How-to Clean an Eclipse Gravity Feed Airbrush
Written by Adam Rice   
Thursday, 01 November 2007

If you're having problems that haven't been solved with the normal cleaning procedures try going through these instructions.

This guide applies to these airbrushes.

Iwata
HP-BS
HP-CS
K-CS
 
 
 
 
 

Equipment

  1. Towel or Tray to work over
  2. Appropriate Cleaning Solution
  3. Round Wooden Toothpicks
    • Bamboo Toothpicks don't seem to break as often
  4. Bristled Cleaning Brush
    • Substitute Brushes
    • Interdental Brushes
    • Airbrush Cleaning Brushes (you'll need the small ones)
    • Pipe Cleaners
  5. The Iwata Eclipse Wrench that came with the airbrush
  6. Cotton Swabs for general cleaning
    • Note: Cotton Swabs do occasionally shed their fibers, if it does just make sure you pick them out
  7. A Mirror or Mirror-Like Surface
  8. A Magnifying Glass or Jeweler's Loupe (optional)

Disassembly

  1. Unscrew the Handle
  2. Unscrew the Needle Chucking Nut
  3. Pull out the Fluid Needle
  4. Clean the Fluid Needle with a Cotton Swab
    • Warning: The Fluid Needle is sharp.
  5. Unscrew the Needle Cap
  6. Unscrew the Nozzle Cap
  7. Unscrew the Head Cap, use the Iwata Eclipse Wrench if necessary
  8. Remove the Fluid Nozzle

Cleaning

  1. Examine the Fluid Nozzle for damage
    1. Look at the small tip
    2. Make sure it's a true, perfect circle free of dings, dents, tears, and cracks
    3. Look at the Fluid Nozzle from the side
    4. Make sure the tip does not flare out like a trumpet
    5. If the Fluid Nozzle does not pass inspection it will need to be replaced
  2. Clean out the Fluid Nozzle with a Toothpick
    • This is the important piece, pay special attention to its cleanliness
    1. Examine the Fluid Nozzle for cleanliness
    2. Look through the nozzle toward a brightly lit surface
      • Note: Looking at a light-source will give you shadows, you need to look at reflected light
    3. Examine the Fluid Nozzle's interior walls
    4. They should be bright, shiny, and free of shadows
    5. Shadows are paint, if you see them keep cleaning
  3. Clean out the Paint Passage with the Cleaning Brush
  4. Go down the front
  5. Thoroughly clean out the Color Cup.
  6. Clean inside the hole at the front of the Color Cup
NOTE: Clean everything very thoroughly!

Reassembly

  1. Place the Fluid Nozzle onto the Airbrush Body.
  2. Screw the Head Cap onto the Airbrush Body
  3. Screw the Nozzle Cap onto the Head Cap
  4. Screw the Needle Cap onto the Nozzle Cap
  5. Insert the Fluid Needle. Do not force it in, however it should come to a firm, positive stop.
  6. Give the Fluid Needle a little twist counter-clockwise
  7. Screw the Needle Chucking Nut, big end first, onto the Needle Chucking Guide
  8. Screw the Handle onto the back of the Airbrush Body

Testing

  1. Fill the Color Cup with water
  2. Hold the airbrush up to a mirror and press down for air only
  3. Make sure NO spray is coming out
  4. Hold the airbrush away from the mirror. While holding down the trigger for air pull all the way back.
  5. You should get a lot of spray
  6. Hold the airbrush back up to the mirror and re-confirm no spray.
  7. Now pull back slightly and confirm a round spray pattern.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 01 November 2007 )