Cleaning an airbrush

I've been using an airbrush for awhile but still feel very much like a beginner with it. So I'm not going to offer advice on how to clean it...since I've discovered recently that I may have been doing it wrong...except to suggest that after you clean your tip/nozzle with a toothpick and the paint doesn't come out right when you use it, it may be that the tip and/or needle is damaged. It is very easy to damage the tip and needle and since both are designed to fit each other precisely the least bit of damage to either can result in flawed paint flow. I'm not saying that is the problem here. Just suggesting that you check both for damage if you haven't already. On the needle check for a bent tip. On the nozzle check for a crack or split in the tip or anything else that doesn't look right. Hope this helped.

1. Clean every cavity of your AB with a pipe cleaner.

2. Clean every hole of your AB with an interdental brush.

3. Take out the needle and thoroughly wipe it with a paper towel.

Windex or lacquer thinner removes all invisible acrylic paint residue.

One thing you did not mention was back-flushing, a very helpful procedure.  With thinner (water, alcohol, or whatever thinner you are using), after spraying some through the nozzle, retract the needle so you do not poke a hole in your finger.  Then hold your finger over the nozzle and press down on the flow so that thinner takes a reverse path through the passageways of the brush.  Do this several times.

Thanks for that idea, Don. I'll try that.

Hi, good question.

I've been airbrushing for about 45 years, I believe thorough cleaning is the key to very long component life, and continual high level of spray quality. Simply put, whatever medium you use will require complete removal of residual material inside the gun, at the end of the job.

If I use enamel I rinse fully with at least one load of enamel thinner, (2 is better,) sprayed through the gun. Then I dis-assemble the head and tip, push the needle forward to wipe clean, then withdraw to the rear. Thinner, cotton swabs, inter dental brushes, pipe cleaners, whatever works well then will give a good removal of material that remains. I like toothpicks sanded to a size that allows passage through tiny openings, that is a firm enough surface to mechanically clean bits away, but soft enough to not harm metal surfaces.

For acrylics it's about the same, although lacquer thinner is the best choice for removing that residue. A good soaking in thinner is helpful for front bits like the head, cone and tip, that will soften remaining residue in those tiny spaces. After cleaning I run another sprayed rinse through, then put away.

Airbrush lube on threaded surfaces and the needle, help to reduce the tendency for paint to get stuck on the internals, the modern quality guns of today are capable of working like new for many years, if properly maintained.

Some of mine are seriously old, but function very well after many years of use. Every few years I might have to replace a minor component, but seldom does that happen.

Many times I've heard very experienced airbrush users relate that it's only necessary to spray a couple of rinses through the brush after use, but I'm quite certain that is not fully sufficient. When I clean mine, I see plenty of residue left behind after the rinse portion, when I take it apart. My old Paasche VL, Badger 155, 100G and several others are completely reliable and work as they did when new.

A great place to gain insight for airbrush use and maintenance is at: Don's airbrush tips, just Google that and you'll know a great deal more about the subject. His information made me much more aware of the subject of airbrushing, time VERY well spent, and I sincerely appreciate his efforts in producing the site. A very nice guy.

Just my opinion, hope you find it of use. Best of luck.

Patrick  

Just checked out Don's tips page, and I have got to say that I too am sold on the Anthem 155. I bought mine back in '04 and have used it ruthlessly since I opened the package. I have only had to replace the needle due to movers with a complete disregard for the word fragile... Fortunatly the government was nice enough to compensate me the four or five dollars that it cost to replace the thing... Anyway, I do pretty much the same here, just blast a bit of thinner through the barrel until a clear mist is spraying then wipe out excess residue with pipe cleaners and cotton swabs... Start to finish clean up is about five minutes, not withstanding fumble fingers here when I drop the regulator and spend 10 minutes on the cold concrete floor cursing whatever random inanimate object that happens to be in my line of sight. So there you have it, spend time with your brush and you will get to know it and what works best for the both of you...    

I'm a stickler when it comes to cleaning my airbrush considering earlier this year I finally got to learn how to use it. I basically follow what Don mentioned. I literally take the whole darn thing apart and clean each part individually it really good.