Airbrush Cleaning-what am I doing wrong?

espins1 wrote:

I had similar issues, so now after each and every session, I completely take my airbrush apart and clean with windex.  No matter how much Windex I spray through the airbrush I always manage to get a lot more paint out if I flush windex through the body with all the parts removed.  I think your issue is that you're not getting all the paint out of the body by just spraying running windex and water through it.  Squirt some windex through the body while it's all disassembled.

 I know this thread is old but I'm new to this and came across it in a search and am hoping someone can help out. So when someone says "take apart airbrush" what do they mean? I just got my airbrush yesterday and tried taking it apart just to see what it looks like inside and all i can get to is the needle and a couple nossles. Is there more to taking it apart when cleaning? This is a concern if your not supposed to submerge the entire brush. Note: I'm dealing with the Iwata Rev CR and the Ecl CS. Thanks

Every airbrush is a little bit different.  I have a Paasche double action airbrush.  When I take mine apart, what that means is removing the handle and unscrewing the items that lock the needle in.  I then remove the needle, the two tips and the internal tip for cleaning.  I also spritz some windex through where the paint flows through the brush to flush any remaining acrylic out of the airbrush.  I do the same for the needle, and all the tip parts, then rinse them completely.  Be sure to keep your drain stoppered..... I've had to fish an airbrush part out of the p-trap before.  LOL

If you need more clarification and if it would help, I can take a series of photos showing how it gets taken apart, and how I clean.

 

I clean my CR by pouring out the paint in the cup. I then wipe out the cup. I then add windex and spray a cupfull through the AB. I then take the needle out of my CR and set the airbrush nozzle first, in a baby jar full of windex. I set the jar in my ultra sonic cleaner of water and turn it on. The Iwata has good seals that will handle anything up to laquer thinner. Some AB's do not have as good of seals. Make sure you properly lube the AB when you are done. Don"t dissassemble the AB into 25 parts. You are doing it correctly.

I've been having the same problem as the original poster.  I guess I'm gonna have to buy some laquer thinner, becau se my brush still keeps getting clogged.  I've soaked the parts in 409, alcohol, super clean, and nothing has gotten in unclogged.  It'll spray OK (not as good as it should) for a minute, and then go back to being clogged :(

EDIT: OK, I got my airbrush soaking in some laquer thinner, I'll leave it in till I get home from school tonight.  Now, is there any kind of brush I can buy from like Wal Mart or Target or local stores that is thin enough to be able to get inside the airbrush and let me clean it? 

Vinnems wrote:

Now, is there any kind of brush I can buy from like Wal Mart or Target or local stores that is thin enough to be able to get inside the airbrush and let me clean it?

Pipe cleaners, either from a tobaconist (ideal beacuse they're more absorbent and thinner) or the craft kind. You should be able to carefully push this all the way through the needle channel. Moistened with the appropriate thinner, it will clean places nothing else can reach.

I never soak my airbrushes in anything.

How long are you letting the airbrush set with paint in the cup?

If it is longer than 10 minutes I would suggest spraying it out and putting some water through it, if using acrylics or thinner if using enamels, to flush out that paint until you are ready to start painting again. 

I would also be careful with pipe cleaners as they can leave traces of lint in the airbrush.

You are better off buying some Airbrusher's Brushes and using them.

I personally never run a pipe cleaner or brush through the body of the airbrush as it is unnecessary unless you have pulled the needle out while paint was still in the cup and the paint flowed back into the body past the needle bearing.  

MikeV wrote:

I never soak my airbrushes in anything. How long are you letting the airbrush set with paint in the cup? If it is longer than 10 minutes I would suggest spraying it out and putting some water through it, if using acrylics or thinner if using enamels, to flush out that paint until you are ready to start painting again.  I would also be careful with pipe cleaners as they can leave traces of lint in the airbrush. You are better off buying some Airbrusher's Brushes and using them. I personally never run a pipe cleaner or brush through the body of the airbrush as it is unnecessary unless you have pulled the needle out while paint was still in the cup and the paint flowed back into the body past the needle bearing.

Good points MikeV. 

 I just got done talking with Iwata technical support and found out some interesting facts.  I've been going back and forth for a couple days now and my waiting paid off with some great information from Adam. He gave me very detailed  information on how they clean their brushes and one of the things he said is not to use pipe cleaners. Instead, he says to use Airbrush Brushes as MikeV has stated so I totally back up his words on this one. 

Another thing I thought was interesting is that he said to not spray ammonia through the brush. Now a lot of people have recommended using Windex as a cleaner but if I'm not mistaking that is what Windex is made up of right? I'm not trying to step on anyones toes, I just thought it was a good point to bring up for discussion. The Iwata site also states to use lacquer thinner for enamels and to avoid paint thinners. Any thoughts or feedback?

Centurion wrote:

MikeV wrote: I never soak my airbrushes in anything. How long are you letting the airbrush set with paint in the cup? If it is longer than 10 minutes I would suggest spraying it out and putting some water through it, if using acrylics or thinner if using enamels, to flush out that paint until you are ready to start painting again.  I would also be careful with pipe cleaners as they can leave traces of lint in the airbrush. You are better off buying some Airbrusher's Brushes and using them. I personally never run a pipe cleaner or brush through the body of the airbrush as it is unnecessary unless you have pulled the needle out while paint was still in the cup and the paint flowed back into the body past the needle bearing.   Good points MikeV.   I just got done talking with Iwata technical support and found out some interesting facts.  I've been going back and forth for a couple days now and my waiting paid off with some great information from Adam. He gave me very detailed  information on how they clean their brushes and one of the things he said is not to use pipe cleaners. Instead, he says to use Airbrush Brushes as MikeV has stated so I totally back up his words on this one.  Another thing I thought was interesting is that he said to not spray ammonia through the brush. Now a lot of people have recommended using Windex as a cleaner but if I'm not mistaking that is what Windex is made up of right? I'm not trying to step on anyones toes, I just thought it was a good point to bring up for discussion. The Iwata site also states to use lacquer thinner for enamels and to avoid paint thinners. Any thoughts or feedback?

 

Yes Windex contains ammonia and the reason he told you this is because ammonia can dull the finish of the chrome on the airbrush, although I have never had it happen.

 

No amonia through the airbrush?  So does that mean no acrylics?  What else can be used to clean the acrylic out of the A/B?  I clean mine out with windex all the time ( I use Tamiya Acrylics exclusively) and haven't had any problems... yet.