Chrome Erosion on Iwata Eclipse

Bakster

 

 

modelmaker66

Ammonia will do that in time. If you use a cleaner that has ammonia like windex it will do it. It is not covered by warranties but does not effect performance. So it is your doing probobly, not a defect.

 

 

 

 

I second this. I experienced the same when I had used Windex as a cleaner. It strips the chrome off. 

 

 

As I said earlier, I've never used windex or any ammonia product in my airbrush.

modelmaker66

Ammonia will do that in time. If you use a cleaner that has ammonia like windex it will do it. It is not covered by warranties but does not effect performance. So it is your doing probobly, not a defect.

 

Rambo

That's odd I've had my Iwata eclipse for at least 6 years and have always used Windex to clean it with and the chrome still looks good

 

Both outside and inside the color cup? 

Yeah, I've only been airbrushing for about a year now, but it's all been double action gravity feed

Hi;

 Reading this made me check my A.B.s closer .I don't use any brush with a color cup if I can help it . Never Have ! I use the Badger type with the bottles on the bottom or , if it's a big job, a proffessional De Vilbiss touch up A.B. Have had most for over forty years or more .No plating issue .

Don Wheeler

It may be that Iwata is having a plating problem.  That they were willing to replace the airbrush might indicate that.  They could have just told you the wear was normal.

Don

 

Don, that could be, but I would like to know if my methods could contribute any culpability to the problem.

Paul Budzik

Having had conversations with HS ... the only reason for the chrome plating was because some people reported allergic reaction to the nickel.  Other than the plating, the airbrushes are identical.

As to the original post ... not sure what you guys are doing, but I have 3 Eclipses HP-CS ... that I have had for years and none of them show any signs of plating wearing off ... but I only clean with lacquer thinner.

I had been using a home made cleaner (IPA & Car Windcreen Cleaner and Distilled Water) which must contain ammonia, which I left a few drops in the my AB after cleaning. I think that is what caused it, but I clean with laquer thinners now.

It may be that Iwata is having a plating problem.  That they were willing to replace the airbrush might indicate that.  They could have just told you the wear was normal.

Don

Paul Budzik

Having had conversations with HS ... the only reason for the chrome plating was because some people reported allergic reaction to the nickel.  Other than the plating, the airbrushes are identical.

As to the original post ... not sure what you guys are doing, but I have 3 Eclipses HP-CS ... that I have had for years and none of them show any signs of plating wearing off ... but I only clean with lacquer thinner.

 

That's the thing, Paul, I don't know what I'm doing wrong either, but this is twice in a row.

I outlined everything i do exactly in my original post

Having had conversations with HS ... the only reason for the chrome plating was because some people reported allergic reaction to the nickel.  Other than the plating, the airbrushes are identical.

As to the original post ... not sure what you guys are doing, but I have 3 Eclipses HP-CS ... that I have had for years and none of them show any signs of plating wearing off ... but I only clean with lacquer thinner.

Don Wheeler

Whether chrome or nickel plated, a good quality airbrush that's taken care of will last you many years.  The parts that wear are easily replaced.

Don

 

If I decide to purchase a new airbrush, I don't want something similar happening to it as what happened to my Iwata Eclipse, it was disheartening to have that occur after only a few weeks of use, especially when I try to completely avoid the use of anything with ammonia in it.

Whether chrome or nickel plated, a good quality airbrush that's taken care of will last you many years.  The parts that wear are easily replaced.

Don

Oh, I thought the chrome being harder and more wear resistant would mean the airbrush would last longer.

laskdjn

Thanks for your prompt response.  So, if I wanted to go the evolution route, I'd definitely spend the extra 50 bucks or whatever and get the CRplus version.

Well, I wouldn't.  To me it's just an appearance thing unless you are alergic to nickel.

Don

Thanks for your prompt response.  So, if I wanted to go the evolution route, I'd definitely spend the extra 50 bucks or whatever and get the CRplus version.

laskdjn

On a side note, would the nickel on an H&S Evolution be more or less durable than the chrome on an Iwata Eclipse?

Chrome is harder than nickel, so it should wear better.  But, it mostly depends on the thickness of the plating, and both are very thin.  I suspect it is especially thin in the recess of the cup.

I've heard that the gold plating on the Evolution handle wears away fairly fast.

Don

On a side note, would the nickel on an H&S Evolution be more or less durable than the chrome on an Iwata Eclipse?

So, perhaps I'm just being paranoid.  Thank you all for the excellent advice and for sharing your experiences.

I have some wear of the chrome to brass in the colour cups of:

my Iawata CS, 9 yrs old

my Badger 100 small cup, 20+ yrs old

and my on my Badger 150 original seperate colour cup, 25+ yrs old.

I've never used Ammonia cleaner on the Iwata.

So long as the needle, headset, & air valves are ok, then you should be good to go.

route62

If the chrome is coming off but the underlying metal is not showing signs of corrosion and the airbrush is performing as expected, does it matter then? 

I have airbrushes that are 15+ years old.  Much of the chrome has worn off all over the airbrush inluding the cup.  They still perform and only seals and needles have been replaced.

Keep using it and if you see a significant degrade in performance or corrosion on the exposed metal where the chrome is gone then you have a case for replacement.

After having a quick look at my Eclipse it appears that some of the chrome has indeed worn away at the bottom of the paint cup. I called the dealer where it was purchased from and he said All AB do the some thing over time, all ab's.

It works the same as it did 12 months ago, it has no corrosion and will most likely work the same in another 10 years.

As route62 has pointed out, just keep using it.

If the chrome is coming off but the underlying metal is not showing signs of corrosion and the airbrush is performing as expected, does it matter then? 

I have airbrushes that are 15+ years old.  Much of the chrome has worn off all over the airbrush inluding the cup.  They still perform and only seals and needles have been replaced.

Keep using it and if you see a significant degrade in performance or corrosion on the exposed metal where the chrome is gone then you have a case for replacement.

Greg

I don't know about the chrome wearing off the bottom of the paint cup. Mine does too and I always figured it was normal, maybe you're right, maybe it's not.

But you mentioned running iso through your brush between Vallejo colors. Vallejo and alcohol don't get along and I'm surprised you are not reporting clogging and gumming-up problems.

 
 

I don't use IPA for thinning, I use it for cleaning and in my experience with cleaning Vallejo paint in between colors, it works great.

modelmaker66

Ammonia will do that in time. If you use a cleaner that has ammonia like windex it will do it. It is not covered by warranties but does not effect performance. So it is your doing probobly, not a defect.
 

The only way ammonia could've gotten into my airbrush is if it's in vallejo's thinner or model air paint.

damouav

I've had my Iwata Eclise for almost 12mths and use my own cleaner for acrylics (IPA, Windscreen Cleaner) and Laquer Thinners to clean my AB. I personally have not seen any signs of the chrome being removed from the color cup.

Do you have any pictures?

 

I can get pictures when I come home from work.  I specifically don't use Windex or any other window cleaner because it has ammonia in it.

I've had my Iwata Eclise for almost 12mths and use my own cleaner for acrylics (IPA, Windscreen Cleaner) and Laquer Thinners to clean my AB. I personally have not seen any signs of the chrome being removed from the color cup.

Do you have any pictures?

Ammonia will do that in time. If you use a cleaner that has ammonia like windex it will do it. It is not covered by warranties but does not effect performance. So it is your doing probobly, not a defect.

I don't know about the chrome wearing off the bottom of the paint cup. Mine does too and I always figured it was normal, maybe you're right, maybe it's not. 

But you mentioned running iso through your brush between Vallejo colors. Vallejo and alcohol don't get along and I'm surprised you are not reporting clogging and gumming-up problems.