Airbursh Lube

starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:00 am

Ok, does anyone buy it for their AB or is it just an option?

If you do use it, how often do you lube your AB?

Antenociti · Post by **Antenociti** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:32 am

I use it every time i do a full strip-to-clean, which is at the end of every session, or after i've used something like Alclad II.

Not sure if it helps or not as Ive never not used it

But both my airbrushes are still smooth action.

When i chatted to the gent in the shop about it he said it main benefit was to lubricate where the pin slides through any rubber o-rings and would make it less likely to produce wear on the inner surface of the o-ring.

Makes sense, but i've only had my brushes for about 18months so I dont know if the o-rings would have worn by this point or not - i use them about twice a week for 3-5 hours each time.

Saturn · Post by **Saturn** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:16 am

Ditto what Antenociti said. I always wipe the needle with a very thin layer of lube at end of a final cleaning; but I usually don't lube any other parts. I've had the needle stick on my Iwatas when I've forgotten to lube- particularly when it gets cold in the winter.

I remember reading that the choice of lube is important- as some household lubricants will attack O-Rings and rubber/teflon seals. I use Medea Super Lube, and I've heard that the lube Badger makes works fine as well.

Digger1 · Post by **Digger1** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:42 pm

I read somewhere that you can rub beeswax on the needle against the grain (from front to back), it'll serve as a lubrucant.

I don't remember where I read it. Sorry

Jonas Calhoun · Post by **Jonas Calhoun** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:12 pm

I've been using Super Lube since I got my airbrush. Just a thin layer between sessions works well. I've had to put 1 drop on the trigger assembly when that got sticky.

Tom Grossman suggested it to me, and I've been happy. I look at it as cheap insurance, and it helps cleanup. I notice if I don't use it (out of laziness or whatever), that the next time I clean it, the paint wants to stick to the needle a bit more.

Dan

Post by **TER-OR** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:56 am

A bit of lube when you strip and clean helps a lot. You don't need much.

There's a nice maintainece set at Dixie Arts with brushes, lube etc.

starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:16 pm

Do you put a drop in the gravity feed well or do you have to take the needle out and wipe it down???

starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:27 pm

Terror,

I looked for this "maintainece set at Dixie Arts with brushes, lube etc." and all I could find was the lube by its self or when you buy the package it includes the lube.

Do you have a specific address to check this out?

Jonas Calhoun · Post by **Jonas Calhoun** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:28 pm

starmanmm wrote:Do you put a drop in the gravity feed well or do you have to take the needle out and wipe it down???

Take the needle out and wipe it down.

Dan

Vince Hoffmann · Post by **Vince Hoffmann** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:02 pm

starmanmm wrote:Do you put a drop in the gravity feed well or do you have to take the needle out and wipe it down???

Don't do that because you'll contaminate any paint you want to spray later. Be very conservative with any foreign substance you put into your airbrush or else you'll be incorporating it onto the surface of your next masterpiece.

Post by **TER-OR** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 3:42 pm

When you reassemble the airbrush, use a drop of lube on a Q-tip or bit of paper towel in the area where the needle will move through the assembly - not the front area where it can contact the paint. Just a very light coat is enough. You will notice the difference.

Cleaning set 99MCK
http://www.dixieart.com/Accessories.html

starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:15 pm

Thanks for all the info people!