Cleaning Mr. Surfacer out of airbrush?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

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?

2

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.

3

Also switch to Mr Surfacer 1200 in the rattlecan,works very good,no need to airbrush it.

4

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.

5

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.