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Cleaning

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  • Member since
    March 2014
Cleaning
Posted by jaurie407 on Friday, March 28, 2014 8:23 PM
Ok guys I am new to airbrushing I have a badger 350 with jar how do I clean the gun out after use
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
Posted by Fly-n-hi on Friday, March 28, 2014 8:45 PM

Here's what I do with my Badger 150:  

  1. After I'm done I spray out all the excess paint until no more comes out.  If you have paint left over you can pour it into another little cup or something to save it for later, especially if its some custom mix you made yourself.
  2. I fill the paint cup with some hardware store lacquer thinner (I spray Mr. Color paint mostly).  When cleaning you don't need to use the expensive recommended brand stuff.
  3. I use a cotton swab to clean out the inside of the paint cup with the thinner that's now in it
  4. I spray a little thinner out then back flush the air into the paint cup (you just cover the tip and start airbrushing.  You should see some bubble action in the cup.  Be careful if you're using the fine needle, though, so that you don't press into the tip and bend the needle!)
  5. Spray out the rest of the thinner
  6. Repeat 2-5 until no paint comes out
  7. Remove the cup and use tissue to clean it out
  8. Stick the thinner soaked cotton swab into the hole the cup fits into and scrub it out
  9. Squirt a little thinner into the hole and airbrush it out
  10. Remove the needle and GENTLY clean it using tissue or the thinner soaked cotton swab
  11. Use the cotton swab to clean out the tip 
  12. Put the needle back in carefully to avoid bending the tip, especially the fine tip!
  13. Squirt some thinner into the cup hole and airbrush it out

I do this after ever session.  I have a more intensive cleaning that I'll do after several sessions or every couple of weeks.

Hope this helps!

  • Member since
    March 2014
Posted by jaurie407 on Friday, March 28, 2014 8:49 PM

thank you so much for your help very helpfull

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
Posted by Fly-n-hi on Friday, March 28, 2014 8:53 PM

No problem!  I edited my post so there's some new info in it.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Saturday, March 29, 2014 9:52 AM

In order to clean the paint out of the pickup tube, I make a little pad with a Kleenex.  Then put thinner in a bottle (the jars you use for paint) and then dip end of tube into thinner while spraying for a second or two. I then backflush the brush, and touch the  tube to the Kleenex.  At first you will get a ring of color. I then repeat several times, until the area I touch shows only a clear circle.  Depending on how thin the paint was, the type of paint, and how full the bottle was, this may take from about four to eight or nine backflushes.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    June 2013
Posted by RobGroot4 on Saturday, March 29, 2014 3:10 PM

I found a set of airbrush cleaning brushes on amazon and they are awesome.  If you are using enamels you want to use lacquer thinner, but if you are using acrylics, go with an acrylic cleaner (this may be interchangeable with rubbing alcohol, but I'm not certain, the acrylic cleaner certainly smells like rubbing alcohol).

With the 350, I always make sure to clean the inside of the "needle" with a brush dipped in the appropriate cleaning fluid.  I've also found that I've had paint and future dry in the little tiny hole in the head that the air comes out of.  I have a cheap toothbrush I use for cleaning the brush as well and I always make sure to get one of the bristles with cleaner on it into the hole  in order to clean that as well.  I do the same with the cone that goes over the needle.  

I use 2 jars of cleaner, a dirty jar that I dip the cleaning brushes and toothbrush into and a clean jar I use to finish up.  When I think I've got it good and clean I attach the clean jar and spray onto a piece of clean paper towel or a piece of white cardstock I use to protect drying items from overspray when painting something else.  If the spray is clean I'm good, if I can see color on the paper towel or cardstock I go back to cleaning.

The 350 is a great starter brush, primarily because of its cost.  I have different airbrushes for different types of paint and different uses.  I have 2 brushes for enamel paints, and 2 for acrylics, then I use a cheap airbrush for future.  That way I'm not potentially mixing paints in my brushes.  That may not be a problem if you're careful about letting things dry, but it works for me.

Groot

"Firing flares while dumping fuel may ruin your day" SH-60B NATOPS

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Saturday, March 29, 2014 7:32 PM

Groot

Those brushes can be found at Harbor Freight for a couple of bucks. I have 2 or 3 sets and are great for scrubbing. I also do as Fly n hi and don't have a need to break down the AB every time I use it.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    March 2014
Posted by Tarasdad on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 3:07 PM

Pipe cleaners (real ones, not the artsy ones) are quite handy for cleaning pickup tubes.

Tarasdad

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