cleaing the airbrush

Hi, I am just wondering if those lacquer thinner which sells at hardware store will be too strong for cleaning the airbrush(the o-ring inside the airbrush). Any recommendation? Thanks

this should be in the main forum of the car modeling section. I'm sure a mod will move it. Lacquer thinner from the hardware store is what I use. It may depend on the gun though. I've cleaned Iwata and Paasche brushes with no problem though

Yes, i posted here by mistake.

will those lacquer thinner will be the same as those selling in hobby store? or stronger? I heard that those hardware store selling thinner will chew up the plastic more.

which brush are you using? Think about it, most airbrushes are used in automotive applications and they are cleaned with the same solvents.

thank you. I am using an Iwata Airbrush

I wouldn't worry about the strength of the cleaners. Just don't soak the brush in them. Use pipe cleaners and rags if you need to remove heavy build up. They aren't in or on the brush long enough to damage it

On a metal airbrush the lacquer thinner will be fine. Don't even mess around with 'airbrush cleaners' or anything; just spray lacquer thinner to clean everything, and THEN follow up with water or the cleaner for your medium to keep any leftover lacquer thinner from contaminating the following paint.

Get the pipe cleaners for actual pipes, not the arts and crafts kind. And blast out the airbrush with compressed air before you reassemble it to get any stray lint.

Take a look at the Testors airbrush cleaning station: I have found it works really well to keep fumes and overspray away when cleaning your airbrush.