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Cleaning Mr. Surfacer out of airbrush?

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  • Member since
    June 2017
Cleaning Mr. Surfacer out of airbrush?
Posted by calebmateo99 on Saturday, July 28, 2018 12:48 PM

Guys, I screwed up.

So I’ve only been into building minis for a few months, and successfully completed a couple of models. Today I started a new one (Academy F8E in case you’re wondering), and decided to try my hand at using laquers.

I started out by trying to spray the parts with some Mr. Surfacer 1200. But it sprayed awfully. Realizing I may have gone in over my head, I emptied the AB back into the jar, poured some Tamiya Laquer Thinner into the AB cup, swished it around and wiped it with a paper towel, and then sprayed some Tamiya Laquer Thinner through the airbrush. (Yes I know that’s bad for the O-ring, but at this point I was sure this would be my last attempt to foray into the world of laquers for a long time). It seemed to work for a few seconds, as some bluish-grey was spraying out onto the paper towel I was holding up, so when it stopped, I assumed I had gotten all of it out and tried to switch back to some PG-rated Tamiya Acrylics, but now nothing sprays out of my airbrush. Just air. I think some of the surfacer dried up in the airbrush.

 

Can I do anything about this? 

  • Member since
    July 2013
  • From: Chicago area
Posted by modelmaker66 on Saturday, July 28, 2018 1:07 PM

Use lacquer thinner. Break down the airbrush and clean all the parts in and out with lacqoer thinner and spray some through a few times when it is together again. That is what you thin mr. surfacer with also.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Monday, July 30, 2018 7:54 PM
Also switch to Mr Surfacer 1200 in the rattlecan,works very good,no need to airbrush it.

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • From: San Antonio, Texas
Posted by Marcus McBean on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 1:01 PM

I experienced the same thing with some Vallejo black primer. You made have to use a brush designed for AB to clean out the dried material. 

  • Member since
    June 2016
  • From: Upstate South Carolina
Posted by Murphy's Law on Thursday, August 2, 2018 11:56 AM

Yeah I just use standard hardware store lacquer thinner to cut Mr. surfacer about 50/50 and never had a problem with it. Then just use the lacquer thinner to clean it afterwards. If it’s dried just let it soak for a bit.

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