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How To Repair Your Airbrush
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Published: October 9, 2006
Repairing your airbrush may be as simple as giving it a thorough cleaning, but other times it is just not that easy. The goal of this article is to help you to troubleshoot the problem and hopefully get you up and painting again. However, repairing your airbrush at home might not be possible and you may have to take it in to a professional.
If no paint is coming out while pushing the trigger down, there are a few possible problems as follows:
Begin repairing your airbrush by checking to see if the air compressor is on and all the air valves are open. Check that the pounds per square inch (PSI) setting on the air compressor is correct for your project.
If you are having a problem with the paint spitting out rather than spraying in a nice continuous flow, there could be a few possible causes:
Check to see if all you need is more paint, otherwise begin repairing your airbrush by cleaning the nozzle and work your way down the list, giving everything a good once over.
If the paint is spattering everywhere while being sprayed, it may not be the airbrush at all; the consistency of the paint may be too thin. Mix a thicker batch of paint. Always make sure the paint has been shaken well before using it. Also, try holding the airbrush closer to the surface of your project using less paint.
If paint is spraying before you even pull the trigger back, hopefully it is not a major problem and you can repair your airbrush.
If this is the case, repairing your airbrush would require a good thorough cleaning of the needle and paint nozzle.
A common problem is the needle cannot be removed from the airbrush. If this is the case there are a few possible solutions to repairing your airbrush:
If that is the case repairing your airbrush would require soaking the airbrush parts in water or the appropriate solvent until the needle can be wiggled loose. If there is still a problem repairing your airbrush, you may have to purchase some new parts.
If you are having trouble creating fine lines with your airbrush, the potential causes are as follows:
Begin testing on a scrap paper to see if you should be holding the airbrush closer to the surface. If that did not help, try increasing the air pressure. If still no luck, try repairing your airbrush by removing and cleaning the paint needle and/or replace the paint nozzle.
If repairing your airbrush requires taking it in, be sure to take it to a professional. Repairing your airbrush is hopefully as simple as giving it a good cleaning or replacing a small part. Most airbrush malfunctions are caused from an unclean airbrush. The best way to avoid problems is to always clean the airbrush before paint color changes, during a session, as well as after, even if it was only for a few minutes. In the long run, it will save you from all sorts of headaches airbrush repairs can cause.
"Airbrush Cleaning: Do or Die." How to Airbrush-Topia. 5 Oct. 2006 .
Barron's Art Handbooks. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 1999.
Fraser, Craig. Craige Fraser's Automotive Cheap Tricks and Specail E/X. Lakewood, NJ: Airbrush Action, Inc., 1999.
Siegel, Peter. The Complete Airbrush Book. 1989.
Shanteau, Pamela. The Ultimate Airbrush Book. New York, NY: Wastson-Guptill Publications, 2002.
If no paint is coming out while pushing the trigger down, there are a few possible problems as follows:
- The air supply is not flowing properly; it may be blocked or restricted.
- The trigger may not be installed properly. Related Articles
Begin repairing your airbrush by checking to see if the air compressor is on and all the air valves are open. Check that the pounds per square inch (PSI) setting on the air compressor is correct for your project.
If you are having a problem with the paint spitting out rather than spraying in a nice continuous flow, there could be a few possible causes:
- The paint nozzle is clogged.
- There is paint build up around the needle.
- The paint path is blocked.
- The paint cup is nearly empty.
Check to see if all you need is more paint, otherwise begin repairing your airbrush by cleaning the nozzle and work your way down the list, giving everything a good once over.
If the paint is spattering everywhere while being sprayed, it may not be the airbrush at all; the consistency of the paint may be too thin. Mix a thicker batch of paint. Always make sure the paint has been shaken well before using it. Also, try holding the airbrush closer to the surface of your project using less paint.
If paint is spraying before you even pull the trigger back, hopefully it is not a major problem and you can repair your airbrush.
- The problem could be that the locknut is loose, tighten it up and try again.
- The paint nozzle could be broken, replace it and see.
- The paint needle might not be sealed tightly inside the paint nozzle.
If this is the case, repairing your airbrush would require a good thorough cleaning of the needle and paint nozzle.
A common problem is the needle cannot be removed from the airbrush. If this is the case there are a few possible solutions to repairing your airbrush:
- The locknut might not be loosened all the way to let the needle come out, loosen the locknut.
- Paint may have dried in the body of the airbrush and/or in the paint nozzle making the needle impossible to remove.
If that is the case repairing your airbrush would require soaking the airbrush parts in water or the appropriate solvent until the needle can be wiggled loose. If there is still a problem repairing your airbrush, you may have to purchase some new parts.
If you are having trouble creating fine lines with your airbrush, the potential causes are as follows:
- The paint nozzle may be damaged or worn out.
- Paint may have built up on the needle causing an increase in the paint amount.
- The air pressure is low.
Begin testing on a scrap paper to see if you should be holding the airbrush closer to the surface. If that did not help, try increasing the air pressure. If still no luck, try repairing your airbrush by removing and cleaning the paint needle and/or replace the paint nozzle.
If repairing your airbrush requires taking it in, be sure to take it to a professional. Repairing your airbrush is hopefully as simple as giving it a good cleaning or replacing a small part. Most airbrush malfunctions are caused from an unclean airbrush. The best way to avoid problems is to always clean the airbrush before paint color changes, during a session, as well as after, even if it was only for a few minutes. In the long run, it will save you from all sorts of headaches airbrush repairs can cause.
"Airbrush Cleaning: Do or Die." How to Airbrush-Topia. 5 Oct. 2006 .
Barron's Art Handbooks. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 1999.
Fraser, Craig. Craige Fraser's Automotive Cheap Tricks and Specail E/X. Lakewood, NJ: Airbrush Action, Inc., 1999.
Siegel, Peter. The Complete Airbrush Book. 1989.
Shanteau, Pamela. The Ultimate Airbrush Book. New York, NY: Wastson-Guptill Publications, 2002.
