Just wondering how everyone cleans and maintains their airbrushes. Me personally i hae 4 Gaahleri airbrushes. The cleaner s i use are USA Art cleaner and restorer, Tamiya airbrush cleaner once in a while. I pull my needles every four uses, every ten uses they go in a ultrasonic cleaner with 90% Isopropyl Alcohol in it. When i do that it gets totally broken down, lubed up after its done. Here are my compressors, airbrushes, spray booth, cleaning area. The compressors are Masters brand.
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The deep clean on my Iwata Eclipse is lacquer thinner,also between colors,if I spray water based acrylics,between colors,it’s Madea
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Interesting, glad that someone responded. Didn’t think anyone would, thank you
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It all depends on which paints I’m using. Seems like Vallejo paints require more thorough and frequent cleaning, while with Tamiya acrylics I can get away with a much more basic isopropyl alcohol flush for a long time between colors before I start having issues.
As for cleaning methods, I basically do deep cleanings like Will Pattison does in this video – especially the little home-made cleaning brush he’s using (linked to timestamp): https://youtu.be/pcMtkBzuMhk?si=rR9qYWFEBKMrCTYe&t=176
I’ve been using the same interdental brush for a couple years now and it’s holding up great, even with lacquer thinner and Tamiya airbrush cleaner.
After a deep clean I wipe a little Iwata lube on the needle and valve, and then spray a little of Vallejo’s airbrush cleaner through.
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Very interesting video, thank you for responding. I believe that this would be a good topic for someone who is just start with a airbrush. I mainly use Tamiya paint, i do have some Vallejo paint. Lately i started using MCW Lacquer paint, i love them. Them come premixed, he has alot of different colors for cars, armor, tons of different wars. )
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This thread is great info - I feel like I’m doing it wrong, but I just run out my airbrush with X-20A thinner between colours, and between models or after heavy use I use the same to wipe down disassembled components like the needle and give the nozzle a good probe with the spike…
This forum is pretty good for folks well-meaningfully wanting to help, even when your technique is probably 80-90% there. Other places you almost need to suggest something outlandish to get a response so that someone will rush to correct you, like “I cover it in shaving foam overnight before boiling in a saucepan of Guinness for exactly 6.5 minutes, finishing with a rinse of hot dog water”
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Thank you for your response. I’m glad that it’s helping you. I own one of those airbrush nozzle cleaning tips. That is how i get my nozzles out for cleaning.
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Interesting, what brand airbrush is it.
I’m not sure of the brand but I have had a few airbrush guns and this has been the best one I’ve had yet . I got it on Temu for a fraction of the cost of a high end one
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Gaahleri airbrushes start at $59.99, i use one just for primer. It was abused before i used it forl just primer. Iwata has good airbrushes, i had one before i switched to Gaahleri airbrushes. It basically a personal preference on what brand you want. I had a Talon, Masters, Iwata, Badger witch fell apart om me.
Forgive my ignorance, but what is Madea?
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Madea is Iwata, both in the same. I believe that it’s Iwata’s airbrush cleaner
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It’s a pre- mixed airbrush cleaner,mainly for acrylics,avaible on Amazon
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I use Vallejo airbrush cleaner followed by a couple of cups of water sprayed into cleaning pot.
It has to be the most tedious part of modelling and it’s why I put off airbrushing as long as possible.
I have cheap airbrushes for primer and a Neoeco for more detail painting.
The Neoeco is a great brush that cost £23 off AliExpress and has a floating needle nozzle and 0.2 0.3 0.5 needles.
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Nice airbrushes, never heard of that brand. Thanks you for sharing your method of cleaning. I’m finding this topic very interesting
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I spray mostly acrylics but sometimes use Tamiya’s lacquers. For acrylics, first I rinse out the cup with water from a squeeze bottle. This gets rid of most of the leftover paint. Then I’ll run a cup or two of water through it, followed by lacquer thinner. Every 3 or 4 uses I take everything apart for a thorough cleaning. For lacquers, I just use lacquer thinner for cleaning but will disassemble and give it a thorough going over.
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Interesting method, thank you for responding. I’m learning about a lot of new methods of cleaning, i will have to try this method. Airbrush cleaner is getting expensive.
If you’re on a budget you could try IPA but get the 90% stuff or even windex spray but only if you’re using acrylics.
Also some cleaning brushes and cleaning pot
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Interesting, never heard of windex before.