Alclad II Paints

[wilo]

Hi i have just used the above paints and was wondering what you guys are using to clean your airbrush after using them, as i can seems to find anyone in the UK that stocks Alcad II airbrush cleaner and the old window cleaner is not really doing the trick

[freakray]

I use automotive lacquer thinners to clean the airbrush.

Window cleaner won't do anything to Alclad, it's only good on acryllic paints and Alclad is a lacquer.

[mickbench]

Wilo,

I was using airbrush cleaner from Badger, but i've now just switched to lacquer thinner... I got told that Halfords sell it, so went to Halfords and get a few bottles... Just pour into your airbrush cup, crank the pressure up to 30 PSI and spray until the cup is empty..

WARNING.. IT SMELLS BAD.. Wear a face mask, with filters... Open the windows, garage door or anything.. You can buy a little device that connects to your airbrush that you can spray into, to try and keep the vapours down.

Once you've sprayed lacquer thinner through the brush, stick the airbrush nozzle back onto the container you sprayed into, to collect the lacquer thinner, and press down on the trigger. This back flushes the brush, it bubbles up, so wear glasses, or keep your eyes away, as it splashes back.. This cleans it from the tip as well.

If finished for the day, take the tip off, the needle out, and whip all the parts with lacquer thinner. Re-assemble, and spray water through to just flush it out, ready for use next day..

Proper cleaning of airbrush ensures it works without spitting the next day..

[Hiroboy]

You need to use Cellulose Thinners with AlcladII, others types will just congeal and make a mess.
Halfords sell this in Large Grey tins

[mickbench]

Originally Posted by Hiroboy

You need to use Cellulose Thinners with AlcladII, others types will just congeal and make a mess.
Halfords sell this in Large Grey tins

Yeah that as wll... Actually this is what I meant. It's the stuff I picked up, got some Saturday morning from the local halfords.. Even though when I asked for it, it took three of them to work out what I was aksing for...!!

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by Hiroboy

You need to use Cellulose Thinners with AlcladII, others types will just congeal and make a mess.
Halfords sell this in Large Grey tins

Steve, have you ever come across a good definitive guide/listing of different types of thinners anywhere on the web? e.g what's a cellulose thinner and how/why/what is it different from?

I have to admit that I am still confused by thinners
I've got about a zillion different kinds on my workshop all of them without the Holy Grail inscription "Laquer Thinners" (whether in Polish or English ) and I frequently find that - as you said above - sometimes a paint will congeal. As a good case in point, I bought a bottle of "Acrylic thinner" in my local hardware shop but when I used it to clean up Tamiya acrylics I got yoghurt!!

I hate not understanding the theory behind how/why things work so I've been browsing on and off for some time on the subject of thinners but have failed miserably in finding a good reference source.

Can anyone direct me to something? Any chemists ou there? Paint scientists? You explain paint to me and I'll explain stem cells to you

[mickbench]

Steven,

Good question.. I want to know this answer as well.. So, Steve will explain cell stems, and I’ll explain why you shouldn’t base your career on IT, and between me, Klutz and whoever explains the many variants of lacquer thinner – WE CAN RULE THE WORLD.

Well, perhaps not, but would make an interesting read…

[wilo]

cheers all picked up some Cellulose Thinners form halfords today

cheers again

[Vric]

Lacquer Thinner. $3 for 1 gallon at local hardware store

[Lurchio]

Isn't nail varnish remover also the same as cellulose thinners?

[mickbench]

Avon Nail polisher remover strips paint pretty well, and washes it out your carpet as well…

Nooo…. I do not use nail polish… Nor do I shop at Avon.

[wilo]

good stuff this cellulose thinners spilt some on my desk and cutting mat it took the color right off both DOH. (but worked a treat on the airbrush :-)
Yes i was going to say it smells like nail varnish remover might try it next time i paint my nails pink :-)

[Hiroboy]

Originally Posted by Lurchio

Isn't nail varnish remover also the same as cellulose thinners?

Nail Varnish Remover is Acetone, you can get it in large amounts from Paint Suppliers cheaper that buying Nail Varnish Remover from the Chemist/Drug Store. I use it for cleaning up tools (twezzers with paint onthem and my Tamiya paint stand
More techincal stuff is here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone

[Hiroboy]

This is also an interesting read
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacquer

[Lurchio]

Actually both were quite interesting, didn't know I could use nail varnish remover as a superglue remover! I've had a bottle for ages but never used it (Sadly was bought to remove some chavish tail light tints at MOT time!)
Interesting about the different types of lacquer as well!

Cleaning the Tamiya paint stand.......now there's a thought, paint must be 5mm thick on mine by now!