A/B cleanup using acrylics

Actually the prime ingredient is Water!

Straight ammonia is extremely dangerous stuff. Care must be taken so that it doesn't damage your skin, eyes and respiratory system. Prolonged exposure to ammonia fumes have been known to be fatal. The ammonia sold for household use is diluted, but still carries many dangers and should be used cautiously. I would reduce it even further with distilled water as it can discolor the metal body of the airbrush.

Windex may include ammonia, but in very small (around 1%!!) and relatively safe amounts. Windex also includes isopropanol alcohol, which I'm sure helps immensely with cleaning acrylic paints! Windex is also relatively inexpensive, especially if you buy the generic kind. I found a jug of concentrate window cleaner that has ammonia and it works pretty good. Since I have bought it, it has disappeared from the marketplace. It's not quite as good as Windex or other non-concentrated window cleaners that contain ammonia. I find that I have to mix it twice as strong as recommended to acheive the same results. Once I've used it up (and I'm using it as a, get this! window cleaner as well. Gasp! Next thing I know I'll be using Future as a floor finish!) I'll go back to using the regular kind.

Thanks for the info Bgrigg.  Makes sense.  Now I'm saving my pennies to buy an ultrasonic jewerly cleaner that has been mentioned in other forums.

Bob - Windex is the only thing I use to clean with acrylics.  Just shoot it through, flush with water and you are done!

And the ultrasonic does nicely in deep cleaning without the noxious vapors of lacquer thinner.  I've very rarely had to resort to it for a stubborn bit that won't come loose with the ultrasonic..  You can justify it by telling the missus how pretty her jewelry would look after it has been cleaned!  Best part about it, is that you use plain distilled water in it.. no fumes and almost free!

In addition to the safety concerns mentioned by Bill, concentrated ammonia will attack many forms of rubber, plastic, and will corrode brass (most air brushes seem to contain a fair amount of brass and brass alloys.)

And Windex smells a lot better!

bobbaily wrote:

, why not shoot straight ammonia thru the A/B?

Open a bottle of household ammonia, take a quick whiff. Do you want that smell vaporized and permeating your paint booth and/or hobby room?