out your needle is not fully seated. Water should simply spray when you lot pull the main lever back (turn the fluid adjustment knob if single action airbrush). Tighten the needle chucking nut if no water sprays. If not working properly, check associates and go through all of the cleaning instructions.

View/Download Cleaning Instructions PDF