Operation techniques for optimizing the use of an Iwata Spray Gun
This page contains videos dedicated to the operation of Iwata Spray Guns. Although the video titles refer specifically to the Iwata G6 Spray Gun, this guide can be used with almost any spray gun Iwata has on the market. We also suggest reviewing our Iwata Spray Gun Maintenance videos in the section below, a guide with tips on keeping the Spray Gun clean and usable. Of course, you still find you have unanswered questions, we will be happy to help you through our Contact Us link.
The Iwata G-Series - An Airbrush Class Unto Itself
The Iwata G5 and Iwata G6 are classified as large format airbrushes despite their spray gun appearances. These airbrushes are uniquely designed to satisfy the demands of users who require something that sprays both a large background pattern as well as an accurate spray pattern. With these qualities that make it popular with illustrators and fine artists, this gun is also becoming increasingly favored with spray tan technicians because of its speedy coverage ability comparable to HVLP guns. The long tapered needle utilized within these guns are what makes them truly unique, allowing the gun to create a wide background spray as well as a spray pattern as little as 1/16 of an inch. Unfortunately, the expense of this gun reflects it's many uses, but The Tanning Store offers it at the lowest price found on the web.
About the Spray Gun Solution Cup
The Iwata G-Series of Spray Guns support both a gravity-feed cup and a convenient airbrush bottle configuration. We sell an airbrush adapter with an angled inlet standard with these guns, allowing for a quick, easy exchange of airbrush bottles. This can prove quite useful when using more than one solution or color at a time, and provides for an extremely convenient clean up if a bottle is used to hold cleaning solution. The wing nut on this adaptor enables the airbrush bottle or feed cup to stay upright while being repositioned to a non-conventional spray position.
The video displays the proper way to attach this adaptor. Hold the bottle upright with the stem of the bottle pointing away. Bring in the spray gun angled to the bottle and attach, rotating the bottle until it is in an upright, secured position. Simply reverse this procedure to remove the bottle.
Warning: The needle is very sharp and protrudes significantly from the front of the gun. Be careful to avoid punctures and damage to the needle.
Spray Gun Settings
Airflow Supply / Air Inlet Regulator Knob (or Air Intake Knob)
The air inlet regulator knob is located at the base of the gun and controls the amount of air flowing from the compressor through the spray gun. It should be set to allow nearly all of this airflow to pass through the gun.
Suggested Setting: Turn the air regulator knob counter-clockwise until it is fully twisted out, then turn it one full rotation back in. This should set it to allow maximum airflow through the gun.
Fluid Flow / Fluid Adjustment Control Knob
The fluid control knob, sets the maximum fluid flow and is located on the rear of the gun. This essentially determines how far back the trigger can be pulled - the father back the trigger, the more fluid that is released.
Suggested Setting: Pull back on the trigger and twist the fluid control knob counter-clockwise out until the trigger reaches its maximum position. Continuing to rotate the knob out past this point will have no further effect on the trigger. Rotate the knob clockwise in until pressure is felt on the trigger and stop. This is considered the maximum trigger position and is the suggested setting to begin fine-tuning the gun to an individual spray setting. Because everybody has a different grip pressure when using a spray gun, it is recommended to practice with this setting and, if needed, to modify it further to eventually produce a desirable atomization associated with hand-trigger pressure. Once the individual setting is found, resist adjusting it further to enable repeatable spray strokes every time the gun is used.
Fan Pattern / Fan Air Control Knob
The fan pattern of a spray gun is determined by the fan air control knob located on the side of the gun. The fan pattern can be circular or oval depending on the settings, and the width of this pattern is determined by the amount of fan air flowing through the gun. A circular spray pattern can be produced by turning the air control knob completely inward clockwise, and is considered in the "off" position. If the air control knob is twisted out at all, considered in the "on" position, air passes through the two holes in the prongs of the spray gun air cap "flattening" the spray producing an oval pattern. The more fan air allotted through the gun by the fan air control knob, the wider the shape of the spray pattern.
Suggested Setting: Turn the fan air control knob clockwise until it no longer turns, then rotate it counter-clockwise back in 1 1/2 turns. This should produce an oval fan pattern adequate to use for spray tanning.
Fan Orientation / Spray Gun Air Cap Prongs
Vertical and horizontal spray patterns are controlled by the prongs at the front of the gun. If the prongs are pointed horizontally, a vertical spray pattern will be produced and the gun should be used in a side to side motion. If the prongs are pointed vertically, a horizontal spray pattern will be produced and the gun should be used in an up to down or down to up motion. If the prongs are pointed opposite of the direction being sprayed, this would produce a heavy, oversaturated line pattern and is considered incorrect. The prongs are also capable of producing a diagonal spray pattern in the same manner these other patterns are produced, but we suggest only using the horizontal and vertical spray patterns.
Rule of Thumb Setting: An imaginary line through the prongs should coordinate with the direction you are spraying. If spraying horizontally, the prongs should point horizontally and if spraying vertically, the prongs should point vertically.
Suggested Distance and Trigger Control
The gun should be held at a 8-12 inch distance from the client's body when spray tanning. Begin and end each stroke with air, allowing the fluid flow to begin when approaching the body and allowing it to end when moving away from the body. Always begin and each stroke away from the body to prevent inconsistency within a stroke
Setting Demonstrations
Adjustment Demo
This demonstration video contains segments showing the influence of the spray gun settings described throughout this page.
Distance Impact: With the fan pattern producing a circle, it is easy to tell the impact of distance on the pattern size. The size of the spray pattern will increase proportionally with the distance from the subject (until a point is reached where the spray does not reach the subject).
Spray Gun Accuracy: The handwriting demonstrates the flexibility and control level of a G-series spray gun, with practice. The light, circular spray pattern is produced by turning the air regulator knob counter-clockwise, almost entirely out.
Spray Stroke Method: These strokes show both the incorrect and correct ways (noted by caption within the video) to produce a spray tanning stroke. Again, always begin and each stroke away from the body to prevent banding, pooling, heavy stroke starts and light stroke ends.
Keeping the Iwata Spray Gun Clean and Maintained
This page contains instructions paired with videos on maintaining an Iwata Spray Gun. Although the videos portray the maintenance of an Iwata G6, these directions can be applied to any Iwata G-Series Spray Gun. These steps should be taken as a last resort to daily general upkeep and cleaning of the spray gun, as individual parts can be fragile when removed and the gun can be tricky to put back together. We recommend viewing our Airbrush and Spray Gun Cleaning and Care page of our Airbrush Tanning Manual, which includes detailed tips on general care of an airbrush, links to cleaning products available and recipes for "home made" cleaning formulas. Of course, you still find you have unanswered questions, we will be happy to help you through our Contact Us link.
Disassembly
An adjustable or 9/16" wrench will be needed to remove the spray gun nozzle.
- Remove the spray gun bottle and unscrew the wing nut on the bottle adaptor. The fluid cup joint should not need to be removed.
- Remove the fluid adjusting knob by rotating counter-clockwise until it pops out.
- Remove the needle spring.
- Remove the needle.
- Unscrew the air cap cover ring and remove the air cap.
- Untighten the nozzle using a wrench (specified above), and unscrew the nozzle off by hand.
- Clean the fluid cup joint opening and the front of the airbrush. Soak the needle and nozzle in airbrush cleaner if needed.
Reassembly
- Screw on the nozzle by hand and tighten it snug with a wrench. Do not overtighten, stop turning as soon as it feels snug.
- Attach the air cap and air cap cover ring.
- Insert the needle.
- Insert the needle spring.
- Attach the fluid adjusting knob. (Detailed directions about readjusting the suggested setting of the fluid adjusting knob can be found in our videos above.)
- Reattach the tapered end of the bottle joint adaptor into the fluid cup joint and secure it with the wing nut. Slightly point this side of the spray gun downward, attach the bottle to a snug fit.