Deep Clean an Eclipse Gx

Equipment

1. Towel or Tray to work over
2. Appropriate cleaning solution
3. Round wooden toothpicks
   
   Bamboo toothpicks don't seem to break as often
4. Bristled cleaning brush
   
   
   • Substitute Brushes
   • Interdental brushes
   • Airbrush cleaning brushes (you'll need the small ones)
   • Pipe cleaners (not recommended)
5. Cotton swabs for general cleaning
   
   Note: Cotton swabs do occasionally shed their fibers, if it does just make sure you pick them out
6. Crescent wrench
7. A Mirror or Mirror-like surface
8. A Magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe (optional)

Disassembly

1. Unscrew the fluid adjustment knob
2. Pull out the spring
3. Pull out the needle
4. Clean the fluid needle with a cotton swab
   
   Warning: The fluid needle is sharp.
5. Unscrew the aircap cover ring
6. Remove the air cap
7. Unscrew the fluid nozzle with a crescent Iwata wrench
   
   Twist counter-clockwise to loosen the fluid nozzle

Cleaning

1. Examine the fluid nozzle for damage
   
   
   1. Look at the tip
   2. Make sure it's a true, perfect circle free of dings, dents, tears, and cracks
   3. Look at the fluid nozzle from the side
   4. If the fluid nozzle does not pass inspection it will need to be replaced
2. Clean out the fluid nozzle with a toothpick and a cotton swab
   
   
   • This is the important piece, pay special attention to its cleanliness
   • Make sure you remove ANY fibers that shed from the cotton swab onto the nozzle.
   1. Examine the fluid nozzle for cleanliness
   2. Look through the nozzle toward a brightly lit surface
      
      Note: Looking at a light-source will give you shadows, you need to look at reflected light
   3. Examine the fluid nozzle's interior walls
   4. They should be bright, shiny, and free of shadows
   5. Shadows are paint, if you see them keep cleaning
3. Clean out the paint passage with the cleaning brush and cotton swabs
4. Go down the front
5. Thoroughly clean out the fluid cup joint
6. Thoroughly clean out the bottle adapter

NOTE: Clean everything very thoroughly!

Reassembly

1. Screw the fluid nozzle back into the airbrush body.
   
   
   1. Twist until finger tight.
   2. Use the wrench to tighten the fluid nozzle no more than a quarter turn.
2. Fit the air cap over the nozzle
3. Screw the aircap cover ring back onto the airbrush body
4. Insert the fluid needle. Do not force it in, however it should come to a firm, positive stop.
5. Place the needle spring over the needle
6. Screw the fluid adjustment knob onto the back of the airbrush body

Check the Airbrush Settings

1. Close the pattern adjustment knob fully by gently twisting it clockwise until it stops.  It doesn’t need to be tight.
2. Open the fluid adjustment knob fully by gently twisting it counterclockwise.
   
   NOTE:  You might unscrew the fluid adjustment knob off of the airbrush.  Don’t worry.  Screw it back on one or two full turns.
3. Open the air adjustment knob fully by twisting it counterclockwise until it stops.  It doesn’t need to be tight.
4. Twist the air cap, specifically the little finger-like projections until they are horizontal to the ground.

Testing

1. Attach a bottle of water.
2. Hold the airbrush up to a mirror and pull back for air only.
3. Make sure NO spray is coming out
4. Hold the airbrush away from the mirror. Pull all the way back.
5. You should get a lot of spray
6. Hold the airbrush back up to the mirror and re-confirm no spray.
7. Now pull back slightly more than just air and confirm a round spray pattern.