Air brush cleaning

[Ian M]

Bugger XYL OL stupid thing!

[Guest]

This is what I do after every colour, I only spray acrylics

spray the remains of any paint left in the brush into the cleaning jar

1 squirt of Muc Off, spray that through till empty

2 squirts of Muc Off, scrub the inside of the paint cup with a stiffish paint brush and the tip likewise, pour dirty Muc Off out into a jar

1 squirt of Muc Off and spray it all through again

1 squirt of Vallejo airbrush cleaner and back-flush it with my finger over the tip, if cleaner is dirty (got paint in it) I start over again, if it looks nice and clean I spray it through

if the needle feels a bit sticky I whip it out and give it a wipe with the cleaner

it all takes about 3 minutes

Every once in a while I do a propper strip and clean it all with pure alcohol

[stona]

I do almost exactly that ^^^^^^. I only do a strip down at the end of a project,before storage,after spraying Alclad or if I have a problem.

I know my use of WD40 caused consternation amongst some of you but I finish with a squirt of it through the brush followed by a final flush of Muc-Off and then water. This lubricates the needle. I lubricate the air valve/trigger with a swab of WD40 on a cotton bud. A sticky trigger can seriously ruin your paint job!!

I always store my airbrushes with the needle slightly withdrawn. I always start a new session by spraying a cup of cleaner followed by some thinners/water before the paint. This just ensures everything is clean and working properly before I fill the paint cup.

I've never used an ultrasonic tank but I have a friend and long term modeller who used one for the first time recently and reckons it works very well.

Cheers

Steve

[John]

I've got an ultrasonic cleaner I don't use it after every use when I do use it I use about 1/4 AB cleaner then top up with warm water run it for 5 mins and it comes out sparkling that said if I didn't have it I don't think I would miss it, after every clean I use Iwata superlube

[Guest]

Sticky trigger is usually due to pulling out the needle when its dirty, as you pull the needle out your scrapeing paint from the needle on to the trigger pass (where the needle passes through and under the trigger), then the paint is been pushed down into the air valve.Where it stays and builds up and clogs.

Remove the needle for cleaning after you have cleaned your airbrush, 3 flushes are best before needle removal. You will be suprised how many people pull the needle out first before airbrush cleaning.

[stona]

Remove the needle for cleaning after you have cleaned your airbrush, 3 flushes are best before needle removal. You will be suprised how many people pull the needle out first before airbrush cleaning.

Good point Ray. I was always told to remove the airbrush needle through the front of the brush but with my Iwatas that really means removing the entire nozzle assembly or,worse,the little nozzle itself. Anyone who has cross threaded one of those little b**gers will know why I try to avoid doing that.

A really good flush before pulling the needle out the back is essential.

I do find that on the Iwata brushes you can get some friction/resistance on the rather crude metal to metal hingey bit that the trigger acts on as well as between the barrel that slides back and the spring inside it. I find this lot need a bit of lubrication to ensure a nice smooth action.This is all mechanical resistance rather than anything to do with the paint though the problem Ray described will certainly mess up the smooth operation we all want.

Cheers

Steve

PS I hope I've made sense,I didn't look up the technical names for the parts I'm trying to describe.

[Guest]

Im not an Iwata man Steve, I adore my Paasche and Harder & Steenbeck brushes, but what you said sounds good advice for Iwata owners, even though I hate the idea of anything thats not paint or thinner going into an airbrush...

[Guest]

All good info chaps!

I've been using Tamiya and Vallejo and the brush cleans up a treat with IPA followed by windscreen wash then X20. I find it best to use a 1/8" Sable brush to clean the bowl then remove the needle and clean it (the needle that is) with cellulose thinners. I lube the needle up with SL and replace. The only thing I find is when I use Vallejo Satin it really gums the needle and bowl area with a horrid white gloop. Is there a better way of cleaning this out?

[stona]

I use Vallejo satin too. I clean it with Muc-Off (which would be similar to your screen wash) without any problem. I may be barking up the wrong tree but does the gloop occurr when you add the IPA,I've had Xtracrylix turn into clotted cream when I added alcohol.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Hmmm, the first time I used X20 then the next was IPA then screenwash then Windowlene. I have a feeling I need to get Vallejo thinners for the MA Satin!

[Guest]

Does anyone have an opinion on SprayCraft Airbrush Cleaner? I have some kicking around. I seem to remember its particularly strong stuff. It also contains Xylene which I believe isn't very nice stuff.

[Guest]

Well thanks for all the help and advice lads its been great getting all your words of wisdom.

I only use Vallejo air and i was just using windolene and water but did'nt find it was doing the job so thanks to Paul (ferrets bueller) he got me some vallejo air brush cleaner and its working a treat!!!

So thanks again for all the help.

[Guest]

Well thanks for all the help and advice lads its been great getting all your words of wisdom.I only use Vallejo air and i was just using windolene and water but did'nt find it was doing the job so thanks to Paul (ferrets bueller) he got me some vallejo air brush cleaner and its working a treat!!!

So thanks again for all the help.

Yep and on saturday you will have an airbrush cleaning pot to help out even more, Happy biryhday mate

[Guest]

Im not really a seasoned pro with an AB and so far Ive not used enamals (Ok, I used the primer that came with it, but never again) but here is my routine (pretty much the same as everyone else)

Acrylic Paint

All of my paints have bene thinned and poured into its own jar, so I just pop jar on, spray, take jar off, put lid on and store.

Boil Kettle, wait about 10 mins.

Fill spare jar about 3/4 full with water (Put a metal spoon in or something to prevent jar from cracking)

when finished I put jar with water in onto AB and spray through about half.

I then tip away remaining water and refil to about 3/4 with water from kettle.

Spray through again.

Take AB off airhose and rinse under tap.

Enamal Paints

Buy acylic equivalent

If no acrylic equiv try looking at a different brand.

If no acrylic in another brand attempt to find acceptable alternative in usual brand.

...you get the picture

But as I say, thats my routine, it may be wrong. However, Im using a cheap Revell AB that probably isnt worth the £30 I paid for it. But it does the job for me.

[Guest]

Yep and on saturday you will have an airbrush cleaning pot to help out even more, Happy biryhday mate

Cheers Paul your a star!!