"Fixing your airbrush sticky trigger"

By Don Johnson

www.airbrushartistmagazine.com
www.airbrushtechniquemagazine.com

The sticky trigger fix: It always seems to happen just when you are getting in the zone, the grove of painting. You push down on your trigger and it doesn't come back up. No worries here's a fix for that little problem.

The sticky trigger fix siphon feed airbrush:
It always seems to happen just when you are getting in the zone, the grove of painting. You push down on your trigger and it doesn't come back up. No worries here's a fix for that little problem.

Pictured above is one of my bottom or siphon feed airbrushs, yes it's dirty outside but the inside the working parts are always kept spotless. We'll tackle the sticky trigger on this type airbrush first.

If you unscrew your air hose (make sure there's no air pressure going to it first) and turn the airbrush upside down so the part where the hose connects will be facing you, your now looking at the AIR VALVE.(pictured below) Inside there is a little AIR PISTON you need to get some lube down into that piston, work your trigger up and down until it frees up. The last picture on this page is a picture of the lube I use.

The sticky trigger fix gravity feed airbrush:
Now the same fix for your sticky trigger on a gravity feed airbrush. Most airbrushes are pretty much the same in the air valve assembly so this should apply to most gravity feed airbrushes.

Pictured below is our gravity feed airbrush with a sticky trigger. We are going to take the airbrush apart as pictured (if you subscribe to Airbrush Artist Magazine you know how to do this no problem) and once again turn the airbrush upside down so the AIR VALVE is facing up or at you. On this airbrush that whole air valve assembly unscrews to reveal the piston as pictured.

Pictured below s the little AIR PISTON after I removed it and the hole where in goes in the AIR VALVE assembly. The easiest way to remove the piston is to use the blunt end of your airbrush needle, inserting it from the outside pushing the AIR PISTON out into your airbrush, be careful not to lose it. Clean the AIR PISTON as necessary put a little lube on the piston and insert it back into your airbrush. Again use the blunt end of your airbrush needle to move it into place inside your airbrush; it has to be pushed down inside the AIR VALVE assembly. It can only go in one way its pretty easy to do actually just take your time. Just to be clear you insert the piston back into the airbrush from the slot where your trigger moves (on top of the airbrush) if you look we'll se where it goes in the air valve assembly. While you have your airbrush apart this far be sure to give all the parts a good cleaning.
Screw the AIR VALVE assembly back on, insert your trigger and the rest of the parts, work the trigger up and down it should work free and easy now. Push the trigger down it springs right back up, if not repeat the steps above being sure to lube it well.

Picture below is the lube I have been using for years with no ill effects to my airbrush, seals or paint. Its just spray gun lube you can purchase at any automotive paint store. Hope you found this helpful, until next time remember it's just paint, relax and have fun.
Don Johnson

I hope you found this article helpful.
Two more great resources to learn more about airbrushing, kustom painting are my airbrush, kustom painting magazines. Check them out via the links below. Until next time "It's just paint" have fun.

Airbrush Technique Magazine

Airbrush Artist Magazine

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