Nozzle 0.30 series 186 airbrushes

The 0.30 mm nozzle for Fine Art 186 series airbrushes

A replacement nozzle 0.30 mm in diameter intended for 186 series airbrush guns from the manufacturer Fine Art. Together with the needle, the nozzle is the most sensitive part of an airbrush; it decides the width of the trace, how fine a spray the gun can manage and also whether the paint comes out evenly. A diameter of 0.30 mm is a practical middle ground: it is enough for shading and soft transitions, yet at the same time it will cover larger areas of a model without trouble.

When it is time to change the nozzle

• The trace splits in two, veers to one side or has stopped being symmetrical.
• The gun spits drops even though it is clean and the paint is correctly thinned.
• Paint seeps around the nozzle instead of leaving through the opening.
• The nozzle is mechanically damaged, typically after careless cleaning or after the needle has been pushed in with excessive force.

Use and maintenance

Change the nozzle on a gun that has been taken apart and cleaned. Tighten it gently, with your fingers, and only even it up lightly with a tool; overtightening is the most common cause of a cracked nozzle. Insert the needle slowly and without pressure, until it just touches the nozzle. After every spraying session, flush the nozzle with a thinner matching the paint used; dissolve dried paint by soaking and never scrape it out with a metal tool. The nozzle, the needle and the cap form a matched trio, so when changing one always make sure the nominal diameters correspond.

Who the part is for

For modelers who already use a 186 series airbrush and want to give it back its original performance, and for those who keep a spare nozzle alongside the gun. The nozzle is a consumable part; count on its wearing out sooner or later, especially when spraying pigment paints and fillers.

Before buying, check that the part matches your particular gun. Nozzles are not interchangeable between manufacturers or between individual series.