Airbrush Troubleshooting Guide, Why Doesn't It Work? Demystifying Airbrushes.

How to clean your airbrush.
• CLEAN YOUR AIRBRUSH, S...
I frequently hear people ask, Why has my Airbrush stopped working? I also frequently hear advice on cleaning and use that's not particularly helpful and this is typically down to a lack of understanding of how this surprisingly simple but sometimes finnicky precision device works.
This video aims to demystify the double action airbrush and help the user understand, diagnose, fix and enjoy it.

[@brohofied2561]

started airbrushing a week ago i got an iwata revolution and i run on all sort of issues X) till i decided to not just clean the needle part and cleaner spraying but open it all up, surprise surprise, there was some gold pigment below the trigger and some dry magenta on the nozzle, opening it up helped me understand more or less how it works so i searched youtube to find more info and found your insightful video, now i really understand how it goes, thanks :)

[@IBAKaspian]

Usually I don't watch videos of this subject matter that are longer than 10-15 minutes long. You Sir made a very informative video and it was delivered in a manner that kept me watching for the entire time. You got yourself another subscriber :-)

[@spidiq8]

Thank you and I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@mihalislymperakis2422]

Brilliant, wonderful educational and incredibly helpful job! I wish i had it at hand when I started airbrushing!!! Even today it can function as quick reminder. Thank you

[@mtchllro]

Thank you 🙏 I have had lots of “experts” advice with regards to my airbrushing woes. You have not only explained in a non patronising way how and why a airbrush works you have explained exactly what was wrong (having to work paint delivery back and forth to get paint out) and how to fix it. Thank you again.

[@reifaa2905]

Perfect, I really like the way you transport information and appreciate your effort to make this informative video!

[@lillyvassileva9029]

Very helpful video,thank you very much!

[@larrydelaruelle5778]

Another excellent explanation. I especially appreciate your take on the 'consistency of milk'; I had not heard it explained that way. Thanks.

[@gregwatters2183]

Hello there what a great and informative video, as many comments have stated i am relatively new to airbrushing and am having trouble with my h&s ultra, i will try some of your advice and see if this works.Also just wanted to say thanks again as airbrushing has a steep learning curve and having such experience available is really helpful. Thanks again.

[@nokiot9]

Greg Watters remove the valve at the base and submerge the entire thing in alcohol 99% or hardware store acetone (mineral spirit). Make sure you pull the needle back too. Also I keep some of it in a needle tip bottle and feed it into the air port in the bottom then screw the valve on and blow air thru it. Doing all that makes sure you get solvent into every single area of it so it can’t clog. I find most issues with mine are caused by clogs.

[@luizcordova]

Just coming to comment on how amazing this explanation is. Thank you for all the technical part, which is really hard to find. Thanks a lot!

[@spidiq8]

Glad it helped.

[@jadenstefan9231]

You prolly dont care at all but does someone know a tool to get back into an Instagram account? I was stupid forgot my account password. I would appreciate any help you can give me

[@nehemiahkylan3579]

@Jaden Stefan Instablaster =)

[@jadenstefan9231]

@Nehemiah Kylan thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@jadenstefan9231]

@Nehemiah Kylan it did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thanks so much you saved my ass :D

[@owenthomas7014]

Very underrated video.

[@itsChris65]

I cant believe that was a 35 minute video very informative

[@spidiq8]

Thanks, glad you liked it.

[@dreadpatch]

New to airbrushing here. I have been having trouble with my airbrush and your video really helped me diagnose my problems with it. Thank you! More power to you good sir.

[@edwardkennedy5680]

Hi Spidiq8 , hope all well with you ! Purchased a Iwata Revolution on your advice , delighted with it ,as with my As 18-2 compressor . However the a/ brush that came with pumps out air as soon as I attach same to compressor , appears to work but only use it spraying varnish ! Any advice on how to sort it ! Best Edward.

[@spidiq8]

If it spray air out immediately, the air valve is either stuck open or the seal in there is damaged or not seated correctly. If you check out my disassembly videos you can see how to remove and check the air valve assembly, shown in the video here on a NEO, but they're all much the same, some valves unscrew as a unit from the connector, some have a slotted brass nut inside the connector. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2m8fIh3Z7h6sLc

[@jerrybickley7694]

Thank you for making this video. As someone that is new to airbrushing models, I had picked up an airbrush and found that it wasn't working correctly. Your diagrams and troubleshooting tips helped me identify that it was in fact a defective unit, and not something I was doing incorrectly. Got a replacement and all is good!

[@spidiq8]

Glad it helped and hope you enjoy airbrushing

[@DavesMiniMenagerie]

I picked up an AliExpress needle/nozzle/air cap set for my Chinese airbrush and they weren't concentric! So the nozzle was pressed up against one side of the air caps opening, basically, air was only coming out on one side of the nozzle. It resulted in a pretty wild spray pattern and a crazy fast build-up of paint on the needle tip. I guess that is what I deserve for paying 2 quid for it.

[@johndowd7010]

Had bubble in my cup ..checked my needle...nozzle...cleaned it adjusted needle..finally found it was my nozzle seal..so I removed it and flipped it around...it fixed it.

[@mrsaizo0000]

I have a Harder & Steenbeck airbrush, after a while, I started having issues with it. So I ordered stuff to do maintenance. At the end, it was the quick connector that was bad. Also, cleaning is essential, even if I use the airbrush for 10 minutes or 8 hours, I always clean it completely.

[@UnexpectedDanger]

I'm always amazed how poor the instructions are when you buy an airbrush. The pamphlet usually sucks. Also: basically every airbrush paint I've encountered doesn't give you any advice on what PSi to use, or what thinner ratio you should use. All of this, to me, is incredibly sloppy and idiotic. It's frustrating how little information exists in this day and age.

[@StewartBremner]

Thank you for this. It's amazingly helpful and informative.

[@asdf9890]

Just started airbrushing a few weeks ago, this was very helpful advice and insight. Thanks! It really seems practice and experience is the key to figuring it out.

[@ItsOscar]

I throughly cleaned it but still no paint is coming out, only air. What should I do?

[@johanbergqvist3939]

Very informative. Have helped this newbie alot. Thanks!

[@Emtbtoday]

Iv just bought 2 airbrushes and compressor it's not spraying atoll both them but blowing plenty of air but can't get paint to flow what so ever!? I don't know what I'm doing wrong can you help ?

[@michael42158]

Thanks to this I was able to diagnose a problem with the trigger which was not depressing the valve for the air supply properly. Thanks.

[@nokiot9]

Have you ever spent like 30 min cleaning out your air brush methodically like a mad man only to realize you kicked the power cord on the compressor? 😂

[@spidiq8]

Lol. No, but that made me chuckle.

[@tonyromano6220]

Tommy Ohlrich nope!

[@davidbrown2643]

What do I do if I feel air when I spray but I can't get any liquid to come out can someone please help me??!!!!!

[@davidbrown2643]

I got it to work I'm good

[@SpacePlan10]

@@davidbrown2643 What was the issue? My Sparmax 4 does this every time I use it. It's driving me mad.

[@TierDrama]

@@SpacePlan10 clean it!

[@SpacePlan10]

TierDrama it has been thoroughly cleaned.

[@TierDrama]

@@SpacePlan10 it seems to be jammed. there might be a tiny tiny bit of color left that is causing the jam. had this also...thought it is clean but there was a tiny bit of color left in the nozzle. the tip of the sparmax is especially tiny... at least this is my analysis from here. as you see in the drawing, air and color have two seperate ways of coming out of the airbrush.

[@attilakovats5139]

Hands down the best airbrush video i ve seen so far!

[@spidiq8]

Thank you

[@GaudiaCertaminisGaming]

Troubleshooting starts at 15:30, but the first 15 minutes are very good.

[@brettallenthomas]

Brilliant...

[@corkcamden9878]

I appreciate your understanding of mechanical principles because with this knowledge, you explain in a logical procession, the step(s) which must occur sequentially for a system to complete its operational cycle. You never fail to explain a step, which taken as a series of steps, explains how a system completes its operational cycle. Your logic is easily grasped because of your methodical approach. In short, I appreciate your ability to break a system down into easily understandable steps. It is this quality which sets you apart from all others.

[@edwardkennedy5680]

Hi Spidiq8 , many thanks for your v prompt reply , your work experience alone , speaks volumes ! I myself worked in Texas as a house painter in the late 60's. Some genius came in using a spray gun kept us going briefly before we folded !😁 This is my spare brush ! When plugged in it sprays air , however on triggering it it sprays liquid . Have tried a trigger from a cheap portable - same result . I'll check but worried about seals etc. As usual , grateful for your advice n help ! Keep safe ! Best Edward

[@spidiq8]

It'll definitely be the air valve, you'll note on your other air comes out when you press the plunger, and paint when you draw back the needle. If the seal is damaged, incorrectly fitted or dirty or dry they can stick and typically stick in the open position. This is a tiny rubber O ring in the air valve which is the bit where your hose connects and the trigger is right above. A very VERY tiny smear of silicone grease on the O ring before refitting will help if it's just a bit dry for example, but emphasis on the very, you don't want any silicone based products mixing with the paint. Stay safe over there.

[@TomasMcAdam]

Excellent video. Really learnt a lot. Thanks Mr Dude!

[@UTGFAMILY]

How can I fix my bottom feed airbrush

[@spidiq8]

Can you provide more details as to what's wrong with it? The principal is the same for both types so the problems and fixes will apply equally but if you can specify what is happening I can offer suggestions.

[@UTGFAMILY]

@@spidiq8 the cup is stuck and no paint want come out it a master airbrush

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thank you so much for this, explained so much

[@imrozgill9711]

i left the nozzle loose after through cleaning sesh. and got the same problem which is getting bubbles in the paint cup. but as i dismantanled the brush and found out the loose noozle and after i tighten it .its all good and working . thank you for your tips and knowledge

[@adurbe]

This just saved my airbrush (and project) thank you!

[@jimphillips6532]

Thanks for this.mega helpful!

[@OG_Beckie_Leigh]

Thank you so much for this! I just got my 1st (very inexpensive) airbrush which, of course, came with no instructions at all. I’m not a “you just do it like this” type of person. I need to know the how and why of the way things work. Your video is PERFECT!

[@spidiq8]

Thanks. Glad you found it helpful.

[@ethan_g709]

Finally someone made an in depth and comprehensive guide to understanding your airbrush. Thank you for this.

[@spidiq8]

You're welcome, I hope it's useful to you.

[@nephilimcrt]

Thanks for this video. It was very helpful.

[@WingsOfGaming]

This is a comprehensive video and certainly a must watch for amateurs. Been having problems and most googled answers are mostly about using different paints, thinning ratios, air pressure or both. Never about the source and steps of troubleshooting. Through this video, I had a better understanding and solved my problem.

[@spidiq8]

Thanks, glad you found it useful.

[@johnricc5868]

Thank you for sharing your experience, this is a very useful video.

[@saltykrug]

Thanks for the basic info. I had trouble ranging from large globs coming out, plugging up and not inserting the needle far enough into the gun. I bought a Harder & Steenbeck so I figured I bought a good gun. Holding the gun a far enough distance back from the minis I was painting was something I had to learn as well.

[@spidiq8]

It's a definite learning curve but they're great once you get used to them. The H&S are great brushes

[@randomsucks2444]

thank you.i bought a cheap one to start out. your video really, really helped.

[@antonjonsson424]

very helpful and clear explanation. thank you

[@theBaron0530]

Speaking of the needle, is there a single best position, or is adjusting the needle one more variable to consider, along with pressure, paint thickness, nozzle size, etc? That is, should the needle be extended only to a certain length in the nozzle, for optimal air and paint flow?

[@spidiq8]

theBaron0530 There is single best position in a dual action, that's fully seated, it's then drawn back with the trigger to adjust paint flow. Not seating the needle will cause paint to spray as soon as you press for air and will allow drips. With a single action that uses a needle you press for air and wind the needle back until you get the paint flow you need for the job you're doing then, like a spray can, start your spraying off to the side and sweep across the part. Hopefully that makes sense.

[@robertraines8518]

Brilliant. Thank you so much! You are an excellent teacher. Very clear and concise. Solved my problem (one of them anyway LOL) Thanks!@

[@spidiq8]

Thanks. Glad it helped.

[@edwardkennedy5680]

Hi Spidiq8 , getting back to you re my query on Airbrush constantly bubbling ! Replacement needle and 0.2mm nozzle arrived this morning ( 3 weeks later) KK Moon ! Works better than ever ! Notice there is a ? Rubber 0 ring @ the base - not on original , nor on my Iwata Revolution CR ! Have you ever had to replace your Nozzle on your revolution CR ! Is the rubber 0ring essential ? Best Edward

[@spidiq8]

Glad it's working. Now original iwata nozzles are manufactured precisely and don't need an o ring seal. An am one might but you'll experience bubbling in the cup if it leaks there.

[@GiftofChaosStudio]

I have a renegade Krome. Worked fine until last week. Air comes out, no paint. Been airbrushing for years now and nothing has worked. Went and bought a new needle and tip. Here's hoping!

[@spidiq8]

Fingers crossed for you. The Badgers are generally pretty solid.

[@SmoosWorkshop]

still watching but a cracking video have shared on my page and the dungeon :), next up how to paint your model with coffee?...lol

[@spidiq8]

Smoo's Workshop Thanks Smoo, shhhhhh, don't be giving away my next video reveals, Lol. Tell you what though, it might not paint well but it'd smell great.

[@SmoosWorkshop]

coffee is apparently good for aging wood/balsa in dios :P

[@spidiq8]

Smoo's Workshop Ah yes, that I can imagine, as long as it's cheap rubbish coffee and the decent stuff. I have used coffee grounds for diorama bases once though.

[@TheMcLeish]

Smoo's Workshop coffee coffee coffee

[@tomatoes3]

@@TheMcLeish lol

[@welshparamedic]

A brilliant video, just rediscovered model making after a 53 year break (jretired and now have time to carry on doing things like model making, painting etc again) however as a youngster i used to paint my airfix models with the old style enamel paints we had in the 60's and70's...but i now wated to 'upgrade' so i bought a compressor with a tank and an airbrush, a cheap 'made in china' model...bad move, it worked sort of but i bit the bullet and ordered a H and S evolution and its a different league as compared to the 'cheapo' but i eventually had a few problems, however your fault finding/fix video has been a godsend....plus a good teaching style! thankyou very much...new subscriber!

[@spidiq8]

Thank you. I'm glad you found it useful and thank you for the subscription. I try to organise my videos in playlists because I make a variety of content so if model making is your primary interest check my playlists for model related videos. If you're new to airbrushes you might benefit from my airbrush cleaning video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpS2c35moZp_mNk

[@athollmcnicoll256]

Spidiq8 : Would it be possible to remove and rubbish the rubber seal on a knock-off Chinese AB and replace it with a Teflon Seal instead ? Heard Colin (Festa67's workshop) mention 3 clicks away, so as a permanent replacement would you advise this for my latest acquisition - a KKNoon Trigger A/B which I intend using as a method for Mural painting and not models. Cheers buddy.

[@spidiq8]

The 'problem' seal is often a teflon type already on the Chinese brushes. It's the needle packing one. The little one on the o ring, you can sometimes get away with discarding, it all depends on how well the nozzle fits. My very first Chinese cheapie works great without. Another one I bought later didn't. But that seal should hold up for a quite a while, the exposure to solvent risk with it is when soaking the nozzle to clean. The others problem with swapping parts in these is size and compatibility is guesswork. You can't guarantee that say, an Iwata seal with fit one.

[@jonbru1]

Very helpful, practical guidance.

[@ristorinne5817]

I have a Hobbynox syphon airbrush that came with 0.5mm needle. I can only change the needle to 0.3mm + and a smaller nozzle. My problem was/is. When i change the 0.5mm needle and nozzle to 0.3mm needle and nozzle, it doesn´t spray any paint. Only air. At first it sprayed water though when i tried it. I thinned the paint but no luck. Now it doesn´t even spray water. Everything is fine on the brush itself. Then i changed the needle back to 0.5mm it works fine again. What is going on? I´m new to airbrushing. Thank you for possible answer.

[@spidiq8]

You need to check the nozzle first for roundness at the tip, damage, cracks, sealing etc and then check the needle is seating properly and passing into and out of the nozzle cleanly.

[@robbinduverney6567]

This video was VERY useful. My specific within was a luminesse makeup Gun. Now I know how it works and what's wrong. After watching I now know its the seal. Now I don't know how to replace the seal but I have knowledge of how to take apart reassemble and how it works. Great job. Thank you. Do you replace seals for customers??

[@spidiq8]

It's something I can do provided the seals are available, are you in the UK?

[@donmead4870]

Thank you for that instruction. Took all the mystery out of this tool and it's function.

[@theBaron0530]

Excellent video! I like how you lay out the process-"Check this first, then this, then this." This is very helpful. I've shared this with my club at Lehigh Valley Scale Modelers, too. Thanks very much!

[@spidiq8]

theBaron0530 Thank you for the share and I'm glad it's useful. That's the mechanic in me and no matter what I look at it's a step by step approach, first look at the procedure and check each step in a linear fashion, if the order it happens isn't relevant and you need to test by replacement start with the cheapest component. :)

[@panKowalski597]

Thank you very much, great video :)

[@scots2129]

My iwata revolution will spray paint, but it sounds like a machine gun and paint sprays out like that too. Even very thin paints make the machine gun sound. What causes this?

[@spidiq8]

Best guess would be a partial clog. Bent needle tip or split nozzle. If you have a loupe or a good magnifying glass have a good look at your nozzle with the needle inserted to see if there's a split. Check the needle tip for straightness at the same time, if they're both OK. Sit the nozzle components in cellulose/lacquer thinner, wipe the needle with the same stuff until it's squeaky clean. Check it has a little resistance on the Teflon seal in front of the trigger. Adjust that in a little if not. (My other videos on stripping airbrushes cover this) then reassemble making sure the nozzle seats well, (use a dot of beeswax on the threads if necessary) and seat the needle and retry and that should sort it.

[@scots2129]

@@spidiq8 thank you sir!

[@spidiq8]

@@scots2129 No problem. Let me know if you sort it and what it is.

[@nunchuckerz]

was this the problem im having same issue with my iwata

[@scots2129]

@@nunchuckerz I got a new nozzle and it was fine the first time I used it. Cleaned the new nozzle and voila, the problem is back. Perhaps I am warping the nozzles when cleaning.....really frustrating

[@edwardkennedy5680]

Hi Spidiq8 , just spotted your reply ! Agree with you ! Makes no sense to leave nozzle in place when cleaning , always carefully , like their idea of shoot 🔥 water thru it though! Expecting a replacement nozzle n needle next week ! Will report any news ! Your video still the best , and makes most sense ! Stay safe ! Edward

[@spidiq8]

Very kind of you to say, thanks. Please update when you get the replacement. Hopefully it'll be back to full working order for you.

[@stickman6624]

Can you please do a video that explains why my dual action brush is suddenly working like a single action brush????? As soon as I depress the trigger I get paint flow . I have a cheap Avanti gravity fed double action brush with the 0.35 nozzle . It was working great until it got clogged with white opaque paint. I took it apart and cleaned it thoroughly,put it back together and put purified water in the cup to make sure it was good to go and now it's blasting paint as soon as I press down on the trigger . The needle doesn't move at all so I don't understand why I have paint flow. Any suggestions will be deeply appreciated . I'm subscribed to your channel and I can't find any videos on this particular problem

[@spidiq8]

The reasons are explained in this video, simply if it sprays immediately on air application the nozzle isn't sealed, bent needle, bent or damaged nozzle etc.

[@Moxiltws]

Thank you so much for this video! You're so right about the imortance of understanding how the airbrush works!! I was realy close to just get a new airbrush but I finaly find out what the problem was and it's due to my new understanding of how an airbrush works. I had a really bad case of sputter even when spraying ink. It was not a dilution problem and it's making me crazy. When I saw your video I thought of new things I can try to make the airbrush fonction as intended again. It was a problem of air wich I had no idea could happen. Some paint had cluged the end of the air cap leading to a poor delivery of air flow. It works perfectly now I cleaned it. I can't thank you enough for the releaf (and to made me not spend 250€ for nothing ^^)

[@spidiq8]

I'm so glad it helped. I see so much bad advice on model making forums regarding airbrushes which inspired me to make this and I'm always glad if someone gets good use from it.

[@fizziealladin5282]

This was awesome. Thank u so much.. I hope I gt the hang of this properly, soon and see exactly where my problems are with my airbrush gun and the problems with how I'm using it. Thanks again 💯💯💯💯💯

[@spidiq8]

Thanks. I'm glad it helped you. One you get everything working it's very worth it.

[@TheChuckwagonLite]

I was able to fix all my years of abuse after watching this.

[@AuntJemimaGames]

Excellent video, very comprehensive and helpful, thank you!

[@spidiq8]

Thank you, glad it was helpful.

[@mcarnet]

Fantastic info, thank you! I would like to know who the 11 people are that disliked this video...

[@spidiq8]

Thank you, glad it helped. I honestly don't know why since people like to hit the dislike button but if the anonymity of it helps them feel better then it's OK. ☺

[@msee383]

I’ve just found your channel and am new to airbrush. Thank you for de-mystifying a lot of my concerns. You now have a new regular viewer!

[@spidiq8]

Thank you. Glad you found it useful.

[@_PhamTuanCuong]

I have a problem where when i'm spraying primer, it got pent up at the nozzle after a while, how can i avoid this ? (the primer in question is Mr. Surfacer 1500)

[@spidiq8]

That's an incredibly thick surfacer (filler) primer. A large nozzle and lower pressure is the answer to stop it drying and clogging at the tip.

[@tim5205]

Great informative video. I learnt quite a bit.

[@bass-addikt9115]

thank you sir for sharing your knowledge with us. by far one of the best video on the topic. have a good day.

[@spidiq8]

Thank you for the feedback, it's good to hear that it's been of use.

[@drifter-tt2bk]

my air brush is from ganzton if that helps

[@dwightcrisman3238]

Wow! My Krome bubbled in the cup on air only. After adjusting the hold down ring and spray regulator it now works fine. Thanks for an in depth video

[@spidiq8]

Glad I could help you.

[@diecastchopshop6564]

I have a new master airbrush from Amazon. I ruined my last one with improper cleaning over time, just for additional info. On the new airbrush everything moves properly. The issue is paint, or water which i used for troubleshooting, only sprays while the needle is moving from the open to seated or when the needle is open and my finger is very close to the needle tip. Do you have any advice thank you in advance.

[@spidiq8]

Most likely a sealing problem with the nozzle or split, deformed needle/nozzle. Another possibility but unlikely from new is a mismatch of needle / nozzle, i.e. a 0.3 nozzle 0.2 needle. A partial blockage in the nozzle can cause this also, water should spray in a nice continuously expanding spray fan.

[@darkace9127]

hi. I have been airbrushing for a few months now, and i have had almost no issues, and today my central pneumatic oilless compressor and airbrush, (specifically the airbrush) has had an issue where when I pull the trigger, air is coming through the nozzle, but its also pushing the air into and out of the paint "hopper" and paint isn't going through the airbrush and. i have no idea what the issue is or how to fix it, if you could respond or help out, that would be great. thank you.

[@spidiq8]

The air is leaking back into the nozzle so it's either the seal where the nozzle fits. A split or deformed nozzle hole or a damaged or not correctly seated needle.

[@MrPaulstrivens]

Great video nicely delivered and informative. Have watched far to many vids with people in baseball hats talking to fast and shouting with a wobbly handheld camera a refreshing change.

[@spidiq8]

Thanks, I hope it was useful to you.

[@tayboteeairbrushcustomartw195]

Wow now I understand where my Airbrush problems thank you sir for the education

[@spidiq8]

Glad I was able to help you.

[@Foksipanter]

Sir You are my hero. When i poured water in , I noticed bubbles. The o ring was missing. Thanks !

[@spidiq8]

Glad it helped.

[@andrewb3163]

I have an H&S ultra and i am having an issue with it. Only air is coming out and no liquid. Tried water and still the same. Cleaned it thouroughly but still the same. Please advise. Thanks in advance.

[@spidiq8]

There are 3 possibilities. Damaged/stuck needle, damaged/not sealing nozzle, blockage. If you watch the video I explain how am airbrush works and if one or more of the above is at fault paint will not spray.

[@angelR7133]

I’m not sure if my fluid nozzle is split but It splatter a lot I already cleaned it so many times I even took the nozzle if it was clogged and it wasn’t and I’m not sure what’s wrong with my airbrush

[@spidiq8]

You can check for a split nozzle by gently pushing the needle into it and rotating, a split will be easily visible, if not, you could be getting 'tip dry' common with acrylic paints, use a paint retarder, use the correct thinners and lower the air pressure.

[@gregoryroberts3949]

i appreciate all the tech and it gave me some insight and things to look for. however, u didn't include a siphon type brush. my problem being that while i have good air flow and no clogging in the uptake tube or bottle vent or anywhere in the brush nothing is pulled from the bottle.

[@spidiq8]

With a siphon type the resultant low air pressure passing over the tube allows the paint to flow up it and become atomised and spray, a Venturi effect like in a carburettor. The reasons for no flow are either paint too thick/airflow too low or a combination of both or a blockage. Being sure there's no blockage it has to be one or both of the others. Check that your vent hole is clear if it's a capped jar and the air pressure has to be quite a bit higher to get the same effect from a siphon feed.

[@dorimurray2777]

Thank you! Very helpful!

[@SRTMustangKiller]

17+ minutes later.... still yet to say why it’s not working.

[@spidiq8]

There are many variations on 'not working' the idea of this video is to be as thorough and concise as possible and cover every possibility of faults you might encounter and explain how am airbrush works and accordingly why a fault might occur. Sorry it isn't satisfactory if you're looking for a 'quick fix' but often 'quick fixes'simply don't exist but at the end of this I'd anticipate anyone with an airbrush will know exactly how one works and exactly how to fix any problem that might occur. Of course you're free to create a brief video explaining how to fix airbrush faults if you are able and want to do that.

[@offthesprew122]

the problem with mine is that the air flows through but when you pull the trigger back paint won't come out, in fact the pressure won't regulate at all. The second you press the button it just jets out really fast but won't shoot paint.

[@spidiq8]

Where are you trying to regulate? The compressor should have a regulator/moisture trap, if paint won't come out, it's either a sealing problem around the nozzle, a split nozzle, a bent needle or the paint is too thick or drying prematurely on the tip clogging.

[@deadsilence7319]

I just got my airbrush today from amazon Air pressure is coming out but not the paint Can any1 help me

[@spidiq8]

You need to follow the guidelines in the video and work through systematically. First of all, try spraying something thin like water or thinners, if that works, your paint is likely too thick. etc etc

[@adrianolsen-woodhamwoodtur4980]

Extremely helpful and comprehensive review of how airbrushes work (and don’t work)........many, many thanks. One question, can you explain the different needle/nozzle sizes and their uses?

[@spidiq8]

Absolutely yes. They're simply for the fan size of the spray area, the larger the nozzle the more paint it will deliver allowing you to spray a larger area from a slightly further distance. The downside is that you can do fine lines as easily with a large nozzle. 0.3 is a good compromise for most model kit painting, 0.2 is really only for airbrush artists who need pencil thin detail and 0.5 is perfect if you regularly spray primer, clear coat or very large models.

[@adrianolsen-woodhamwoodtur4980]

@@spidiq8 thank you for this....very helpful

[@paulfaheyFineArt]

Wow. Most thorough explanations I have seen. Really complete instruction. Thanks,

[@DanJustason]

This was excellent. Very enlightening for me. Thank you.

[@spidiq8]

Glad it's helpful to you.

[@TheYjmfan]

I have just purchased an airbrush and compressor with separate tank is it normal to have to depressurise the tank each time you Finnish?

[@spidiq8]

I highly recommend that you do so, make it part of your routine. The reason for this is that air when compressed heats up and you get condensation, this builds up in the tank if it's not drained with with the valve left open. (I leave mine out completely)

[@andrewhartley7325]

Just want to say that video was very helpful in every way thank you very much in new to the airbrush world the one I own is a ganzton is it ok to ask some questions many thanks Andy

[@spidiq8]

Glad I could help

[@richardramey5943]

In using oil paint (house/furniture) it seems I have to thin it down to a point where it's too thin , in order not to have issues or clogs. Thanks for any tips !

[@spidiq8]

For airbrushing oils you need good quality artists oils as they have a very fine pigment. The widest airbrush nozzle you'll typically encounter will be 0.5mm the most common 0.3mm. For rougher cheaper everyday oils like the sets good get for starter painting you'd need a spraygun with a 1.0mm or larger nozzle as they're really designed for brushing.

[@supranomicon]

thankyou, learned a lot

[@drifter-tt2bk]

hi not long got my first air brush n used it once and cleaned it out and now the air flows back into the air brush and the small nozzel needle cover has snapped on me and left a bit inside. gggggrrrrrrrrr any advice on what to do please ? how to resolve this ?

[@spidiq8]

If you mean the nozzle itself you can use something like a cocktail stick to unscrew the broken thread and refit a replacement nozzle, you don't need to tighten the nozzle at all, just snug it closed.

[@alexmoor1166]

Thank you for detailed video. But I stil really need an advice. I have really great constant results, when spraying Tamiya gloss acrylic paints, thined in 1paint:2thinner(x-20a) ration. In this case paint sprays as it should. In non stop mode. I don`t require to close trigger and open it again for spraing paint restoring. But it works differently for Tamiya flat acrylic paints. I thinned it in different proportions(1p:1t - 1p:5t) with different thinners(X-20a or Laquer thinner). With and without retarder. In this case the power of paint spraying decreases with time before stoping spraying at all. I close the needle, then open it and spraying starts again, but with lower power. Sometimes spraying power increases without any additional actions or after closing/opensng needle. I have observed paint accumulation on needle top. But cleaning it doesn't help mutch. I almost sure that happens because nozzle clogs. But I don`t understand why it happens with flat paints and doesnt happens with gloss paints. I just very tired to check and clear.. ((

[@spidiq8]

You should always use recommended thinners to establish problem spraying. X20A has additives in such as drying retarder etc so additonal shoudln't be added, especially if a different brand. The biggest culprit if tip dry is too high a pressure, the flow over the needle causes the paint to dry on the needle tip and around the nozzle. Reduce your pressure to between 10 - 15PSI and spray with the gun closer to the model. If you watch airbrush artists they spray at about 10PSI and about a cm from the surface.

[@alexmoor1166]

@@spidiq8 thank you very much for additional advices. I use recommended Tamiya thinners only. Retarder too. I knew that new version of Lacquer thinner contains retarder, but I didn`t know that X-20a contains it to. Reducing pressure really decreases paint drying time. Now I have experiments with pressure near 7psi and mix ratio 1pain:4thinner(x-20f) + Tamiya retarder. Sometime I have clear needle on top, but with dried paint on bottom)) I think it happens because paint is to thick and pressure is to low)) I hope that I`ll reach same result as with gloss paint. Thank you for your advices ones again.

[@jaye8872]

airbrush will not spray at all , even after cleaning it. It will bubble if I put finger on front of gun , but no air will come out of gun. I use my gun for makeup

[@spidiq8]

I don't know the composition of airbrushable makeup. I know regular makeup can be quite oily but if it's not spraying out there's either a makeup/paint thickness problem or a blockage or damage. First. Is air coming out of the front nozzle? Obviously, no air, no makeup. I'm assuming it must be if it's bubbling back with a finger over the nozzle. If so. First of all, empty, strip, and thoroughly clean. Inspect the tip of the needle and the nozzle for damage. They're both easily damaged. On rebuilding, check that the nozzle seals properly as a gap will have the air feeding back past the seal. I'd love to know more about airbrushable makeup though if you could help as advising on paint is easy, regarding the solvents and cleaner etc but obviously with something you spray on skin and a face particularly safe materials must be used so I'd like to know the composition and safe cleaners to recommend.

[@davidgriffiths9102]

what about if you press down on the trigger and you have paint coming out when there is only to be air since i have not pulled back the trigger asking for paint

[@spidiq8]

If that happens your needle isn't sealing in the nozzle. It's either not seated correctly, not gripped in the chuck or the needle is bent or nozzle damaged.

[@StreetCreditJuJu]

This video helped alot

[@davaeriches9506]

My airbrush not turning on when I touch the power button, but when I plug in the charger it come on but has little power, can any one help me with this problem?

[@spidiq8]

What setup do you have? What compressor and such.

[@robbeale6523]

Most excellent video

[@billwelch2842]

Before Teflon and similar materials were invented, what material would have been used to prevent paint getting into the trigger/air valve area?

[@spidiq8]

Older brushes used rubber seals but solvent based paints would damage these gradually.

[@kevinkerlin5603]

Well explained and in detail how to trouble shoot airbrush problems.

[@spidiq8]

Thanks, glad it helped.

[@KolaAndKeebs]

troubleshooting tips start 17:40

[@spidiq8]

Yes indeed but a very detailed, relevant and necessary preview and explanation of how your airbrush works WHICH HELPS you understand how to diagnose and why precedes it. There's little use in simply saying, if your airbrush does A try B to fix it. Understand how something works and you can work out how to rectify it. ;)