Airbrush lubricant question

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

I’ve heard mention on the forum of using lubricants to keep AB mechanisms smooth. I generally clean with either alcohol or laquer thinner and have noticed a little stickiness afterward because the metal parts are so “sqeaky” clean. Can anyone out there recommend a particular type/brand and source of lubricant, and maybe provide some tips on how it’s used to best advantage? Thanks,

TomB

2

I use this stuff from Dixie Art: 99 122 Airbrush lubrucant, non-oil based: $3.90

Here is a link, scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see the listing:

http://www.dixieart.com/Badger_Airbrush_Main.html

I use the lubricant on my trigger, needle and threads on the aircap assembly.

3

Which A/B do you have? You may want to check out Dixie Art or Badger websites for the needle juice

4

Badger Regdab or Iwata-Medea Super Lube are the two “big” names available. When putting it on the needle remember to only use it on the front half.

5

Thanks for this info Bill. I couldn’t recall the names[banghead]

6

i don’t remember who it was that told me on here to use regular glycerin,from thebeauty section,but it works great and a pint was like 2.50

7

any of the ones mentioned work, just don’t use a solvent based oil like light machine oil… it will gum up the works and mess up the bearing if you’re not careful.

you can get glycerin at the local drugstore or department store, I found it in the cosmetic section at Walgreens and the drug section at WalMart.

Personally I use either Regdab or Iwata Superlube only because I have a bottle of each and it lasts FOREVER so I’ll probably never run out!!!

You can not only put it on the needle but put a tiny drop into the trigger mechanism and it will really loosen things up!

8

I heard about using glycerin as a lubricant on this forum and gave it a try recently. Now my AB is silky smooth with the side benefit of not drying the tip as quickly when using acrylic paint! Cheap too! I couldn’t find it in the beauty section but found Walgreen’s “body lubricant” is glycerin too – just in a different package. Have been using it for about three weeks and have found AB cleaning is easier too. [:)]

Dennis

9

Now that’s something new to me[:O] Always learn things from y’all[:D] One of the finer things about the boards[tup]