Typically, airbrush art is easier to use, and the necessary utensils are easier to maintain than they may seem at first. Nevertheless, some problems can occur with the technique, so that the airbrush does not work entirely or in parts. What causes this, how it manifests itself, and how to fix it will be explained below.
Airbrush gun does not work: 8 possible causes and solutions.
There are different effects and causes why your airbrush gun does not work correctly. The following is an almost complete list of all possible anomalies and how to fix them.
Cause 1: Clogged airbrush nozzle
Why no or hardly any paint flows through, the nozzle only speckles or only air comes out, is usually because the nozzle is clogged. So much color has been deposited here that it shows these abnormalities.
Start by spraying it with water and a little more pressure. If that doesn’t work, try the airbrush cleaner a few times. If that still doesn’t work, loosen the airbrush needle and manually move it back and forth a few times so the airbrush cleaner can get everywhere and soften the dry paint. Then try spraying the cleaner through again.
If you are unsuccessful, you must place the nozzle in the cleaner for longer. Make sure that the air has come out. To do this, move it back and forth in the airbrush cleaner with tweezers.
Often overnight and the next day, you have more success. Reassemble everything, move the needle with the cleaner and spray several times vigorously.
Cause 2: Airhead clogged
In this case, neither paint nor air comes out. This is because the airhead is dirty or completely clogged. Take it off and clean it carefully with a fine brush or earplugs, which you have also dipped in the airbrush cleaner. Alternatively, you can also use a dental meeting.
If this is unsuccessful, place the airhead in the concentrated airbrush cleaner overnight to soften, similar to the previous procedure with the nozzle. The next day, you will have more done with the just mentioned working process of the brush.
Cause 3: In the airbrush, the hose is deposited.
In the transparent hoses, you find deposits that rarely occur. Water or even oil could rise and contaminate or influence the spray pattern.
It is possible that the compressor’s filter is no longer working correctly or is already very full.
If you can do so without help from the relevant operating instructions, you should replace it yourself. Otherwise, you must have it done by an authorized dealer.
Cause 4: Airbrush needle bent
You sometimes notice a changed spray pattern, which is more pronounced to one side or direction. If it is not due to the nozzle and a blockage, the cause can be found in the needle. It is then often bent at the tip.
As a rule, however, you can fix the needle itself. This is especially the case if it has only been bent once. So take it out and try to carefully straighten it with your fingernail on the flat but hard surface from the back to the front to the tip.
However, if you can’t get the bend out, or if something even breaks off in the process, you should definitely get a new airbrush needle. Besides the subsequent inability to create an excellent spray pattern, you risk damaging the nozzle.
Cause 5: Airbrush nozzle has fine grooves
Just as the crooked needle shows such abnormalities, the nozzle may have furrows. In that case, some paint always comes out of the side, drips, or the spray pattern is basically noticeably changed.
After removing the nozzle, it is best to check it with a significantly magnifying glass, which allows you to inspect it really intensively. Once you have discovered the abnormalities, the only option is to buy a new one.
Cause 6: The airbrush control lever hooks
If you feel a hook or complex operation with the control lever, you should first think about contamination with paint. The parts usually do not rust. But check it with a magnifying glass.
If it is paint crusted down the lever pin and suspension, you will need to clean that area. On most guns, you can get at it from the top with a fine brush and then dipped airbrush cleaner well as well as cleaning. Hold the gun upside down to flow out the paint crusts immediately.
Otherwise, take off the rear part with the needle and try it in the same position as this site. If this still does not solve the problem, soak the entire gun overnight in airbrush cleaner. Then the crust will come off the next day.
Cause 7: Pressure at the airbrush compressor
If the pressure at the compressor is too high or too low, the spray pattern will change, or the nozzle can clog faster if the pressure is too low.
Therefore, always set the compressor to the ideal pressure between 2.3 and 2.5 bar. This always produces the optimum spray pattern, unless, for example, you want to achieve a granulation at low pressure or a fantastic mist at overpressure.
On the other hand, if you notice that the compressor does not build up the actual pressure in operation or is constantly active, although this should not be according to the manufacturer with an automatic shut-off, it may be due to the drain plug of the respective airbrush compressor. Either you did not tighten it properly during the last pressure release, or the seals are broken.
If this does not help after tightening or replacing the seal, the compressor is leaking elsewhere. In this case, you will have to take the compressor to the dealer to have it checked.
Cause 8: Feed tube clogged
In the case of the airbrush with external mixing, whereby the single action gun with suction system works here, it can also happen that the feed tube is clogged. Only air comes out like the clogged airhead, but no paint here.
Here you should also clean with a fine brush or a fine brush and the airbrush cleaner. Otherwise, you should also soak the parts overnight, and the blockage should be solved the next day.
FAQ
How often do you need to clean an airbrush gun?
Usually, you do not need regular cleaning. The gun is basically low-maintenance. Nevertheless, quick prophylactic cleaning of the nozzle after the workday is recommended.
Spray it thoroughly with water and Airbrush Cleaner. Then leave the airbrush cleaner in the gun’s funnel. This is, by the way, the clear advantage of a weapon with a flow system because the cleaner automatically and by itself penetrates to the front.
A complete cleaning is only necessary if the airbrush nozzle is clogged or shows other signs of contamination and can no longer be adequately cleaned using the method just mentioned.
When is a color change necessary for airbrush guns?
You should try a different brand if you repeatedly notice that your airbrush gun clogs despite good thinning. More often, you will experience a tendency to stop if you have the microfine guns with a 0.15mm or 0.2mm nozzle and use highly pigmented paints.
There are these razor-thin differences between the manufacturers, which are noticeable precisely in this acceptable range. In the rarest of cases, you will notice a unique feature with a 0.3 mm nozzle.
airbrush makeup spray gun sprays water but not makeup
It’s likely that the makeup you’re using is too thick or dense to be sprayed by the airbrush. Most airbrush makeup kits are designed for use with light and sheer formulas, so if you’re trying to use a thick foundation or powder, it’s not going to work. You might have better luck with a model kit for adults that uses water as the base instead of traditional makeup.