Messed up my airbrush, will it ever spray again?

Thanks for the info and the tips, Chris.

@Greg

I use Piksters.  They come in 10 different gauges, I think.  CVS has them.  So do online drug stores.

@Jon

Take out the brush head with a plier and superglue it to a syringe needle (See Don's AB page for more information).  A syringe needle of a gauge higher than 20 is thinner than the thinnest airbrush needle, so it will reach anywhere inside an airbrush without damaging it!  I bough 100 gauge 22 syringe needles for $3 on eBay.

I use those inter-dental brushes as well, the smaller ones are nylon, but they aren't long enough to get to where the middle needle bearing is, d'oh

Can you expand on the interdental brushes in various sizes, Chris? Source, etc? If I get ambitious, I might post a pic of the ones I use (from local grocery) if anyone is interested. Great for cleaning the inside of the nozzle tips, et al)

Odd you mention the micro cleaning brushes. I have the same set as john_a_its and I use the smallest one to clean the through hole (where the needle slides through). I'm getting a lot of paint backing up into the needle, and am worried I am expanding the through hole with the micro brush (the steel center, as you mentioned, Chris). Can't think of another way to clean that hole.

I have a set of micro cleaning brushes, which I no longer use. Their steel centers can scratch airbrushes.

I have interdental brushes in various sizes. The smallest one can easily clean inside a 0.2mm nozzle.

I just want to second Chris' comment about interdental brushes. I didn't know that is what they are called, but I use them too. Not the ones with wound steel centers though! Don't know why those are even sold, I'm no dentist but those can't be good for our teeth, let alone our airbrushes.

Sorry about the damage to your brush.

Indeed even the bigger parts like the main body are always considerably cheaper than replacing the whole airbrush, with almost any airbrush.

It looks like a Badger 155.  You could get a new body from this dealer for about $32 if you use their discount code.  If it is a Badger, I would contact them and see what they can do for you.  E-mail and attach a photo.

Don

As everyone has said it's done. You may be able to get the body replaced which could save some money. Best advise from me would be power tools and airbrushes will never be friends.

Sorry to say if you'd come on here and asked someone may have been able to help.

Phil

It looks pretty much done.  Use interdental brushes to clean inside your airbrush.  They cannot damage or scratch airbrushes but they are strong enough to scrap off any paint residue.  

[:S ] looks like toast mate, not good.

I know Iwata & Badger have 'intensive-care' units in their maintenance depts., but  this may be beyond that

You need to be able to get a good seal between the body and the nozzle, which is why it is smooth. (part names from Iwata, diagram, below, btw)

I don't think reaming it out will work as you will then change the spacing/gap between the nozzle cap/head cap assembly.

You also need to get it centred to the needle & nozzle cap/head cap assy. Diagram here  

You might be able to use beeswax thinly smeared on the tapered rear end of the nozzle, (& on the thread on the body where the head cap fit) as recommended by someone in my hobby club.

I use the smallest of this set of micro-brushes to deep clean inside the body, & plastic handled kids paint brushes to clean the paint bowl.

In extremis, reverse the needle, & feed it through the body from the rear & gently push.

Q-tips are reserved for the outside, & ear-holes only!