discussion Airbrush cleaner

[AlanG]

I'm about to run out of Revell AB cleaner and was wondering what everyone else uses? This has done the job for me but if I can get something in bulk then it would be easier

 

[BarryW]

Vallejo for me. It does the job. But I do use I PA as well.

 

[yak face]

Depends what youre spraying Al. I only use Acrylics now and usually blast IPA through to clean , then another blast through with Wilkinsons own brand concentrated windscreen wash fluid (I also have this in my brush cleaning jar ) . There are always exceptions to every rule and I have found that Hannants Xtracrylix and IPA dont mix ,literally, it goes all gooey and can only be cleaned out by totally stripping the brush so if I'm using these I use their thinner to clean . cheers tony

 

[AlanG]

Yeah sorry Tony. I only spray acrylics too

 

[Guest]

Used another brand once but since I have found, for Vallejo acrylics,Vallejo Brush Cleaner is spot on.

Good for unblocking nozzles. Also they say Vallejo has an ingredient to coat the needle & nozzle to keep fluid.

Also recently had to remove acrylics from a piece. The Vallejo Air had cured for a week. Used kitchen roll & V. Air Cleaner & removed the lot.

Actually to clean an airbrush I first use water to get rid of most if not all of the paint. Then to make sure I spurt a cup of V.Cleaner thro. In the bowl for paint which has dried out I use a cotton bud soaked in cleaner. This gets rid of it before it drops in to the bottom of the bowl & hence into the nozzle.

Laurie

 

[Guest]

Good tip Laurie, I will have to remember that myself.

Tom

 

[Guest]

I read somewhere that one of the best cleaners was Pink Muc Off as used by mountain bikers to clean the intricate parts of their bikes. I have borrowed about 1/4 litre off my son but have not yet worked up the courage to give it a go. Has anyone else tried it?

 

[yak face]

I read somewhere that one of the best cleaners was Pink Muc Off as used by mountain bikers to clean the intricate parts of their bikes. I have borrowed about 1/4 litre off my son but have not yet worked up the courage to give it a go. Has anyone else tried it?

I know steve (stona) swears by this stuff, ive used a poundshop alternative that looks identical (i.e. bright pink , trigger spray bike cleaner , its called " dirty bike" ooh er!!!) and its excellent at cleaning acrylic paint thats still wet or soft . I dont know how effective it would be on dried stuff , but ive sprayed it through the airbrush with no ill effects so i guess its a similar thing to the above mentioned windscreen wash - a strong detergent . cheers tony

 

[Gern]

For acrylics I do as Laurie does. First I rinse out the excess paint with water. Then I half fill the AB cup with methylated spirits (tip from Stona Steve). I spray this, back spray and use cotton buds and a tissue to clean the brush. I remove and wipe the needle with a drop of meths on a tissue, and use a piece of thin fuse wire to make sure the nozzle isn't blocked.

Before re-fitting the needle, I use a drop of Vallejo AB cleaner on a tissue to give it a final clean, then spray and back spray just a few drops of Vallejo cleaner through the AB. The whole process takes about two minutes.

Gern

 

[AlanG]

Cheers guys. Now to decide whether to go wit the muck off stuff or Vallejo

 

[Guest]

Now I have decided what you need Allyne. I think this will do the trick. There may not be much of your airbrush left but here goes a definitive list of things you need to clean your airbrush.

First an airbrush.

Revel A/B cleaner

Vallejo air brush cleaner.

IPA

Wilkinsons own brand concentrated windscreen wash fluid

Water

Kitchen Roll

Cotton buds

Pink Muc Off

trigger spray bike cleaner

dirty bike

windscreen wash

methylated spirits

more cotton buds

tissues

patience

Hope I have not missed anything. It is my opinion that using all these things will take about 1 hour 23 minutes 10 secs approx. & that you will be whole heartedly fed up with an airbrush & resort to hand brushing.

Say how do you clean a paintbrush !!!!!!!

Laurie

 

[Guest]

After reading all this (and other threads where people have issues) Its put me off buying one completely

Talk about over complicating things, when I sprayed years ago the most I did was run some cellulose thinners through after use and in between colours, never failed. If I left the brush for any length of time it was dunked in a pot of thinners and left till I needed it... Life was simple back then

how do you clean a paintbrush !!!!!!!

Before and after use, about 4 seconds a time laurie

 

[Guest]

Colin you do not know what you are missing.

Pain, a sense of frustration, total expense. The horror of paint curtains after you inspect. Hairs sitting in the middle of the best bit. Paint spurting out on the carpet. Harsh words from you know who. These are the things you are missing. Not for me a stick with a few tatty bristles. I have heard though that tooth brushes do come in handy when you have mislaid your one & only paint brush which you last used to stir your tea (bristles down helps cleaning).

Laurie