The Iwata Eclipse is a product sold by Iwata-Medea and is used for airbrushing paint. Iwata-Medea is the global headquarters for all Iwata products, as well as Artool products, Createx Colors, and all Medea brand art products. The business has been operating for over 40 years, and this longevity has helped grant them such a positive outlook from their customers.
This article is going to include an in-depth Iwata Eclipse review. The Iwata-Medea brand is known for releasing high-quality art products, including air compressors and airbrushes. The Iwata Eclipse, in particular, is one of Iwata-Medea’s high-quality products. Not only is this air brusher good quality, but the company also offers constant customer support and workshops for those new to the craft or others looking to improve on their already existing skills. For an in-depth analysis of the Iwata Eclipse and all the features that come with it, continue reading this article.
We know that the Iwata Eclipse is a highly recommended product from Iwata, but what makes it so special? When purchasing any air brusher, it’s important to keep a variety of components in mind. The overall performance functions of the air brusher tell you what that particular model is capable of, and the needle and cup are important to keep in mind for the level of difficulty and project sizing.
On top of that, it’s important to choose one that is easy to use, has adequate safety features, durable materials, and any other unique features that set it apart from the competition. Depending on your skill level and overall budget, it’s helpful to only shop around for models within the budget you’ve set.
Keep in mind, unless you enjoy a challenging DIY fix-it job, you may also want to check out what the maintenance would entail for any model you’re looking at. Lastly, the warranty information is essential if you receive a faulty item.
The Iwata Eclipse is a dual-action airbrush with a high flow that allows it to atomize more liquid varieties with little need for reducing or thinning. The operator also has access to a broad spray range from extreme detail all the way to extra-wide coverage.
The eclipse series works best when paired with the included lubricant. The included lubricant is used to lubricate the air brusher’s needle and main lever mechanism.
Nozzles and needles are what determine how much paint is fed through the sprayer. In order to get an even paint, spread the nozzle and needlework together to achieve proper paint flow. Although needles typically have a universal size, their thread sizes vary and need to fit into the nozzle. If the thread size doesn’t adequately match up to your nozzle, your paint won’t be even.
The needle of the Iwata Eclipse is a spring-steel variety, which resists needle breakage. The Iwata needle packings are also solvent resistant. This gives the needle much more longevity, and you’ll be able to use your airbrush for a long time.
Depending on what you plan to use your airbrush for, the cup size is an important factor to consider. For more complex projects that require paint mixing, bigger cups with fitted lids are ideal. Not only do you have more space to mix multiple colors together, but a bigger cup also means you can use more paint at any given time. This means you’re far less likely to be forced to stop mid-project to refill your paint and risk messing up your project.
The cup of the Iwata Eclipse measures out to 0.24 oz or 7 ml. This generous size makes it wildly easier to achieve specific colors when mixing paints. To aid in the color mixing process even further, the cup also comes with a fitted lid.
Fancy add-ons and larger cup sizes are great and all, but you have to be able to properly work the airbrush gun in order to get the full extent of these features. When properly put together, the Iwata Eclipse is virtually effortless to use. All you need to do with this model is fill the cup with your desired paint, adjust your spray setting, and push down on the lever mechanism for the paint to spray out.
The Eclipse series is recommended for air brushers of all skill levels from beginner to expert. Not only is it physically easy to use, but it’s also extremely versatile as it works with painting a variety of objects.
Safety should be your number one priority whenever operating an airbrush gun. While you don’t hover over an entire can of paint, you’re still working with paint regardless. In fact, airbrushed paint has the potential of sneaking into air particles as the air pressure from the device breaks the paint down to smaller particles.
Because of that, it’s important to use proper protection during any project. This typically includes safety glasses as well as respirators to avoid inhaling paint chemicals or getting any in your eyes. While the drop-in nozzle of the Iwata Eclipse gives you better control over the paint distribution, some may still fly back and cause potential issues.
The included fitted cup lid also helps ensure no paint splashes out while you’re working. Not only does this lid avoid potential messes, but it keeps you from being exposed to harmful fumes and chemicals.
In order to guarantee more longevity, it’s important to use an airbrush made of durable and high-quality materials. Beyond that, the components of each part of the airbrush gun should be equipped with features that allow them to last a long time.
The Iwata Eclipse series is great because the actual airbrush gun is made of stainless steel, with the needle made of spring steel. The spring-steel needle will resist breakage, and the needle packings protect the needle from solvents.
Just as the case is with any other piece of equipment, an airbrush will only last a long time if you know how to properly take care of it.
Cleaning
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How to Clean Your Airbrush
New users who stick with airbrushing have two things in common: they learn how to clean their airbrush properly and they clean with the right tools.
These three videos from our QuickTech Experience Playlist will show you how to use the Iwata Cleaning Kit to perform three levels of cleaning: quick clean, end of spray session clean and a deep clean. We use a gravity feed airbrush for these videos but these techniques can be adapted to virtually any airbrush model.
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the Iwata Eclipse airbrush is relatively simple. To clean it, follow these simple steps:
Getting an airbrush gun with a solid warranty will ensure you don’t end up with a faulty product and money wasted. The longer, the better, as you have more wiggle room in case a part breaks off.
All Iwata airbrush products are protected from damage and issues for up to five years after the date of manufacture. Beyond that, the airbrush, in general, is made with high-quality materials that are less likely to become damaged with use.
Regardless of how well a brand claims its product works, it means nothing if the product isn’t within your budget. When shopping around for an airbrush kit, keeping your budget in mind prevents you from looking too closely at certain models outside of your price range and falsely getting your hopes up.
With that said, a good airbrush kit will be, at the very least, a small investment due to the parts used in the piece of equipment. The Eclipse series is pricier than other airbrush sprayers, but it comes with a variety of features that make up for the higher price tag.
The key features of a particular airbrush gun are what sets it apart from others on the market. Keep an eye out for airbrush kits that have a range of spray sizes and any other products that may come in the kit.
The Iwata Eclipse series sets itself apart from others like it for a variety of reasons. For starters, take into consideration all of the features listed above. The wide variety of spray sizes, along with the larger cup size, give the sprayer a lot more flexibility in their art. Meanwhile, the drop-in nozzle gives them more precision and control over their work. Beyond that, this particular eclipse kit comes with the sprayer, all hosing needed, hosing cleaner, and some paint to start with.
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Overall, this Iwata Eclipse review has determined the sprayer kit is perfect for beginners as well as those who are looking into honing their pre-existing skills. Although the Iwata Eclipse series is pricier than its counterparts, the features that come along with it make it worth the price. Despite the higher price tag, the sprayer’s versatility and ability to quickly and easily switch between spray sizes are hard to beat.