Airbrush lever sticking!  Many times when the user removes the needle from an
Iwata to clean, paint is allowed to run back into the chamber where the double
action mechanism is.  The paint will then seep down into the area where the rub
ber o-ring is that Lynette is referring to.  The graphite dust sounds like a gr
eat idea for future lubrication but I think you had better make sure you have c
leaned that area completely and allowed it to dry.  Also, the piston which is
the moveable part needs to be cleaned of dried paint.     It does'nt matter how
 clean you keep that area though, you will still have to take it apart and
clean and lubricate after 20 - 30 hours of hard use.  You may, depending on the
 amount of goo built up in the o-ring area, have to remove the ring and clean
 it, or replace it.  This is where I have always used a vaseline type salve to
 lubricate.  I have never had any problems with this lubrication and have used
this airbrush for 10 years with one 0-ring replacement.  However, if kept clean
 and free of paint, I would think the graphite dust would be easier and cleaner
. Good luck!  Gene Wright

Gene N. Wright,MS,CMI
Assistant Professor
University of Georgia
Scientific Illustration
(706) 549-3518