What lube to use for airbrush? (Iwata)

I use Iwata Superlube for my AB. The cost is minimal and cheap insurance for an expensive tool.

Best to avoid lubricant if you can - but if you must, glycerine is perfect for the job & as far as I know it is main ingredient in most "airbrush lubricants".

Thanks guys,

I appreciate all the ideas and advice. I knew what lubes are available but had none, and was basically just wondering if something else might work. But I guess nothing is also an option :)

Vivian

I have a small bottle of the Medea blue lube. It isn't strictly necessary, especially if you maintain your airbrush and keep it clean. It's mostly glycerin, which is hygroscopic and can attract and absorb water molecules. It is also an acrylic retarder, and can help stave off the dreaded tip dry prevalent with acrylic paints. I lube the needle with it for storage, and the trigger for basic lubrication, but I don't sweat it if I forget.

I suspect that airbrush lube is one of those things that people use because it seems like a good idea.  I bought a little bottle of store brand airbrush lube when I got my first airbrush.  I lubed everything.  After a couple of months I noticed that the trigger action felt kind of sticky.  The lube had gotten gummy.  I suspect the lube was just glycerin with a little food coloring.  So I cleaned the brush up and put a tiny bit of sewing machine oil in the spots where metal rubs against metal, and the trigger has felt fine ever since.  I still sometimes put a little of the lube on the needle when I clean it.  But, even here I doubt if it's needed.  The needle slides through a Teflon bearing, and Teflon is pretty slippery on its own.

Some people put a little airbrush lube in the air valve to keep it from sticking.  My air valve has never stuck, so I haven't.

On the other hand, one little tube or bottle of the stuff will last for years, and it's not really expensive.  Airbrush manufacturers recommend it (Of course they sell it too), and it couldn't hurt.

Don

Cadet Chuck

  Doesn't seem necessary to me, especially if you keep your airbrush nice and clean.

Been airbrushing since the late 1970's and have never used lube and still have the same Badger.

Use their Lube, it helps seal the, er seal behind the colour cup & makes the action a bit smoother.

Should be available from where you bought the a/b from or somewhere like (UK Supplier) airbrushes.com 

https://airbrushes.com/product_info.php?cPath=14&products_id=41&osCsid=ea16e7a6e59737b6cac174cc85db9aab

I have never lubed an airbrush before.  Then I recently bought an Iwata and got that little blue tube of lube.  I squirted a little into the mechanism per instructions, and didn't notice any difference.  Doesn't seem necessary to me, especially if you keep your airbrush nice and clean.