What is the needle?

Hello!

Photos would help here, but I guess the "half needle" could be the reamer - a tool for removing gunk out of the nozzle. By the way it should only be used in emergency or as last resort - using it regularily would probably wear the nozzle out very soon.

Now for the needles - Paasche usually has #1 and #2 and they work together with nozzle #1 and #2. Both the needles and the nozzles are marked with a groove, two grooves or no groove at all - granted the descrition which is which could be clearer here. Anyway the needle with one groove should work with the nozzle with one groove and so on.

I hope it helps and good luck with your airbrush - many modellers dream o f opening a drawer and just finding a Paasche in there! Use that opportunity and have a nice day!

Paweł

Here is my manual that came with the Paasche VL

https://docdro.id/9Bk9eh0

Well, I found out.  I came home then went back to work where we have microscopes.  At the butt end I can see the number #1 engraved so case solved.  Both needles are #1 and so I must assume that the tip is matched for #1 needles.

So looks like I need to go and buy #3 and #5 with matching tips.

Are there descent stores online where I can buy more needles or should I just stick with going to the manufacturer?

Thank you for helping Pawel, when you mentioned grooves I just thought that maybe there is a some identifier on the needle?  Hence the microscope avenue I took thanks to you mentioning the grooves.

UPDATE - here is the newest manual from Paasche

https://3372523.app.netsuite.com/core/media/media.nl?id=17888&c=3372523&h=Xe2YFULyMTnRkICM5qYCf9B4n_fc77zoqJBhhg_Rc8NyRvrq&_xt=.pdf&fcts=20201127051524&whence=

You can see a photo of all three needles and other info on this page.

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Hello!

Glad I could help you. On the Page Don posted is this picture:

In the lower rigt corner, on the dull end of the needle you can see the grooves I mentionend. It might well be that the needle #1 just doesn't have the grooves - I always had a problem with their coding. From what I remember it isn't #1 - 1 groove, #2 - 2 grooves. That would be too easy.

As for parts - some years ago I ordered Paasche parts directly from Paasche - and that worked pretty good, so I can recommend doing it just like that.

Good luck with your airbrush and have a nice day

Paweł

I've gotten Paasche parts from Paasche, it was nice to just call up and talk to a human being. But I've ordered from Amazon too and they have the whole 3 needle set with nozzles and air caps there for the VL, fwiw. It's in a set, I think it's $32 or so. Course I don't know what anyone would need the large needle for in model painting, maybe it would be good for airbrushing murals on a wall.. You could probably do most things on models with that smallest needle with a VL.

Thank you everyone for helping out.  Reading and seeing that Paasche uses grooves to indicate what needle size makes me wonder the history since the needles I have do not have grooves, but they actually have the number "1" embossed at the end.  I wonder when they cut over to the grooves.  Maybe this tells me how old this airbrush is.

I have no idea where I got this airbrush and I was never an airbrush modeler.  Only one family member built models, but he does not remember ever using an airbrush.  Maybe when I bought the desk from a garage sale, maybe it was in there.  Who knows.  So a rabbit hole to go down.

Just bought a set of needles, aircap, airbody so I can expand and utilize these for my builds that I want to get back in to.

Thank you again everyone and thank you for the tips.

Do you have a compressor etc. ?