The Ship Model Forum

To clean the nozzle on my Iwata Eclipse I use a sharpened toothpick that fits in the nozzle. Use gentle movements after it has been soaking in thinner for a while - you don't want to expand the tip of the nozzle. Just soaking isn't enough - there has to be some physical action. If you have access to a sonic cleaner that would do it. It really sounds like the brass nozzle is the problem - air goes by a different path, and if it was really dirty inside the body you would have trouble moving or removing the needle.

If I were you I would fully take it apart, and clean with cleaning tools all the holes the needle goes through, and also using toothpick and airbrush cleaner liquid (wearing mask and gloves) go through all those holes that the needle goes through. Also add a little of that lubricant into the trigger area as suggested.

Having said all that, it also depends on the age of the airbrush. I had an iwata eclicpse you have from 2016 until 2024. Over time it degraded in performance, which could be revived by proper cleaning but I found that the airbrush would still suffer in performance, and it would also degrade faster and faster. I had that airbrush stolen, and bought identical one again. It just works so well now I figure the issue for me was really old needle, old parts overall that are worn out. So consider replacing some parts like the needle or the copper tip at least to see if it helps.

Hello:

I'm not getting much flow out of my Iwata Eclipse HP-CS airbrush. I think the nozzle is clean; I've had it soak in mineral spirits and I can see light through it and I can squirt water through it. However, even with the needle completely withdrawn from the nozzle, not much water blows through. Plenty of air seems to come out. I don't get bubbles in the paint cup. I have no idea what's going wrong.

Mike