Should I Remove the Airbrush Needle Cap?

Have you ever wondered why many airbrush artists choose to remove the protective needle cap? In this video I explain what the needle cap protects, as well as the pros and cons associated with removing it.
Thayer & Chandler T89K Omni 4000 Airbrush amzn.to/2EziEx2
Badger Krome Airbrush amzn.to/2YLlENH
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[@AppalachianHandcraft]

Funny thing you mentioned the possibility of damaging the needle even with the needle cap installed. I used mine with the cap on for a long time. I was always frustrated at the difficulty at cleaning tip dry, but I was certain it was safer to keep it in place. One day I was too tired to still be working and dropped my airbrush onto the concrete floor by accident. Bent the needle cap and needle tip. Decided the next day to straighten the needle and order a new cap. I was so happy with how easy it was to clean tip dry at that point, I just kept using it that way and never put my cap back on. I honestly didn't know that was a preference by the pros until I started watching your videos, I always thought if a pro saw me spraying that way, they would probably scold me for doing it wrong. The replacement cap is currently lost in a box somewhere in my basement, but it's still in it's original packaging after being down here for a couple years now. Thanks for sharing these "behind the scenes tips", I feel a lot less like I'm doing the wrong things now.

[@wickedartstudio]

Lol... there's really no right or wrong way to do things in my opinion. We're all a little bit different. You have to find what works for you! I completely agree with the ease of cleaning tip dry from the tip with the needle cap removed though! Turns out, you were just ahead of the curve and didn't realize it!

[@Darthbetel]

Hey Trevor, just subscribed. I’m an old artist attending several schools starting in the 70s. After went to a medical program so I could make a living😃. Just getting into airbrushing and find what you’re teaching so helpful. Decided to study all your instruction videos. Just want to say thx so much. There’s alot of nonsense out there but you have a knack for teaching as well as gift for art. Thx for all.

[@wickedartstudio]

I appreciate the kind words my friend! Thank you!

[@mattmiller806]

Thanks for the video. I've been airbrushing for about a year now and it never occured to me to me to remove the needle cap. I paint a lot of camouflage on small models and can never get close enough. I ran to my airbrush and tried it out. Worked perfectly. I can get up close. Thanks for this.

[@wickedartstudio]

Awesome! I'm glad you found the video helpful!

[@TimothyJohnLukeSmithPSA]

Great video, Wonderful explanation! I can not even find my needle caps anymore :)

[@wickedartstudio]

lol... Thank you!

[@merylruth5623]

This is so helpful, thank you.

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@svendehaa]

Great vid, nicely explained :)

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you my friend!

[@jerryrichards8172]

All fine advice thanks for sharing

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@stevem9934]

Thanks for the videos, they are helping me out a lot with my new airbrush that I'm using for RC car bodies. Another pro to leaving the cap on is the dang needle is sharp, just as its name implies. I've poked myself a couple times already!

[@wickedartstudio]

Yes, the needle is very sharp. I've stabbed myself countless times over the years, I'm glad you find my videos helpful!

[@clementstahl3145]

Thanks 👍 Love your channel!

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@unklbuk1]

My preference is cap off, l find doing detailed work it's much easier to see, and when you get "tip dry" it's much easier to clean. Just be aware that it's off because they're easily damaged.

[@wickedartstudio]

Agreed.

[@Dogsled1000]

thanks, wondered about this.

[@wickedartstudio]

Thanks Al! Glad to see your name back in the comments!

[@Grayman58]

Great info for a beginner like me .👌

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@gatblau1]

I had purchased a new Iwata and the first time I used it I dropped it on a concrete floor. I was so glad I had the cap on as it was the only thing damaged.

[@wickedartstudio]

I'm glad the cap was the only thing damaged in your case, especially with a brand-new airbrush!. The cap does provide some protection; however, it can only do so much. I've dropped airbrushes with the cap on and still wound up with a bent needle and damaged fluid nozzle. It never hurts to have a little luck on your side 🙂.

[@aljanralphtan5827]

2021. thank you 👍 big help. newbie here. qtip with cap. i think ama switch to no cap. i have a portable AB. basically it has a heavy stand, less likely to fall. i really though it has effect on output. haven't tried it myself, silly me. this video confirms it. thank you. easier tip dry cleaning over safety, that i prefer. 👍

[@wickedartstudio]

Removing the needle cap on some airbrushes does affect the output (some won't spray at all with the cap removed). The benefits out weigh the risk in my opinion if the brush operates without it. I'm glad you found the video helpful and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!

[@gennaropersico5796]

Grazie mille

[@wickedartstudio]

Grazie!

[@lilbump406]

Where did you get the plastic cap for the paint cup on the Thayer and Chandler T89? Is it a Badger 105 cap? Nice video

[@wickedartstudio]

The plastic cap actually came with that brush when it was purchased many, many years ago. Apparently they no longer include the lid?

[@jerseyjoe1677]

The cap is nice to leave on when t-shirt painting because it’s high pressure and it usual doesn’t have time to dry on the needle so I do like running a cap at all times I clean my needle with a small paint brush and alcohol you just have to wipe the excess off the airbrush as well as blow clean air through before painting. It’s way more time consuming but believe it or not in 20 years of painting o only bent over needle when I removed the cap . Thanks for video

[@wickedartstudio]

That makes sense for a t-shirt artist. The exposed needle would also stand a better chance of damaging the shirt if you got a little too close. Blowing the excess cleaner off before you go back to your project is also a great tip! Thanks for sharing!

[@jerseyjoe1677]

Wicked Art Airbrush Studio hey thank you boss

[@scifimodelshop]

I like to mix a bit of Liquitex Flow Aid into the paint to help with the tip dry I remove the cap when airbrushing even when not close up detail work for that reason. Mix rate of the paint can also cause this if paint a bit too thick

[@wickedartstudio]

Good tips! Thanks for sharing!

[@terrytabor4466]

Hi, New subscriber and fellow Okie here. I was wondering how you like the T&C airbrush. I’m basically looking for my next step up from my neo (for Iwata) . I haven’t seen any videos comparing this airbrush to any others and although it has very favorable Amazon reviews, I always like to hear what the pros I trust have to say. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into your videos.

[@wickedartstudio]

Hi Terry! Glad to have you my friend and thank you for the kind words! The T&C is a decent brush and does what it's supposed to do well. Personally, I've never been a big fan of that particular brush. Like I said, it works... For me, it comes down to general aesthetics and how it feels in my hand. The T&C is a bit heavy in my opinion and the balance could be better. I personally think there are better options at the same price point. I use Iwata brushes pretty much exclusively anymore. I've tried just about everything else at some point over the last thirty years and I've always gone back to the Iwata. That's my personal preference. Just because a tool works for me doesn't mean it will work for everyone. I encourage others to try anything they can get their hands on and find what works for them! You're more than welcome to try my T&C before you actually purchase one if you're anywhere close to Stillwater.

[@terrytabor4466]

Wicked Art Airbrush Studio I live just down the he road in Choctaw, so don’t be too surprised if I take you up on your generous offer. Have a great evening!

[@wickedartstudio]

@@terrytabor4466 You bet! Shoot me an email at [e-mail] and I'll give you my contact info.

[@garreb7]

Good Vid Explained it very well, however I wish you would of addressed weather it sprayed better or worse with the cap off. just wondering.

[@wickedartstudio]

If your airbrush works with the needle cap removed (some airbrushes are designed to not work at all with the cap removed), there is no change in performance. The brush will spray the same with or without the needle cap.

[@cjadams7434]

One nifty thing about the GREX line is that the fan cap and default needle cap are magnetic.. and you can swap em.. both the front nozle and rear of the handle are both magnetic attachment points

[@wickedartstudio]

That's a very good point (and cool feature), although I still tend to knock it off and lose it when I use one of my Grex brushes... lol. Thanks for sharing CJ!

[@rosanina-schroeder9292]

My master airbrush ABD Kit SP7B-20 comes with different tip covers. How do you install them ? What are the used for?

[@wickedartstudio]

I'm not certain what you mean by "tip covers". Are you referring to different needle and fluid nozzle sizes that came with the brush?

[@fbodyredblood]

I have a generic dual-action siphon style airbrush (not going to say what brand). The design of this particular one doesn't allow you to work without the needle cap. If you do remove it, the airbrush will not spray. The cap provides the focus for the air so that it can actually siphon the paint.

[@wickedartstudio]

Interesting. I wasn't aware any dual-action airbrushes were designed and/or manufactured that way.

[@Slouworker]

@@wickedartstudio some Badger brushes also need the cup to focus air stream

[@wickedartstudio]

@@Slouworker Good to know. Thank you!

[@43rocket]

Hi, do you need the right size needle cap to match needle width in an airbrush, because my .3 setup works fine but when I put in a .5 needle, don’t get air coming out of end of airbrush??

[@wickedartstudio]

Yes, it is advisable to use the same size needle and cap.

[@gaetanoesposito658]

Ciao posso fare questa domenda solo a te. Ho comprato un Gocheer e è arrivato con una punta da 02 e 0,5 con relativi ugelli e tappi. La penna aveva già un ago e ugello da 0.3. ma il tappo era rivestito da plastica a forma conica con un foro alla fina. E' normale o io non ho capito qualche cosa? Tipo rimuovere la plastica o mettere un altro tappo? Grazie se vorrai rispondere e comunque grazie per quello che fai.

[@Grayman58]

Whats your opinion on the cheaper Chinese airbrushes at around $ 50 - 100 range I have one and it seems ok for planes 🤔 iam running mine from a shop compressor and works great .

[@wickedartstudio]

Hi Stephen. I have no firsthand experience with any of them after thirty years and I doubt I ever will. I require precision, durability and reliability for what I do on a daily basis with my airbrushes. I've seen a lot of mixed reviews on the types of brushes you're referring to. Quality seems to be hit and miss. I'm not willing to take the risk of purchasing a knock off brand to save a few bucks. You can get a very good brush from a known brand for right around that one-hundred-dollar mark, give or take depending on which brand and/or which brush you choose, that will last you a lifetime if taken care of properly.

[@TyronSmith-yo5tt]

I remove the nozzle cap in order to do 3 tone camouflage patterns on model tanks. With the cap on i found that the camouflage pattern was becoming too blended and without the cap, the pattern is much more crisp.

[@wickedartstudio]

That makes sense because you can get closer to the surface you're painting with the needle cap removed. That results in a crisp, cleaner line.

[@benblankenship5892]

I’m not necessarily “new” to airbrushin prolly round 13-15 months lol but I’ve told ya that before on other comments lol anyway my question is does the cap cause the airflow to be wider, which intern would cause the paint to be a wider pattern? Is that true? That was what I was thinkin also(besides protection) until you didn’t mention it in this video and u are one of the very VERY few artists I trust these days. So my question I reckon is does or doesn’t the cap manipulate air flow and is another reason to take off when doin finer detail or am I wrooooong lol and also while I’m here, I have a lady who wants me to do some purple/pink fire on a tumbler. And of course I told her I’d do it. What colors would u suggest using? I pretty much have most of the illustration,wicked, and candy 2o lines. And couple fluorescent pink some kind of fuscia and purples. And purple candy 2o and I mJus sayin that so u know what paint I have to work with.thanks Trevor

[@wickedartstudio]

Hey Ben! No, the cap doesn't increase the width of the spray pattern on your airbrush like a spray gun does. The airbrush needle cap is there only to protect the tip of the needle/nozzle. The width of the spray pattern should be the same whether you choose to airbrush with the cap installed or removed. The pattern seemingly gets wider as you pull the airbrush away from the substrate and seemingly gets narrow as you get closer to it. In reality, the spray pattern doesn't change at all. It's a conical pattern that is at its smallest size at the point the atomized paint exits the brush. You control detail by moving the brush closer to the surface and releasing less paint with the trigger. With regards to your pink/purple fire question, my approach would depend on the background color. I'll assume it will be black. There are a number of different combinations that would probably work well. I would likely start with opaque white to build the background shapes of the flames. I think Illustration Red Violet would be a killer color to cover those background flames. I would follow that layer up with another set of white flames and cover those with Illustration Magenta. You can come back in with some white highlights and call it done. The advantage to using the Illustration Colors is you won't have to deal with any candy bleed. The same approach could be used with the candy2o line as well using Ultra Violet or Deep Purple (I would probably mix a very small amount of Blood Red with either of those colors just to bring the violet to the red side) and Sunset Magenta or even Brandywine. My best advice would be to try a few different combinations out on some small test panels first to see which combination looks the best prior to putting any paint on the actual tumbler. I would also suggest putting some clear on your test panels if you use candy2o so you know how the colors will react with each other. Candies tend to bleed more after a clear coat has been applied.

[@eldiabloschaan8096]

Hello , I am a beginner with Airbrush.Your help ar help me so much. Thanks for the super Information.A ask for the Presion for smal lines .sorry for my bad English I had never learned English.😢😅😊😊

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you for the kind words, my friend!

[@controllineprecisionaeroba7454]

One person suggested not using the back portion. Needless to say it fell and the needle was pushed through the tip. I had to pull it out with PLIERS!

[@wickedartstudio]

Ouch! I know a number of artists that airbrush with the handle removed. I've tried it multiple times and never got a feel for it. The needle chuck seems to get caught on my hand which affects my control. There's also a greater chance of damaging the needle/nozzle if the brush is dropped as you unfortunately found out.

[@slaytheday8129]

Question just bought the neo iwata and it dosnt spray when I remove the needle cap ,I was using white it sprayed well when on but when I remove the needle cap it dosnt do anything .A need of white will come out and nothing sprays .Is it just this model air brush ?

[@wickedartstudio]

Yes. Some airbrushes are designed so they will not operate with the needle cap removed. The Neo is one of them.

[@amaurythewarrior]

mine has 4 "blades", and paints accumulates on there... to the point that it causes sputtering. what am i doing wrong?

[@wickedartstudio]

Paint is going to build up there over time as well as on the tip of the needle. You're not doing anything wrong. That's just part of airbrushing regardless of what paint you choose to use. If you choose to airbrush with the cap attached, or you have a brush that won't operate with the cap removed, you need to clean those "blades" off occasionally as well. A cheap small paintbrush dipped in whatever cleaner you normally use should do a pretty good job at removing the accumulated paint.

[@samanthagibson7688]

When i put the cap on it sprays out of the top where the tank of paint goes. I can tell that the cap is blocking the airflow hole. It didn't do this at first so what am I doing wrong?

[@wickedartstudio]

What airbrush are you using? There are some airbrushes that will not work with the needle cap removed.

[@dalemasyk1583]

lol yep i bent my once n i was dam lucky that i was able to roll it n straightin it out...VERY VERY CAREFUL ... also have a spare needle n tip cap thingy. i have created a container fill with fanskic/water solution and when im not usin the gun i have my needle tip slightly in the cleanin solution - ofcourse the cup is empty :) . and when im ready to paint n my tip-needle is clean n ready aswell.

[@wickedartstudio]

I've never actually tried to straighten a bent needle. It's easier and faster to just replace it in my opinion. Bent needles become cleaning tools for me. I normally just leave water (or a cleaner) in my airbrush cup overnight (after it's been somewhat cleaned) in order to keep anything left behind from drying.

[@BigAndTall666]

Crown caps are available for many models...

[@wickedartstudio]

That's a great point that I missed mentioning in the video. Thanks for sharing my friend!

[@alexgra4363]

Hey guys. So im looking around for a question i have but can't seem to find it so thought i would ask here 😅 so I recently bought my first airbrush (not even used it yet) and there was 3 cups. I think 3 / 5 /10. And the 2 bigger cups had lids on them but not the small one. Do they need to have the lid on when in use? Would appreciate the help 😁

[@wickedartstudio]

A lid is not required for the brush to operate. Personally, I rarely use a lid when I'm airbrushing. That's just a personal preference. Do be careful when airbrushing without a lid though. It's relatively easy to spill paint out of the cup if you get to working quickly or tilt the brush a little too much which can create a repair situation or ruin your project. Limiting the amount of paint you put in the cup will help minimize those accidents.

[@alexgra4363]

@@wickedartstudio ooh okok sounds good. Thank you :)

[@Wolfox85]

I have a question! When your reducing paint for your airbrush is it possible to reduce any type of paint such as a small amount of Automotive paint or high grade paint then Createx for your airbrush?

[@wickedartstudio]

Yes. If it can be reduced enough, it can be sprayed through your airbrush. I used automotive urethane and lacquer for years in my airbrushes before I switched to Createx.

[@Wolfox85]

@@wickedartstudio thank you so so much if possible it would really help me out alot if you could do a video on high end automotive paint in a airbrush sometime in the future I would love to see that ^_^!

[@wickedartstudio]

@@Wolfox85 Createx falls under the "high end" automotive paint in my book or I wouldn't use it. Do you have a particular brand you'd like me to cover?

[@Wolfox85]

@@wickedartstudio Well im not sure of the different brands on automotive paint there are! If you could show some different examples and how to reduce them like Testers brand or something thick like it and reduce it for a airbrush that would be helpful im always worried that the thicker paint will ruin the airbrush lol!

[@wickedartstudio]

@@Wolfox85 Are you a scale modeler by chance?

[@hugoangwald9838]

IS THE BACK-PIECE IMPORTANT? I just bought my first airbrush secondhand and got it without the protection cap on the back end.

[@wickedartstudio]

Some higher end airbrushes have a needle stop on the back handle of the brush that allows the user to control exactly how far back the trigger can be pulled. So, you could be missing that particular function; however, the brush will still operate fine without the handle. Some artists prefer to work with the handle removed all of the time.

[@hugoangwald9838]

@@wickedartstudio i only had a createx cx1 then. now upgraded myself to a iwata eclipse

[@wickedartstudio]

@@hugoangwald9838 Awesome! The Eclipse is a workhorse. I use it for about ninety percent of what I do.

[@hugoangwald9838]

@@wickedartstudio now i only need to find a compressor for it. For now i'm using my friends compressor.

[@stevenwalker1883]

I always found the cap to be a hindrance , unless laying a line down , to each their own .

[@wickedartstudio]

I agree. I don't even like it installed when I'm laying down a line. Some do prefer to keep it on though and some don't realize it can be removed.

[@muddygrove8170]

What if airbrush doesn’t paint when cap is off?

[@wickedartstudio]

There are some airbrushes designed only to operate with the needle cap installed. You likely have one of those and will have to keep the cap on when using that particular brush.

[@Sin.Atonement]

The paint stopped spraying as a mist and started oozing out, and reason why?

[@wickedartstudio]

What airbrush are you using and are you sure you removed only the needle cap and not the nozzle cap? There are a few airbrushes out there that won't operate correctly with the cap removed.

[@Sin.Atonement]

@@wickedartstudio it's a dagr it's not about cap removal, overall issues, i just found a bit of paint that was rubberized, what cleaners do you recommend?

[@wickedartstudio]

@@Sin.Atonement What paint are you using?

[@Sin.Atonement]

@@wickedartstudio wicked colors

[@wickedartstudio]

@@Sin.Atonement Try Createx 4008 Restorer. Do not spray Restorer through your airbrush! You don't want to breath that stuff in its atomized form! Soak the parts in the solution prior to cleaning them. How long you soak the parts depends on how much of a clog you have. In most circumstances and hour or two works for me. In some cases I've allowed parts to soak overnight. The Restorer will break down stubborn dried up paint. If you don't have Restorer on hand, you can try isopropyl alcohol which is readily available. The alcohol will break down stubborn dried paint as well, but you may need to allow the parts to soak longer in the alcohol compared to Restorer.

[@crisestrada9964]

Have at least 2 spare needles ,nozzles and Air caps , last thing you need is damaged airbrush and wait for parts in the middle of a job, I use 3 airbrushs at a time , 2 got damged at the same time by accident

[@wickedartstudio]

Good advice because Murphy's is always looking over our shoulders! Sometimes bad things do happen. I also keep spare parts for all of my brushes on hand just in case...

[@warcannibalmullens1388]

I found out really quick if you use the back flow of air to mix your gonna want that cap on. If not don't forget to move your finger before releasing the air you'll get a needle through the finger.lol

[@wickedartstudio]

I back flow my brushes frequently with the needle cap removed and have never had any issues. I agree you do need to be careful around the needle tip to keep from stabbing yourself though.

[@thedoyla]

Is that to clean the inner cylinder or to actually mix paint/thinners? bit of a noob here, thanks :)

[@wickedartstudio]

@@thedoyla Back flushing can be used for mixing paint and/or reducer in the cup. It can also make a mess. Having said that, you should also be aware that back flushing your brush can release old dry paint within your fluid nozzle as well which can potentially contaminate your paint or lead to a clogged brush. Just FYI.

[@thedoyla]

@@wickedartstudio Thanks for the useful information, learning a lot from everyone!

[@wickedartstudio]

@@thedoyla I'm glad to help my friend!

[@CurvedSlightly]

With the Eclipse BS & CS you never need to clean the tip so just leave the nozzle on. I never get tip dry, you're obviously not thinning the paint enough, If you need to keep cleaning the nozzle, it's bust in some way.

[@wickedartstudio]

lol!

[@billmayo1094]

You've got to run ads??

[@wickedartstudio]

I choose to run ads as a way to get some compensation for my time.

[@icarustanovic3097]

I don't wanna to change needle after completing half of a picture every time.

[@wickedartstudio]

There is no need to change the needle.