I’m talking about the dust that gets stuck to the model before airbrushing so after applying the coat of pain you can see the dust and lint stuck in the paint.
What kind of cleaning technique or cleaning solution can I use to keep the dust away?
I don’t have anything tried and true. I do have a lot of lighting in the paint booth, and look the model over real good before I spray anything…usually a blast of air from the airbrush, before pulling the trigger for paint, will do the trick.
I keep a box of lens cleaning tissues around for wiping down before painting. If there’s nothing already on the model that it will damage I use alcohol as a cleaning solution because it evaporates quickly. Otherwise, just water. Then, turn up the air and dust/dry everything off with the airbrush.
I also dampen a rag or paper towel with alcohol. It seems to help the dust stick to the cloth better. One must be careful what type of paper product or rag that it does not deposit its own lint. I gave up using Kleenex because of that. I bought a box of Kimwipe tissues, an industrial product for use in dust free applications. It is a bit on the pricey side compared to regular paper towels, but I use it only when I am trying for best finish, like with gloss paints.
If there is a static charge on the plastic, it will attract any dust particles that get near. A damp wipe with water or alcohol will kill the charge.
I have heard of guys misting water in the air around their spray area, but I don’t know how effective that actually is.
Don