Well, THIS is embarrassing!

[CANicoll]

This is soo embarrassing.  My usually trusty GREX Tritium airbrush was barely putting any paint out.  Spitting and sputtering.  I ran cleaner through it, lacquer thinner, etc.  That seemed to work so started back painting and back to the spitting and sputtering.  Even back flushing didn't do much.  I thought there must be a clog.  Little did I know...

Took the needle out and saw that it was kind of gunky.  Then took the nozzle protector off and realized I would have to take the nozzle off - something I have done thousands of times with my HP-CS.  However, I had never taken the tool out of the GREX case to take off the nozzle.  I figured back washing and using lacquer thinner probably took care of the mess in the nozzle.  Not so much.

This is what I cleaned out behind the nozzle.  That is a standard toothpick which I used to help dig out the mess.

How it the world so much paint built-up behind the nozzle is beyond me.  Clearly I was not cleaning very well at all.  Ugh.  I figured I'd share to remind especially the Grex users that the nozzle needs to be removed periodically to facilitate proper cleaning.

 

[crazypoet]

I made a similarly 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ discovery once with my own airbrush - but in this case it was in the barrel where the cup connects 

yah, these things get finicky when we don’t tend to all their nooks and crannies 🤣

[CANicoll]

Amazing, isn't it?  With all of the solvents and cleaners, sometimes you still have to use a brush or toothpick to scrape out the mess.

[BlrwestSiR]

I've had a similar experience as well. For me, it's the nozzle as well but on my Iwata airbrushes. I keep the tools on my bench handy for a quick clean and disassembly and then I'm back in business. 

I've found some paints are more thoroughly cleaned/flushed than others too. 

Carl

[belugawhaleman]

I've found that those little disposable dental brushes work well in combination with Tamiya airbrush cleaner.

A  small, pointed,  liner paint brush inserted from the rear will clean Iwata nozzle tips. Push it through until the brush hairs come through again

using the tamiya airbrush cleaner. 

[JohnB]

I'm glad you got that sorted out! I remove and clean the tip on my Paasche after each color. Usually no problems. 🙄

[CANicoll]

I'm diligent about cleaning my Iwata, but apparently much less so on my Grex.  Ugh...

[dodgem37]

Better than a toothpick.

Sincerely, Mark

[DocRob]

I clean my airbrushes (H&S infinity / Rotring) very thoroughly after use, taking out the nozzle and clean it with a steel needle, which is flattened on one side. I also clean the innards of the AB with round brushes.
Between colors, I usually spray some cleaner through, backflush (closing the nozzle with my fingers and spray and clean the cup. With chrome or similar finishes or high gloss clear coats, I clean more thoroughly, even between colors.
It doesn´t take that much time and became a habit.

Cheers Rob

[PanzerWomble]

Since switching to 100% water based paint i get this issue far less as running IPA through afterwards   dissolves it very quickly, and once in a while things like nozzles get a soak in toluene -cellulose paint thinner as it really eats the residue . Kills the orings quicker but they are cheap . 

[CANicoll]

On 11/10/2025 at 5:34 AM, dodgem37 said:

Better than a toothpick.

Sincerely, Mark

Mark,  What is that and where did you get it?  Looks like something I need!

[PanzerWomble]

8 hours ago, CANicoll said:

Mark,  What is that and where did you get it?  Looks like something I need!

Called a rigger brush probs size 0 . Common artists brush