Having trouble disassembling my airbrush...

I seems you are new to airbrushing you should consider buying this book:  http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php?title=C9224&ser=MAN

When cleaning an Anthem:

-Remove the needle. Clean it separately with proper solvent.

- Remove the Head assembly (they are 2 parts, but you don't have to separate them) there will be some paint left on the front (the gold part) and you should have any paint inside (if so, you might have leak problem)

- The Head assembly removed, you can remove the tip. Clean it correctly, there will be some paint left there.

- Then, use pipe cleaner to clean the inside of the airbrush (from the front and from bottom.

- Reassemble everything (finder tight), and clean the exterior of the airbrush.

LJ- hello again!  I have the 155 as well and the first time I disassembled it, the same thing happend.  Pretty much as Eliott said, (H3Nav)  I found a tiny pair of pliers and gently turned it till it came loose.  When you go to reassemble it, put a dab of needle juice on the threads with your fingers, that way the next time it isn't so hard.  I lube the threads on each of the two head assemblies to make break down more simple...

Your best bet though, is take it to the friend who airbrushes.  He may have a simpler approach, OR the right sized pliers! 

 

Lady Jemima, read the instruction book very carefully. All of the answers to your questions are in there. I own an Anthem and it is VERY easy to disassemble. You may have to CAREFULLY use a pair of pliers to loosen the head assembly the first time, but everything should be finger tight after that. The 155 does not use a head wrench like the 100/150/200 series does ( discounting the 200NH ). Not to sound like an advertisment, but the 155 has one of the quickest  and easiest disassembly and reassembly times on the market for an airbrush. Yes, even quicker than an Iwata ( own two of those ).

I did read the intruction book thoroughly (several times, actually!); I would never ask for help online without attempting to solve the problem first on my own.   Yes, I found everything to be extremely easy to disassemble, with the exception of the darn head assembly! 

Thank you for the advice about not using pliers. I know someone who airbrushes (as I mentioned in a previous thre about Aztecs) and I'm sure with his sixteen airbrushes, he will have an extra wrench or two.  

Sounds like its pretty much set up like my 175, it is quick to break down and reassemble to. Not to sound like a complete A**, but you are turning the head assmebly the right way correct? If you over tighten that head on there it will smash those soft brass thread pretty darn quick.

The head assembly unscrews from the brass thread with no problem.  The problem is that the pieces that make up the head assembly seem as though they are super-glued together.

 

 

H3nav wrote:

Lady Jemima, read the instruction book very carefully. All of the answers to your questions are in there. I own an Anthem and it is VERY easy to disassemble. You may have to CAREFULLY use a pair of pliers to loosen the head assembly the first time, but everything should be finger tight after that. The 155 does not use a head wrench like the 100/150/200 series does ( discounting the 200NH ). Not to sound like an advertisment, but the 155 has one of the quickest  and easiest disassembly and reassembly times on the market for an airbrush. Yes, even quicker than an Iwata ( own two of those ).   E

Sounds like its pretty much set up like my 175, it is quick to break down and reassemble to. Not to sound like a complete A**, but you are turning the head assmebly the right way correct? If you over tighten that head on there it will smash those soft brass thread pretty darn quick.

Lady Jemima, read the instruction book very carefully. All of the answers to your questions are in there. I own an Anthem and it is VERY easy to disassemble. You may have to CAREFULLY use a pair of pliers to loosen the head assembly the first time, but everything should be finger tight after that. The 155 does not use a head wrench like the 100/150/200 series does ( discounting the 200NH ). Not to sound like an advertisment, but the 155 has one of the quickest  and easiest disassembly and reassembly times on the market for an airbrush. Yes, even quicker than an Iwata ( own two of those ).

 

E

Lady Jemima wrote:

My kit didn't come with a wrench but I'm sure I can find one; if not I'll use the pliers with leather in between.

Really? Did you buy just the airbrush on it's own, or in a kit? If it came in the black plastic box look for a slit in the foam insert, they normally ship with a teeny little wrench. At least my 150 did. Perhaps the Anthem doesn't come with one?

Be VERY careful with pliers. The problem with pliers is they slip, and when they slip people grip tighter, and that can cause a distortion of the airbrush barrel and head assembly causing an air leak. Which in turn causes it's own problems.

If the kit didn't come with a wrench I would seriously recommend buying a wrench to fit rather than pliers. One mistake with the pliers can be very expensive to correct.

LOL! No, you need the head and nozzle in place. Only the protective cap comes off to spray.

LOL, I didn't think so either, but Tyamada's response confused me.

 

This Page shows a disassembled view of the 155 Anthem.

Yes, that's the diagram I'm using (it's the same in the instructional booklet).

 

The nozzle, as was also mentioned, uses a taper fit.  When the head is screwed onto the body is pushes the nozzle back into the body creating a seal and also forcing the nozzle to line up properly.

So it's normal for it to be loose when the head assembly is removed? (Just want to make sure).

 

 

They do unscrew but are frequently very tight from the factory.

Thank you! This is the information I was looking for.  I didn't know if the tightness was standard or a production flaw. My kit didn't come with a wrench but I'm sure I can find one; if not I'll use the pliers with leather in between.

 

This Page shows a disassembled view of the 155 Anthem.  The protective cap just slides on and off.  Just pull and it will come off.  The head itself is composed of the head and spray regulator.  They do unscrew but are frequently very tight from the factory.  As was mentioned by others, put a pirce of leather or plastic between the jaws of your pliers and they will unscrew without marring the parts.  The nozzle, as was also mentioned, uses a taper fit.  When the head is screwed onto the body is pushes the nozzle back into the body creating a seal and also forcing the nozzle to line up properly.

Edit ... You can also twist on the protective cap to get it off, but if you do twist clockwise when viewing the airbrush from the front.  That will simply tighten the head assembly instead of unscrewing it.

LOL! No, you need the head and nozzle in place. Only the protective cap comes off to spray.

You don't "really" have to have the protective cap if you store the AB on a stand, only if there is a danger of the needle getting banged. I have an old Badger 150 Pro and it doesn't come with a cap, so I store it with the needle retracted into the handle.

You should have a wrench in the box, only use the wrench as pliers have a tendency to crush things.

The head assembly does come apart, however I can't find a reason to take it apart, other then the head assembly becoming damaged (like being dropped on the head).  I you have to take it apart use some rubber or leather between the pliers and the parts to keep the pliers from marring the parts.

I'm going to sound like a fool, but I thought you needed the head and spray regulator attached to the brush in order to paint, and then simply replace the protective cap when finished.  So you paint with the tip and needle completely exposed?

 

The head assembly does come apart, however I can't find a reason to take it apart, other then the head assembly becoming damaged (like being dropped on the head).  I you have to take it apart use some rubber or leather between the pliers and the parts to keep the pliers from marring the parts.

When the head assembly is removed the tip wil be loose, look closley, you will see that the tip is tapered both ways, this is the easiest way to make the tip seal to the airbrush and head.  When you put the head back on make sure you tighten it enough to keep air from leaking.  If it does leak you the airbrush will not spray and you most likely get air bubles in your paint cup.  Finger tight should be enough.