Find us on Youtube Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest Sign up for our email newsletter
See inside current issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine
See inside current issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine

THE MAGAZINE

        CONTACT US

          RECENT ARTICLES

          POPULAR TOPICS

          RECENT REVIEWS

          POPULAR TOPICS

            RECENT REVIEWS

            POPULAR TOPICS

              RECENT VIDEOS

              POPULAR TOPICS

                RECENT THREADS

                CATEGORIES

                  NEW PRODUCTS

                  OUR STORE

                    CURRENT ISSUE

                    See inside the current issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine

                        SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

                        Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

                        Search

                        Needle lubricant ?

                        1350 views
                        23 replies
                        1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Needle lubricant ?
                        Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 26, 2005 10:19 AM
                        Hi guys,

                        tho9900 told me about this in a topic I started about my AB:

                        If you spray acrylics using a needle lubricant is a must, it helps keep the paint from drying on the needle and blocking the spray pattern. It helps with enamels too. It is only about $5 US a bottle.

                        What is it? And where to get it?

                        Cheers,

                        Jürgen
                        Report Abuse
                        mass tactical
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        Posted by mass tactical on Friday, August 26, 2005 4:09 PM
                        Try www.dixieart.com. What you are looking for is a product called Regdab listed for $3.35 plus shipping. Dixie Art is very good to deal with.

                        Mike M
                        Report Abuse
                        Bgrigg
                        • Member since
                          May 2005
                        • From: Left forever
                        Posted by Bgrigg on Friday, August 26, 2005 4:26 PM
                        Medea Super Lube is pretty much the same thing. Check with your local LHS.

                        So long folks!

                        Report Abuse
                        tho9900
                        • Member since
                          July 2004
                        • From: SETX. USA
                        Posted by tho9900 on Saturday, August 27, 2005 7:31 PM
                        Jurgen - just to be clear, after I reread my message... it is not MANDATORY to use needle lube with acrylics, it just makes spraying them a whole lot easier... spraying without them brought me a little headache, as I was constantly clearing the brush and wiping the tip to get the acrylic off... with the needle lube the amount of that was cut in half if not more...
                        ---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
                        Report Abuse
                        qmiester
                        • Member since
                          May 2003
                        • From: Central USA
                        Posted by qmiester on Sunday, August 28, 2005 9:05 AM
                        I'm going to ask what must be a rather stupid question (yeh, I know, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask). but would''t a very thin oil such as 3 in One Oil work? Or perhaps the lubricating oils that are used for lubricating the mechanisms on model railroad engines (10 weight or less)? Just curious.
                        Quincy
                        Report Abuse
                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Sunday, August 28, 2005 10:15 AM
                        QUOTE: I'm going to ask what must be a rather stupid question (yeh, I know, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask). but would''t a very thin oil such as 3 in One Oil work? Or perhaps the lubricating oils that are used for lubricating the mechanisms on model railroad engines (10 weight or less)? Just curious.

                        Nah, not stupid. Some people do use WD-40 and things like that for needle lube and apparently have no problems with it. My concern is that anything I use as lube on my airbrush needs to be something that I know isn't going to cause a paint problem when/if it gets dissolved into the paint. Needle lube is pretty viscuous, about the consistency of Vaseline, so it doesn't blow off easily. Also, I have heard that one of the primary ingredients of some of them is glycerine which isn't a petroleum product, at least I don't think it is. The stuff is cheap, a tube lasts forever, so I just don't see a point in risking a paint job I put a lot of effort into.
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
                        Report Abuse
                        tho9900
                        • Member since
                          July 2004
                        • From: SETX. USA
                        Posted by tho9900 on Sunday, August 28, 2005 1:23 PM
                        same here (and not a stupid question because Iwata has a separate section on not using WD40 in the airbrush instructions that came with my HP-CR, obviously it's been asked a lot) My thought is that when using enamels and lacquers we use thinners that cut through petroleum based products, so it would cut through the WD40, and acrylics use alchohol in their thinners a lot which would have the same effect, and especially with acrylics I would hate to see what WD40 would do to the paint.

                        --edit--

                        Ok I just found those Iwata instructions - it says:

                        "DO NOT use light machine oil or WD-40 for lubrication. This will cause the needle to stick as it moves through the needle packing"

                        hmmm didn't think it would be as drastic as that... glad I reread it.
                        ---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 29, 2005 1:44 PM
                        Much of the discussion above are for acrylics...is this necessary for enamels as that's what I primarily use?

                        My Badger instruction said to use bees wax...does candle wax just as good?
                        Report Abuse
                        tho9900
                        • Member since
                          July 2004
                        • From: SETX. USA
                        Posted by tho9900 on Monday, August 29, 2005 6:27 PM
                        Dude - it works well for enamels as well, less cleanup, less paint on the needle etc... I don't think candle wax would work for the airbrush (usually that is used to seal the head from what I know) you can get beeswax at the hardware store as well... make sure it says pure beeswax though as they have several different kinds some with additives.
                        ---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 4:22 AM
                        But what is it? Needle lubricant???

                        Cheers,

                        Jürgen
                        Report Abuse
                        tho9900
                        • Member since
                          July 2004
                        • From: SETX. USA
                        Posted by tho9900 on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 4:57 PM
                        I think I remember WAY back when someone here saying it could be rubbed on the needle but maybe that is one of those falsely imprinted memories or something. I've heard of it being used to seal the threads on the head of some airbrushes.

                        ---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 11:51 PM
                        You can use glycerin from your local drug store. Just put a tiny drop on each time after you clean the needle and are about to re-insert it.
                        Report Abuse
                        RichardI
                        • Member since
                          February 2004
                        • From: Canada
                        Posted by RichardI on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 8:24 AM
                        OK guys, I use acrylics almost exclusively. So where, exactly on the needle do you put this stuff? I have an Omni 6000 and two Badger 200's - an NH and a -20.
                        Thanks,
                        Rich Cool [8D]

                        On the bench: 1/48 Revell PBY Catalina 0A-10A. Next up: Moebius 1/24 Chariot from Lost in Space.

                        Report Abuse
                        darson
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        • From: Melbourne, Australia
                        Posted by darson on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 8:54 AM
                        OK just for the record I use Medea Super Lube which is Teflon based product that won't mess with your paint jobs. It is applied (a couple of drops max) to the lower third of the needle (from the pointy end going back)

                        Cheers
                        Darren
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 7:12 PM
                        I have always laughed at Media using Teflon as a selling point in Super Lube. Laugh [(-D]
                        Teflon in liquid form is worthless below higher temperatures, so the Teflon does absolutely nothing. Tongue [:P]
                        It is a good product though and I like it.

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
                        Report Abuse
                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 7:24 PM
                        QUOTE: So where, exactly on the needle do you put this stuff?

                        I lube everything that moves. The needle (the whole needle), the trigger, the link on the spring tube, the o-rings, you name it.
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 7:41 PM
                        I only lube the front-half of the needle as lubing the back can cause it to slip in the needle chuck and it isn't necessary as nothing gets on the needle back there.
                        But if it works for you more power to you Scott. Wink [;)]

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
                        Report Abuse
                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 8:19 PM
                        QUOTE: But if it works for you more power to you Scott. Wink [;)]

                        Gotta do something to get the lube off my finger Big Smile [:D]

                        What I should have said is that I lube most of the needle and don't really worry about how much. The front half or so is the most important. I've never had one slip in the chuck, but Mike wouldn't mention it if it wasn't something that happens.
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 10:25 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity

                        QUOTE: But if it works for you more power to you Scott. Wink [;)]

                        Gotta do something to get the lube off my finger Big Smile [:D]

                        What I should have said is that I lube most of the needle and don't really worry about how much. The front half or so is the most important. I've never had one slip in the chuck, but Mike wouldn't mention it if it wasn't something that happens.


                        Remember that Mike does not know it all either. Wink [;)]
                        I am just passing on what I have been told my those that I consider more knowledgeable than I. I have never lubed the entire needle so I can't comment on whether it will slip or not.

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
                        Report Abuse
                        stindle
                        • Member since
                          September 2003
                        Posted by stindle on Thursday, September 8, 2005 9:53 AM
                        I use valve stem lub from the music store, works great with no problems with paint jobs.

                        Nice thing is its $1 a bottle at the check out and that bottle will last you for years .



                        Skip
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Where exactly to get them?
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 8, 2005 12:32 PM
                        O.k. guys, I've seen 2 products (Medea Super Lube, valve stem lub)mentioned that may be more accessible to me but where can I find them?


                        Report Abuse
                        tho9900
                        • Member since
                          July 2004
                        • From: SETX. USA
                        Posted by tho9900 on Thursday, September 8, 2005 8:30 PM
                        Dude - I stick to the airbrush type lubes myself, I have a bottle of Regdab lube that has lasted me about a year now and is still almost full. For the $5.00 or so for it you can't beat it!!!

                        You can get Regdab and Medea Super Lube at www.greatmodels.com and I believe www.squadron.com, Dixie Art has it too but they are out for awhile due to the hurricane down there... and the bonus is to offset shipping costs you might as well get you a kit or two while you are at it! Wink [;)]
                        ---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
                        Report Abuse
                        stindle
                        • Member since
                          September 2003
                        Posted by stindle on Friday, September 9, 2005 9:35 AM
                        Valve Stem lube can be gotten at most music stores. Our music store has store brand at the counter for $1.

                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 9, 2005 11:41 AM
                        Is this valve stem lubricant like the valve oil my son used to use on his trumpet, or is it a little thicker? I guess I'll have to cruise the local music store (gotta get reeds for my other son's sax anyway) and check it out. Thanks for the tip!
                        Report Abuse
                        JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

                        Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

                        SEARCH FORUMS
                        FREE NEWSLETTER
                        SIGN UP
                        By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.
                          More great sites from Kalmbach Media
                            Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy