Airbrush Cleaner

[adz13091982]

Hi guys - just bought this airbrush http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000VE9XK8 and want to buy some cleaner for it - what would you recommend? I'm in the UK.

[klutz_100]

Mr Muscle window cleaner after using acrylic paints
Celluose/automotive thinners after using lacquers

[adz13091982]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

Mr Muscle window cleaner after using acrylic paints
Celluose/automotive thinners after using lacquers

Do I spray these through the airbrush or do I need to strip the airbrush down and soak it after every use?

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by adz13091982

Do I spray these through the airbrush or do I need to strip the airbrush down and soak it after every use?

Post #2 in THIS THREAD

also related stuff HERE and HERE

All were found by entering cleaning airbrush in the search function

[cyberkid]

Hobby made AB cleaning agents are basically a slightly stronger version of lacquer thinner... I've used Tamiya's AB cleaner, and Gunze's Mr. Tool Cleaner. Both are excellent products but cost too much. Let me put it this way... a 250ml jar of Tamiya's stuff costs around... 6bucks or so here... I can get a gallon of strong lacquer thinner for the about same price. Just repeat the cleaning process once more with the lacquer thinner than you would the commercially made AB cleaner.. and you get about the same result.. if not cleaner that is...
One note: take care of the o-rings in your ab. This:

happened after I soaked the whole thing in lacquer thinner for too long... (a couple of hours IIRC) Of course, this mainly depends on what the rings are made of... I'm guessing teflon rings wouldn't have this sort of reaction. Anyways, the ring srunk back to more or less it's original size after a night of being left to dry out... but still the sealing capability wasn't as good as before.

HTH,
Steve

[Lownslow]

auto air airbrush cleaner dip the airbrush in there for a few days then take apart and clean i own 6 airbrushes all metal so i can do this all the time. then i spray some degreaser then spray water the AB is good as new.

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by Lownslow

auto air airbrush cleaner dip the airbrush in there for a few days then take apart and clean ..

TBH I'd be seriously cautions about soaking the whole airbrush in a cleaning medium for a few days - not least for the reasons Steve mentions above. Metal tips and nozzles perhaps, but the whole brush...? nah.

You'd need to be VERY sure first that a) there are not any seals inside that are going to suffer damage and that b) the cleaner is not going to react with anything else. In the context that the majority of people use regular automotive thinners to clean their airbrushes, that's a pretty high risk approach.

Also, IMHO I think that soaking an airbrush is rather unnecessary. It's almost like a "lazy antidote" to a simple but rigorous cleaning regime of a thorough clean through after each use and maintenance strip-down every once in a while.

Air brushes are usually too serious an investment for modellers not to deserve a little bit of TLC

[Lownslow]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

TBH I'd be seriously cautions about soaking the whole airbrush in a cleaning medium for a few days - not least for the reasons Steve mentions above. Metal tips and nozzles perhaps, but the whole brush...? nah.

You'd need to be VERY sure first that a) there are not any seals inside that are going to suffer damage and that b) the cleaner is not going to react with anything else. In the context that the majority of people use regular automotive thinners to clean their airbrushes, that's a pretty high risk approach.

Also, IMHO I think that soaking an airbrush is rather unnecessary. It's almost like a "lazy antidote" to a simple but rigorous cleaning regime of a thorough clean through after each use and maintenance strip-down every once in a while.

Air brushes are usually too serious an investment for modellers not to deserve a little bit of TLC

havent had any problems the 2 years ive been doing it if there is a seal its long gone and hasnt affected the performance.

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by Lownslow

havent had any problems the 2 years ive been doing it if there is a seal its long gone and hasnt affected the performance.

I am really happy for you