I have an Iwata Eclipse. I have noticed that there is some type of oil on the needle, obviously there so that the action is smooth. The other day I gave my airbrush a good cleaning and now the needle is sticking when I pull the trigger and the oil is no longer there (duh!) My question is, what is the oil that is used on the needle? Suggestions?
Thanks,
Steve
I would imagine that Iwata used Super Lube which is marketed by Medea which owns Iwata I believe.
Dixie Art sells it.
Mike
There are several brands… and that is a good one.
The oil will also help reduce how often you need to take apart and clean the airbrush.
That is very true also Naplak. [:D]
Mike
Apply the Super Lube with your finger tip onto the mid-point of the needle to the tip . Then wipe the needle with a folded soft tissue to remove the excess. The trigger action will be smooth as butter.
I don’t wipe any excess lube away.
I just run a bead of the lube down the front half of the needle and rotate the needle as I insert it into the airbrush.
I wipe the excess that builds up at the needle chuck area from inserting the needle though. Sometimes I even smear a small amount around inside the color cup to make it easier to clean. [;)]
Mike
MikeV,
Wow, sounds like a lot of lube!..it’s a wonder you don’t have a problem with build up. Anyway, thats cool if it doesn’t cause a problem for ya, but others may just want to follow the intructions that come with their airbrush and avoid any possible operator error.
I just tried the method I recently read about in one of the FSM issues. The tip was using Baking spray( criso works good) I recently tried it on my Sotar 20/20 It works just fine and even keeps the paint from building up. I just spray the whole needle and wipe away any excess with my fingers. And its cheap!
The needle fits so tightly into the airbrush that a lot of the lube comes off at the back of the needle chuck as I stated before.
I am not aware of any airbrushes giving instructions on using lube for the needle. Actually having a bit more is nice because it helps coat the inside of the airbrush and stops paint from drying in it. I have a Vega 2000 and an Omni 3000 sitting at my easel right now in the garage with bottles of Createx airbrush paint hooked to them as I left them the last time I practiced airbrushing T-shirts. They have been sitting there for over a month now and the triggers still feel like I just cleaned them. [:D]
That Super Lube is some great stuff.
Mike
Iwata airbrushes come with maintainance instructions using super lube. Relying on super lube to keep paint from drying in the airbrush for a month sounds like risky business to me my friend, but hey if it works for you…have at it. It’s always good policy for most to clean the airbrush after use to avoid a frustrating cleaning session later on, or worse performance problems due to dried acylic paint…yikes!
I wasn’t aware of Iwata’s instructions since I don’t own an Iwata. [;)]
I am not relying on the Super Lube to keep the paint from drying in my airbrushes, I just happened to leave the paint in them that long and they are still working fine. I would NOT recommend leaving the paint in that long with the bottle removed where air will get to the acrylic much more and harden. It would be fun as you mentioned. I have been using Super Lube since about 1994 and it still impresses me. [:D]
Mike
Awesome, I didn’t know it was that good! You ever use Vaseline? I’ve heard of some modelers who use it with good results in lubricating their airbrush needles. I tried it once on my HP-C once and it made the needle a bit sticky through its travel when pulled back.
Greg,
No, I have never tried Vasoline and I was told not to use it because it is possible to contaminate the paint with the petroleum in the Vasoline. Of course if you put it on real thin it probably wouldn’t hurt it at all. If it made the needle sticky I wouldn’t want it on my needle. How do you like the Super Lube?
I noticed that it is blue colored now, but mine kind of looks like motor oil in color. I wonder if they changed the formulation?
I bought my bottle years ago and it’s still over half full although I did go through a period where I didn’t airbrush for a few years.
Mike
Mike
I bought some glycerine after you had mentioned hearing about it as a substitute for SuperLube. When I apply it to the needle it separates or beads up somewhat. I was curious, is that what happens when you use the SuperLube?
I had originally ordered SuperLube along with my Eclipse but DixieArt was out of the stuff and they went ahead and sent out the airbrush and told me to re-order the lube. But I’m too cheap to pay the shipping for just one small item!
Thanks!
Merlin
I tied glycerine after reading Mike’s post about it, but it beaded up and didn’t work for me. I tried using a very thin layer of petroleum jelly, and it worked great. I plan on getting some superlube, but haven’t had the extra bucks to order anything yet. I was going to get some spare parts and a set of cleaning brushes as well, but I’m going to have to wait a little while. Until then, the vasoline is working well and I have no complaints. It hasn’t had any effect on the paint at all, but I do use a very thin layer. I haven’t had any sticking at all with it.
madda
I asked my friend about the glycerine again after hearing the problems you guys had with it and he told me that he used the glycerine for lubing the trigger and not necessarily the needle.
I guess I misunderstood him the first time or he wasn’t clear when he posted it in the other airbrush forum I go to. [;)]
I would order some more paint or something to make the shipping more affordable and pick up some Super Lube if you can, it’s great.
Mike
MikeV,
I think the Super Lube is by far the best airbrush lubricant I’ve ever tried! I do have some of the older "motor oil colored bottles as well. I don’t think Medea has changed the formula only it’s obvious color-no dought to look more estheticly pleasing.[:D]
Yeah, After the Vaseline test, I cleaned things up on the airbrush and it was the Super Lube to the rescue! So far it seems to work on all of my airbrushes. Prior to the Lube I relyed on Whal hair clipper oil and Dura-Lube. These did the job but they all thickened over time which nessessitaes another cleaning session before use.
Thanks for the info Greg.
Coast Airbrush in Anaheim, CA also sells a lube called Airolube that is supposed to be real good too.
I have heard that Badger’s ‘Needle Juice’ is also good although I haven’t tried it either.
Mike