Tonight I went to give my Iwata its monthly thorough cleaning and found that the needle was stuck in the body of the airbrush and it will not come out. The last time I used it was just earlier this week. So what do I do to free the needle without damaging the airbrush or the needle?
Thank you
Rob
Rob,
You can try soaking it upside down in a shallow dish of lacquer thinner, but make sure it is shallow enough that the airvalve does not get in the lacquer as it can wipe out the O ring in there.
If soaking does not work then remove the tip if you can and remove the handle and put a pair of pliers on the end of the needle at the back and gently twist the needle back and forth to break it loose from the paint that is holding it.
Do not try and pull the needle out with the pliers, but rather twist it as I said and then you will be able to pull it out.
I hope this helps.
Mike
You don’t give much information on how the needle got stuck but I’ll assume it is not stuck by dropping the airbrush on the head. And I’ll assume you didn’t push the needle in the head so far that it has a mushroomed the needle. That would make the nozzle act like a hook and you would not get the needle and nozzle apart without damage.
You didn’t say what you used to spray the airbrush with. Acrylic or enamel. If it was acrylic then a bath with ammonia and soap for an overnight soak could work to soften your clog. If it was enamel you could try to soak with either thinner, which is harsh, or vegetable oil, that is so soothing to the airbrush, which will soften the paint enough to pry the needle and nozzle apart after an overnight soak.
Try to soak the tip of the airbrush only. And twist the needle as you pull on it.
You can always remove the stuck parts with the needle wrench as one piece and replace the parts.
Good luck!
I didn’t drop the airbrush on its end so I think it is stuck because of some dry paint and I use Acrylics only so I will soak it in some ammonia or windex over the night and see if that works. I am surprised about this since I clean it pretty well after using it every time I use it. At least I thought I did. Could only one lapase cause this? Anyway…
Thanks for everyone’s help and advise. I hope to save the needle because I really don’t want to wait for another to get here since I will most likely have to mail order a new needle.
Thanks again,
Rob
Well soaking it in Windex did the trick. This morning the needle came right out. Thanks again to everyone that gave advise.
Rob
Had the same problem. Screw off the back part and screw off the bolt that holds the needle into the ab. Then take some plyers and do the work.
Rob,
I would try and get some Badger Needle Juice or Medea Super Lube and put it on the needle to help prevent this from happening again.
Also, make sure you clean it well enough when finished.
Mike