Paasche H airbrush...

Okay.  Here's how I've been cleaning mine for the last 25 years.  When I'm finished with a color, I pour up (or out) the remainder of the paint, pour some mineral spirits in the paint cup when using enamel or Windex when I spray acrylic paint or Future.  I turn up the air pressure a little and spray some of the thinner through the AB into my waste jug.  Then I wipe out the cup and add more clean thinner.  I dip a cotton swab into that thinner and clean the rear of the AB where the paint cup's neck goes in.  Then I dip the end of a pipe cleaner(bent into a slight curve to match the "neck" of the cup) into the thinner and clean the neck.  The last thing is to spray a little more clean thinner through the AB. 

I can change colors in just a short time using that method.  After a few sessions, I usually take the spray tip and needle out and give them a thorough cleaning, as well as wiping the spray cap clean of any paint.  Periodically, I'll spray a little lacquer thinner through the AB after cleaning.  Then I spray a bit more mineral spirits through it.  I always finish cleaning after acrylics with spraying a small amount of mineral spirits through the AB also.  ymmv.

Gary

Thanks so much for the response!!!

So I don't need to clean the tip and needle thoroughly after each individual use?? Thanks again for the info!!

Tweenkie

Thanks so much for the response!!!

So I don't need to clean the tip and needle thoroughly after each individual use?? Thanks again for the info!!

You're quite welcome.  I guess it might be a good idea to break down the tip and needle each time, but  I haven't found it necessary. 

Yeah, my amateur self breaks it down after each color. Which is why I sometimes hate using my AB. I will definitely take your method into use tomorrow as I have put off painting as much as I could and I am out of assembly without painting!!

I have an H model, and maybe I'm OCD but I break mine down after every color, after I've run lacquer thinner through it,  and I use the corner of a paper towel rolled into a needle shape to get all the way to the end of the needle and the adjustment cone.  Just my 2 cents worth

John

I always found the Paasche H to be a royal pain-in-the-u-know-what to clean, and is the primary reason I went back to using rattle cans for so many years before finally getting my Iwata, which is so ridiculously easy to clean it's almost frightening.

Bearcat57

I always found the Paasche H to be a royal pain-in-the-u-know-what to clean

Curious...perhaps I'm missing something but I can't see how it could be much easier.  It takes me maybe, 3 minutes tops to change color.   What was your cleaning technique, if I may ask?

Gary

to tell ya the truth Gary it's been so many years since I last used the H I honestly don't remember. Maybe I should dig it out and dust it off and try again and see. I just remember the first time I cleaned the Eclipse it was the beginning of a long-standing love affair.

I know the H is a workhorse and has a lot of fiercely loyal users, but I just never managed to make very good friends with it, which is kinda too bad as I really liked the way it felt in my hand.

I hear ya.  While I use the H, I recognize its limitations.  In fact, I'm trying to decide now on a double-action AB that I can comfortably use.   I have a lot of nerve damage in my hands that makes manipulating a double-action AB difficult.  I've been considering one of the Iwata trigger-types lately.  I know it would make a lot of my paint jobs easier.  As for my Model H, there's comfort in familiarity I guess.