Lubricating my airbrush

[stona]

I've been using WD 40 for years (originally on the advice of an air brush artist, quite well known for some 70s album covers). I'm liberal with it. I squirt some on every moving part and then in the paint cup. Squirt it through and follow with your normal solvent/cleaner.

I've had fellow modellers throw their hands up at the heresy but it has never had an adverse effect on anything I have sprayed

Cheers

Steve

[Eric Kirwan]

Thanks for all your advice guys. I have to admit, the nose stuff almost had me running for the hills, but think i'm going to try the WD40 first and see how that works for me.

[Guest]

I've been using WD 40 for years (originally on the advice of an air brush artist, quite well known for some 70s album covers). I'm liberal with it. I squirt some on every moving part and then in the paint cup. Squirt it through and follow with your normal solvent/cleaner.I've had fellow modellers throw their hands up at the heresy but it has never had an adverse effect on anything I have sprayed

Cheers

Steve

I have read that WD40 is simply a light lubricating oil diluted with White Spirit. If so, I don't think those ingredients would damage an AB (although I don't know whether the rubber (instead of PTFE) seals of cheaper ABs would like it, but your successful experience "over 40 years" would probably include using rubber seals).

[Guest]

Well Steve here we go.

I have studied this and in my science lab come to this conclusion on the ingredients of WD 40

First WD stands for Water Displacement.

My scientific analysis found the found the following ingredients.

• 51% Stoddard solvent (In 1953 this was the predominant cleaning fluid used by dry cleaners.)
  
• 25% liquefied petroleum gas (presumably as a propellant; carbon dioxide is now used instead to reduce WD-40's considerable flammability)
  
• 15+% mineral oil (light lubricating oil)
  
• 10-% inert ingredients
  

So now you know.

Laurie

PS OK I will come clean I got it from Wikipedia. I could not afford the time in the lab, on such a mundane item, to do my own expert and probably more accurate analysis.

[Guest]

Thanks Laurie. I (should have looked in Wiki.) Interesting that Stoddart Solvent is White spirit. I wonder what the inert ingredients are in WD40. If insoluble, they would be left behind after evaporation, and if so WD40 might not make a good cleaner liquid for plastic parts before painting.

On the other hand, enamels use WS as their solvent and enamels are sprayed through an ABs which need any particles to be very finely ground (as modelling paints have). Perhaps that is why I have seen "special" WS designed for ABs. WD40 might not have such finely ground particles and therefore might block an AB with a fine nozzle (0.2mm). (Just some ill-informed musings!)

[Guest]

Perhaps if we all contribute to the site we can collectively buy a electron microscope and break the airbrush down to its atomic level and find out why the minutest piece of dried paint can ruin your painting session for a day.

Mental

[stona]

I've not been using WD40 for 40 years Laurie, but many nonetheless. It's never harmed any of my airbrushes, but they've all been decent quality tools.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

He he I think you mean Steve(Kir) Steve.

Never questioned WD40. Must have used it for 40 years ! The only set back is I just cannot get that red plastic straw thing supplied with WD40 into my knee joints.

Laurie