Hi all,
I've been having a problem with my airbrush lately. It's an Iwata HP-C (not a Plus model)
It no longer seems capable of fine lines, and instead splatters paint all over the place, resulting in a rough pattern.
What could be the cause?
Really hope it's not needle damage.

...unfortunately I think so.

To be honest I don't have an Iwata airbrush, but the problem that you described is typical when the needle is crooked.

Otherwise, maybe you have to dilute more the paint.
You should try to draw whit a very thinned paint (water ink for exemple).
If you'll have the same problem, the cause almost surely is the damaged needle

good luck

Try taking the AB apart and wash all the metal and moving parts in industrial thinner, or if you wish Gunze tool cleaner. Try not to soak rubber O rings and plastic parts.

In fact, I get that splatter all the time on my Rich AB300, it works fine after cleaning.

Kiong

Thanks guys.
Well, all I have on hand right now is Humbrol enamel thinner. I'm out of acrylic thinner as I have been using lots of acrylics (exclusively) lately. Will that be OK?

Sorry for the double post.
Now the thing isn't even spraying at all. All that comes out are bubbles, along with a pool of paint. Severe blockage, but where?

Probably you assembled it in a wrong way

Try to disassemble it, clean it , remount it and then try to spray again

I know it's boring but in my opinion is the only way

Hi Mauro,
Thanks for the suggestion, I don't find it boring, in fact it's giving me too many surprises for to handle!
I'll have to start tomorrow as it is nearly 2am over at where I am right now.

You're welcome

And as i said before...

good luck

if everything is clean, then its either the paint not being thinned enough or a damaged needle. i wouldnt worry about a damaged needle. replacing needles are cheap. last time i replaced my needle for my AB, i bought it as a kit which included the needle, rubber seal, and replacement nozzle. i actually bought 2 of them. the stock needle size and a size smaller. think i paid maybe 20 bucks if i remember right

Here is how to remove any clogs. First run Future, then amonia, then water, and lastly paint thinner. Make sure you give it a good flush with water to avoid the amonia etching the brass. I had the same problem with my Badger and this solved it.

Something is very wrong. Nothing is being released when I depress the trigger, not even air. My air pressure has been set to 30psi.

Very strange. Take it apart and inspect every single part very carefully for damage using a magnifying lens Maybe you might see the problem. You may want to clean things with lacquer thinner. I would recommend contacting Iwata. They are a very good company when it comes to customer service and, if need be, you can mail them your airbrush and they will fix it for you

-Nozzle is clear.
-Needle OK.

Problem must be somewhere in the centre section of the aircrush, which is basically a mmetal tube which I don't have access to.

I've already unscrewed the needle chucking guide too.

Update: She's spraying again. Must be a reassembly error.

is the problem still the same though?

I haven't tried, though I still expect the problem to remain until I can get my hands on some cleaner.

Update: Cleaned the front portion of the airbrush with Tamiya AB cleaner. However....

I have found a sizeable paint deposit behind the paint chamber area, immedeately before the needle reaches the paint cup. The needle meets resistance and comes out with paint on it.

Is there any way I can clear said area?

you will have to remove the nozzle and all caps. obviously the needle as well. once you remove that, you shouldnt be in danger of harming anything if you soak it in a more potent cleaner. dont quote me on that. but at that point, there shouldnt be any kind of rubber seals that would get damaged. or, you could soak in normal thinner for a couple minutes and use a toothpick to try to remove it. or even a pin, but that may gouge up the metal and cause adverse effects.

If those parts are made on metal and if there aren't rubber seals in that zone (except if the seals of your AB are made in teflon. In this case it doesn't a problem. Teflon is chemical proof) the best solution to clean it is the Nitrocellulose lacquer thinner.

Don't try to remove manually the dry paint. Just soak your AB part in the thinner for a while. The thinner is powerful enough to dissolve all the dirt. After that you can remove rather easily the others dry paint debris whit a cotton swab.

After that, to be sure, you can spray for a while charging your AB reservoir just with thinner. As I said before, if you don't know what kind of rubber are made the seals of your AB, use a thinner not as strong as the Nitro one, For exemple alcohol white or windex

If in those area there are rubber seals not made on teflon, soak your AB in a common house degreaser for a while. It could be work

cheers