Free sticky airbrush triggers
The trigger on my new airbrush feels stiff and makes my finger ache after only a few minutes of operation. Is the tool faulty? Gerry Kaye, Bolton
George says: A degree of stiffness in the mechanism of a new airbrush is not uncommon, although it seldom occurs on good-quality tools. On typical dual-action airbrushes, a spring is located behind the trigger and this is duly compressed as the paint flow is increased. The tension in the spring can be eased simply by unscrewing the assembly – there should be a knurled section just in front of the needle clamping collett. Just a half-turn is often sufficient to reduce the spring tension significantly. There should be no detrimental effect on the airbrush’s performance, although an overly slack trigger can make the paint flow harder to control. Stiffness can also be alleviated by the addition of a special lubricant to the trigger itself and the air valve located below. Iwata airbrushes come with small tubes of lubricant (also available separately) and a small drop aimed at the base of the trigger at regular intervals can be helpful. It’s also important to lubricate the needle regularly, as any friction within the needle packing seals will transfer to the trigger. Again, just a small drop of the lubricant is needed, applied near the tip of the needle. When pushed gently back into the tool, the needle will spread the lubricant through the airbrush’s interior. Iwata’s lubricant is silicone-free and will not interfere with paints, while Vaseline petroleum jelly is a viable alternative, if used sparingly. Adopting a regular cleaning and lubricating routine should keep your airbrush in tip-top condition.