Harden & Steenbeck Needles

[Muzz]

Having had my H&S Evolution for 5 or more years, I've always struggled to tell the difference between the 0.15 and 0.2 needles, does anyone know if there is an easy way? I know the 0.4 has a notch cut out it at the end and the nozzles are marked by different sized rings. Just keep getting the needles mixed up some how!

Muzz

[Mike]

The easy way is to try & blow paint through the airbrush. If it blocks, you've found the 0.15mm. 0.2mm should spray ok with model paints - I've used Lifecolor, Tamiya, Xtracrylix and some Vallejo without any problems, but none of them really like spraying with the 0.15mm needle set on board. Hobby paints aren't fine enough ground, and the smaller needle is more suited to spraying inks.

IIRC the air nozzle for the 0.15mm and 0.2mm are the same, but the paint nozzle and needles are different. Worth bearing in mind

[little-cars]

As Mike has said they both use the same air cap, but there is unfortuately no marking to differentiate the two.

Strange as they have it the nozzles.

The simplest way I've found is to look at them side by side, the 0.15mm is more tapered than the 0.2mm.

Once you have worked out which is which, I would use a permanent marker on the back of one of the needles.

Another way is to put the 0.2mm nozzle in the brush and see which needle sticks out the furthest when installed, this should be the most tapered needle, so the 0.15mm.

I've got lots of customers usint the 0.15mm nozzle, it just takes a little time to get the paint thinned correctly.

Paul

[Muzz]

Thanks for the replies chaps seems so obvious now! Paul I'm asking cause my new 0.2 needle and 0.15 nozzle arrived from you today and it's made me realise I've had stuff mixed up!

Thanks again guys.

Murray