Do you need to deep clean your brush every two colors

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

I am having issues changing colors, my Iwata neo CN airbrush works great when it’s perfectly clean but when I clean it out (on the fly) and try to spray a different color it works less well, still okay but not perfect, if I change to a third color, it a complete disaster, I use water and solvents from the manufacture of the paints to clean the airbrush and I am using Tamiya and mission model paints exclusively and I follow the directions to the letter

As a “newbie” I’m reluctant to blame the tool, so I was wondering if this is normal. Do you need to deep clean your brush every two colors (completely take it apart and scrub everything)?

2

I have a suction feed airbrush and I do clean it after every use, but not a complete disassembly. I run lots of thinner through it, backflush, and keep thinner in it after cleaning. When I change colors I do at least a partial disassembly. Cup types- gravity flow, are a bit easier to clean but I think you should do some cleaning after each use, even if you intend to use same color next, especially with fast drying acrylics or lacquer.

3

I think the trick is to keep the brush from drying out. When I finish using one colour I pour/wipe out any remaining paint from the cup and run some thinner through the brush, then leave a little more thinner sitting in the brush for a few minutes to dissolve any partly-dried paint. I also give the tip a wipe with a cotton bud dipped in thinner. Then pour out the thinner (and any dissolved or dislodged paint) & then spray a few drops of fresh thinner, before adding the new colour to the brush. After about 10-15 minutes’ use, I do this anyway, even if I’m not changing colours.

4

I have a hard time imagining using more than one color in a session.

Bill

5

I use the IWATA TRN1 Trigger style airbrush and i can use three or even four colors at a single sitting. Here is my routine for cleaning between color changes

  1. Dump excess paint from the cup

  2. Use either IPA or manufactuers thinner in the cup and use a cotton bud to clean out the cup and the port under the cup while i am running the thinner through the gun

  3. Repeat step three at least 2 more times.

  4. When the IPA or thinner comes out clear you can then change to a different color

Good luck and i hope that this helps

6

That…

7

I use primarily Vallejo or Vallejo-like products through a Badger 105 Patriot.

When finished with a color I dump any excess and wipe the cup with some paper towel. I fill the cup with some windex (Tip: I have a squeeze bottle with a spout to dispense the Windex - think of a kitchen ketchup bottle.). Swirl the windex with a old paint brush and spray out. If im going straight to a second color I will put a bit of clean thinner in the cup and spray that out. Then add the next color thinned to sprayable consistency.

Repeat as needed Three or four colors no problem

End of session I will clean a bit deeper

8

I dump colour out of paint cup & swill with water, then dump that & fill cup with IPA, or appropriate thinners untill it runs clean.

I don’t put water through the brush as despite Tamiya acrylic being nominally capable of being thinned with water, I find it beads up, & seperates with too much water rather than diliting equally.

Also water drops in the airbrush will affect the next colour.

I don’t use Mission Models Paint, but again compatability between it, water & tamiya remnants is a possible culprit.