The Nail School

The Airbrush. one of the biggest problems with airbrushing is the fact that most technicians do not fully understand their airbrush gun, how it works and how to strip it down to clean it. Airbrush paints clog up in the gun and stop you airbrushing so maintenance is very important!

Breakdown of Parts

01. Needle cap

02. Nozzle cap

03. Fluid nozzle

05. Main body with paint reservoir

06. Fluid needle 'O' ring

07. Needle 'O' ring screw

08. Needle chucking guide

09. Needle spring

10. Spring guide

11. Needle chucking unit

12. Fluid needle

13. Handle

14. Main lever

15. Auxiliary lever

16. Air piston

17. Air piston 'O' ring

18. Air valve body

19. Air valve

20. Air valve spring

21. Air valve guide

22. Air valve set

Air creates suction which draws paint out of the fluid nozzle when the trigger is pulled back.

Air brush paint is drawn from the paint reservoir. Pulling back the trigger while pressing it down pulls back the needle releasing paint to mix with the air creating a mist. The ideal ratio of paint to air must be sort so that the paint dries on contact with the nail.

Equipment for cleaning.

A set of brushes like those shown opposite are ideal for getting into the airways of the gun, into the paint bowl etc.

Airbrush cleaner is recommended to spray through the gun after each client and during a service clean. It is best kept in a plastic squirt bottle.

Pure acetone is for deep cleaning, do not spray acetone through the airbrush, it is not good in that is can then be breathed in etc.

Do not use runny oils to lubricate levers, petroleum jelly is fine.

Your air brush should have come with a small spanner to undo the front assembly.

Terry and paper toweling

Glass dish to place parts in to save losing them.

Empty jar to spray cleaner into.

Small brush to clean out paint from the bowl

Cleaning between colour changes. You only need to clean the gun if you are going from a dark colour to a light colour, just spray out the remaining light colour into a bin/receptacle add your dark colour to the paint reservoir and spray onto a piece of paper until the pure darker colour comes through.

Otherwise squirt airbrush cleaner into the paint reservoir and use you paint brush to swirl the paint left in the bowl, spray through with more cleaner if needed. Sometimes you may have to use your paint brush to clean the front of the airbrush needle cap, a build up of paint here will affect the spray pattern from the gun.

Service clean. Airbrush your clients nails cleaning your airbrush as above. To service clean the air brush at the end of a session/ day. Remove the handle '13'( back part of the gun ) this just screws off, undo the needle chucking screw '11' and withdraw the needle '12' very carefully in a straight line, do not bend the needle. Wipe the needle clean, be very gentle with the tip as it is very fragile and can easily be damaged. Do not turn the airbrush upside down as '14' the main lever can drop out.

Unscrew the needle cap '1' you can clean this with acetone use cleaning brushes. Using your spanner undo the nozzle cap '2', this has two flat sides for the spanner to grip to. Using an old air brush needle, very gently push out dried paint through the front, using the blunt end of the needle flick out dried paint from the rear. Be careful not to lose the little washer at the rear of this piece.

Replace the head assembly, making sure to tighten up the nozzle cap '2' tightly with the spanner.

Replace the needle '12' and tighten the needle chucking screw '11' If the needle is not pushed all the way home, when you spray with the gun, paint will exit the gun even though the main lever '14' is in the forward position.

Replace the Handle '13'

Spray through some water or air brush cleaner to check successful cleaning and reassembly.