Airbrush

A Tool Kit for Airbrushers

The airbrush needs periodic maintenance and repair that requires the use of certain tools.  Following are some useful items that you can gather for an airbrush studio tool kit.

The airbrush usually comes with a small wrench, sometimes called a spanner.  It can have one end or two ends of differing sizes, depending upon the manufacturer.  In some cases the wrench is used to remove the airbrush tip for cleaning and/or replacement; in other cases it is used to tighten the hose to the airbrush.  Because of its small size the wrench is easy to misplace, so keep it in a tool kit.

Another handy item is a reamer that’s used for scraping dried paint from the needle channel of the airbrush.  This is not an easy item to find, but it’s available at some art supply stores.  The reamer looks exactly like an airbrush needle, but is ground to a flat edge at the tip, resembling a knife blade.  After removing the needle, insert the reamer and twirl it with your fingers to scrape clean the inside of the airbrush head assembly.  This is also easy to misplace, so be sure to return it to your kit after each use.

A small crescent wrench is handy to tighten the airbrush hose to the air source, be it a compressor or carbonic gas tank regulator.  This usually has a ½” threaded nut and requires a wrench larger than a spanner to tighten.

A pair of needle nose pliers should be added to your tool kit.  These can be used for a variety of things such as pulling out a stuck needle that paint has dried around or to grip and hold small difficult-to-reach parts.  Consider wrapping the jaws of the pliers with tape so you won’t mar the soft metal parts that are handled. 

A small screwdriver is handy, either one used for electrical work or possibly watchmaker or eyeglass repair.  Screws used in airbrushes are very small with a tiny slot, so a small tool is essential.

Tweezers are good for extracting parts such as air valves or washers that are found inside the airbrush.  These are also good for removing the dried film of paint that is difficult to reach in the bottom of the color cup or paint bowl.

A small, stiff brush is useful when cleaning the airbrush with solvents.  Also, an angled toothbrush is good for getting into the bottom of color cups and scrubbing with cleaner.

To remove any corrosive buildup on various parts of the airbrush, including the needle and air intake, a light abrasive polish (such as Brasso) can be used to cosmetically clean the metal body and some of the removable metal parts.

It’s good to have on hand a roll of silicone tape for sealing threads on the regulator to help prevent air leaks when the hose is attached.  And beeswax can be used for eliminating any pesky air leaks on the paint tip (air cap).

Find yourself a small plastic or metal toolbox or container to hold your various airbrush maintenance tools, perhaps one in a bright color so it’s always visible for ready access.

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Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 17 No. 6 — April 2007

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