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Airbrush cleaning help

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  • Member since
    April 2014
Airbrush cleaning help
Posted by Acft89 on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 5:46 AM

Hi all, I have been using Model Master acrylics with my airbrush. I recently tried Vallejo model air due to colors my local HS didn't have. They sprayed nice but when I went to clean the airbrush as I normally do, with lacquer thinner then followed by airbrush cleaner the paint seemed to have globbed up in the needle and lumps seemed to have sprayed out. Any advice on what to use to clean the airbrush would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: England
Posted by P mitch on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 6:57 AM

Vallejo have their own airbrush cleaner which may help. Model Air paint is already quite thin so I'm a bit surprised that had a problem with the cleaners you used but there could have been a reaction. Is it a gravity or syphon feed brush?

Phil

"If anybody ever tells you anything about an aeroplane which is so bloody complicated you can't understand it, take it from me: it's all balls." R J Mitchell


  • Member since
    April 2014
Posted by Acft89 on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 7:07 AM

Thanks for the reply Phil. It is a gravity feed iwata neo. Never had a problem before with lacquer thinner. Going to get some vajjelo cleaner or thinner and see how that works.

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 11:27 AM

Being as you are new to Vallejo, and I was in the same boat early last year, thought I'd chime in even though there are folks here (Phil probably included) with lots more experience than I.

Vallejo doesn't like to mixed with certain things that folks typically mix with their acrylic paints, and likes to be thinned with Vallejo airbrush thinner (some folks use distilled water, I do that all the time when brush painting Vallejo Model Color).

For example, some folks like to thin acrylics with Windex, alcohol, or Tamiya thinner. All three make a globby mess in an AB when mixed with Vallejo..

I found it hard to believe that lacquer thinner wouldn't cut Vallejo, so I did a little test. Started with a drop of Vallejo air and began adding a drop of lacquer thinner and stirring, then adding subsequent drops. Can't say it globbed up exactly, but it certainly didn't thin to the consistency I'd expected.

FWIW, I use Iwata Medea airbrush cleaner. IMO, it actually works as well if not a bit better than Vallejo's own airbrush cleaner. But I've used both and the Vallejo works just fine.

Curious what airbrush cleaner you use after the lacquer thinner?

Sorry this got so long....

  • Member since
    March 2013
Posted by patrick206 on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 7:19 PM

I use acetone for some of the more difficult cleaning chores, it seems to quickly soften and then dissolve solidified paint bits. It could be worth a try, cheap at most drug stores. Avoid the fumes though, I find it a bit irritating if I can smell it, outdoors works best. Above all, avoid alcohol when cleaning Vallejo.

  • Member since
    April 2014
Posted by Acft89 on Thursday, August 21, 2014 5:42 AM

Thanks all, I will have to try the acetone too since I have it on the bench already. I appreciate the help.

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