IWATA NEO AIRBRUSH PROBLEM

[jpc1968]

I hope someone can help. Last night I had a major paint spill while painting a model. There was a major clog and I tried a back flow and it went everywhere. Finally got it working and there was still a lot of paint in my cup so I kept going. When I finished I dismantled my Iwata cleaned it and put it back together. Now it will not spray. When I press the button down I get air (dual action) but when I pull back there is air but no paint and it bubbles back into the cup (doing the back flow thing) any help would be really appreciated.

[Exotics_Builder]

First thing I would do is fill the cup with thinner and try to spray and do a backflow with the thinner. It sounds like there is dried paint somewhere. Did you spray thinner through after cleaning?

[jpc1968]

Yes I have dismantled it and given it a thorough cleaning. All it does is the blow back. This thing is spotless clean. I have come to the conclusion that this thing is just a piece of junk.

[Exotics_Builder]

I have a IWATA Neo and 2 eclipses (one I won as a prize). So far they have all worked well. Why not contact IWATA (the US branch is in Portland Oregon) and see if they can advise you. I'll assume you didn't bend or blunt the needle on the cleaning.

[jpc1968]

No. The tip is cracked

[Mike Chernecki]

Just a tip when cleaning, USE the blue Iwata lube on the needle. Without it you can easily push the needle too far and split the tip.

[935k3]

Hobby Lobby sells the tips, they are pretty cheap with the 40% off coupon. thr tip being cracked can be caused by forcing the needle in to far when re-assembling. Push it in slowly till stops and look at the tip to see if it is seated then tighten the nut. Do not over tighten the new tip when screwing it in.

[Skip]

You probably already had the needle in the airbrush body, then screwed the tip in right? My nephew loaned out his Iwata Eclipse, the borrower screwed the tip back ont the AB body with the tip tightened and down too far, when screwed into the body, the tip is pulled into the tapered needle and the tip is the least point of resistance and splits. I've also seen this with some other dual action air rushes, so it isn't that un common.

Be careful when purchasing the cheapie airbrushes like the DeLuxe from Harbor Freight, I've heard that some have been assembled with cracked tips. BTW, the Harbor Freight DeLuxe for its price is a good "Learner Level" airbrush as long as you realize that you have to treat them even more carefully than the name brand airbrush, which is one reason I recommend them, if you get used to cleaning and handling a tool like a precision instrument it will last a whol lot of years, even some of the cheap ones, if you learn that on a cheap one you will treat a high dollar AB just as well. I've got more than five years on two DeLuxes, I use them for quick jobs which don't require great precision or hair fine lines, they can with practice; they're also a great back up AB, things happen to our good Airbrushes at times, I've got Iwata, Badger, Paasche, Thayer- Chandler Airbrushes yet carry a $15 AB in my kit on paying jobs. I know other Sign Painters, Pin Stripers who carry a little cheap insurance in their kit too!

Back to the cracked tip, Ok I've always been taught by my Airbrushing Mentors and Tormentors alike to first seat the tip, then replace the needle into the tip. The needle is already in and loose when the tip is screwed into the AB body, once the tip is tightened, next gently seat the needle into the tip with a slight turning action until it is just snug, then tighten the thumb nut at the rear of the needle to tighten it. The action of the AB should keep things tight. If there is blow by repeat the seating of the needle until it is tight. It actually takes a bit of force to crack a tip like that,,, it happens!

[jpc1968]

I believe that is what happened. I have a new one on order and should get it tomorrow (Thursday) but it's an expensive little runt. Speaking of brushes lasting with care, I have a paasche that I've used for 25 years. Not one issue except for a cracked tip.....go figure.

[Skip]

Try the light turning in to seat the needle, it gives a feeling to seating the needle in the tip. It's not just a poke and hey that's it!