I think I broke my airbrush

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Brickie
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I think I broke my airbrush

Post by Brickie »

I did some pre-shading on my current model and then set various airbrush parts in some thinners to clean for a while.

Now I've re-assembled it, it's happily blowing air through, but the paint isn't moving anywhere. Reading a bit on the internet has suggested that rubber seals (which my el cheapo airbrush has) don't like sitting in thinners. It was only in there for 30 minutes or so, but does it sound to you like I've bust it?

It's no particular biggie - I've already got a new one incoming from eBay for just over a tenner - but I'd like to know how not to do that again...
"If you can fly a Sopwith Camel, you can fly anything!"

A 7 | 12 B
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fredk
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Re: I think I broke my airbrush

Post by fredk »

Its possible the seal has dissolved, but I have a couple of Chinese clones and as yet the seals haven't dissolved and I use cellulose thinners to clean them, and I've soaked them for far longer.
Another reason might be that there is a minute bit of hard paint blocking, or partially blocking, the paint flow hole.
Have you got a set of the micro-brushes for cleaning the holes in your airbrush? If not get a set; only about 99p -£3, but worth lots more in reduced frustration.
One of my a/b was showing same symptoms, cleaned it and cleaned it, to no avail. Then I got a set of the brushes, pushed one thru and it brought out the tiniest fragment of hard paint.
Depending on the make you can get replacement seals from some of the ebay sellers of the Chinese clone a/bs
Al speling misteaks aer all mi own werk..
Its not just how good your painting is, its how good the touch-ups are too.
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PaulBradley
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Re: I think I broke my airbrush

Post by PaulBradley »

Yes, the seals can start to dissolve in some thinners. Best to remove them before you clean the metal parts.
Paul

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TobyC
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Re: I think I broke my airbrush

Post by TobyC »

Alternatively get a sonic bath.
Enjoyment over accuracy. That's my motto
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