My airbrush gun is spitting large, irregular paint particles when I try to spray out product. How do I fix this problem?
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Before anything, remove the needle to make sure that it’s not hooked. If the needle looks fine, then remove the needle cap and clean any residue on it, using an alcohol-saturated cotton swab. If the needle cap is already clean from residue, then reassemble the gun tightly and try spraying alcohol (at your compressor’s highest air pressure) onto a tissue until it runs clear.
No makeup is flowing through my airbrush gun. How can I clear it up and get the product moving again?
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Your gun is most likely clogged. This occurs when paint is left overnight in the cup, or the makeup consistency is too thick. Severe clogging is caused when product has built up a residue wall inside the nozzle. To unclog the nozzle, a more intensive cleaning is needed. We recommend using an airbrush cleaning kit as well as a fine safety pin or sewing needle and 91% or higher Isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
1. Unscrew the tail cap and set it aside. Next, loosen the needle stop screw, carefully pull the needle out halfway, and tighten the needle stop screw to keep the trigger button in place.
2. Next, unscrew the needle cap and nozzle cap. If you find it difficult at first to twist these caps off by hand, try wrapping a rubber band around them to add grip. They should twist off with ease.
3. Enclosed with each airbrush package is a mini nozzle wrench, designed to remove the nozzle. With the back end of the airbrush facing you, loosen the nozzle by turning the mini nozzle wrench clockwise. Once loosened, twist the nozzle completely off with your fingertips. Be careful not to strip the metal around the nozzle with the wrench.
4. Once the nozzle is removed from the airbrush, use a fine safety pin or sewing needle to remove excess residue from the nozzle. Start by dipping the safety pin or sewing needle into rubbing alcohol. Next, gently insert it into the back end of the nozzle and work on scraping out the unwanted residue. Wipe off the safety pin or sewing needle with a paper towel and continue this process until the nozzle is clean.
5. After the nozzle cleaning, look at the front of the airbrush and see if the opening (where the nozzle goes) is filled with residue. To clean, use a synthetic brush from the airbrush cleaning kit. You can also use a safety pin or sewing needle with alcohol. Continue this process until the opening is clean. [accompany images from airbrush makeup manual]
6. To assemble, start by screwing the nozzle back into the airbrush. Use the mini wrench to tighten the nozzle, taking care not to over tighten it.
7. Next, screw on the nozzle cap and needle cap. These caps should go on easily by hand, but they need to be tightened securely.
8. Proceed by screwing on the needle stop screw with two twists, being careful not to close it all the way. Now gently insert the needle until you feel it stop. Tighten the needle stoop screw all the way and screw on the back handle.
I cleaned my airbrush gun and assembled it accordingly, yet only air, but no product is shooting out when I spray it.
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Make sure that the needle chucking guide and chucking nut is tightened completely. If these parts are even slightly loose, the airbrush gun will be unable to properly spray product.
I've been using my airbrush gun for a while now, but it's starting to feel a bit rusty. The trigger won't press down and pull back smoothly as it did when it was brand new.
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The gun may need conditioning. Apply airbrush lube or Vaseline to all airbrush parts, including the trigger, needle, chucking guide and piston. This will minimize the rusty feel and keep parts conditioned. In order to clean the piston, using the tip of the tweezers and cupping your hand underneath, pop the piston out of the bottom of the airbrush body. Put it back in the trigger hole and use the tip of the tweezers to gently push it back in. Reattach the air valve and reassemble the gun.
When I press down on the trigger for air without pulling back, makeup shoots out of my airbrush gun instead of air.
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The needle may not be pushed in all the way. Unscrew the back handle and loosen the needle chucking guide. Press the needle forward until there’s a slight resistance, tighten the needle chucking guide all the way and twist the handle back on. You airbrush should now function properly.
My airbrush gun is creating a solid messy stream of makeup. How can I fix this?
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Be sure your makeup is always blended and shaken before spraying. Then make sure the gun is clean and that you are applying enough air pressure.
When I spray, an unsteady stream of makeup is spitting onto the face. What can I do?
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Always remember to come in with air first and end with air last in order to avoid this issue. If you pull back and release product all in one shot, the airbrush gun will spit out product.
Should I clean my airbrush gun after each makeup application?
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During the workday, it’s easy to do the quick cleaning exercises—refer to “Cleaning Your Airbrush” for these steps. At the end of the day, take apart your airbrush gun and completely clean it.
How do I unscrew the nozzle on the airbrush gun?
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1. Using the small wrench that comes with your airbrush gun, gently twist the base of the nozzle counterclockwise to unscrew.
Note: It is recommended to use the wrench to only loosen the nozzle and then remove it the rest of the way with your fingers. The wrench will not hold onto the nozzle, so using your fingers will give you better control and help you avoid dropping it.
2. To screw the nozzle back on, use your fingertips to secure the nozzle first and then finish tightening with the use of the small wrench.
Note: Remember to be very gentle when using the wrench to tighten the nozzle. This piece is extremely delicate and can break off if turned too tightly.
How do I take the nozzle out when it's been broken and fragments of it remain inside of the airbrush?
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If the threaded part of your nozzle gets broken off from the tip and becomes stuck in your gun, here is a quick way to remove the piece so you can replace the nozzle:
1. Remove the needle and nozzle cap, so just the front part of the body of the gun is exposed.
2. Take the needle out of the gun. Using the pointed side of the needle, insert it into the front of the body of the gun until you feel resistance.
3. Once the needle is in as far as it can go, start turning the needle counterclockwise to loosen the broken piece of the nozzle from the body of the gun.
4. After a few turns, it should come out and you can replace with a new nozzle.
How do I take the cup cover off of the airbrush gun?
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This piece is not a screw top. It can be popped off, using the tip of your thumb and pushing upwards. When opening a brand new airbrush gun, the cup cover can be a little stiff and hard to get off. If this happens, it is helpful to use the back of the small wrench included in your airbrush pack to pop the cap off, similar to how you would use a bottle opener.
What should I do if I can’t get the needle back into the gun when I’m assembling?
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If the needle does not go through all the way to the tip of the nozzle, there is probably product clogged in the nozzle. Take off the nozzle and soak in 99% Isopropyl Alcohol.
Note: If the needle goes too far through the nozzle, it means that the nozzle has been overextended (stretched), and the nozzle will need to be replaced. Likewise, if the needle is bent or dented, the needle will need to be replaced.
