I popped $30 at Amazon last month for a Clearmax Ultrasonic Cleaner. This has been one very useful toy. I klutzed out and somehow got some debris in the .2mm nozzle of my HS Evolution. I’ve got a little set of wires from Mack that should take care of that kind of thing, but whatever the gunk was, it was in like sin. So I soaked the nozzle, tip and needle in lacquer thinner for about five minutes. It was still clogged. Put the parts into the ultrasonic gadget for 180 seconds in a mix of water and Simple Green and it’s immaculate. Evolution pumping out like new. Doubt there’s any danger to the brush. I have airbrush cleaner made by both Badger and Iwata (Medea). Both brands specifically recommend ultrasonic cleaners for a clogged airbrush. But there’s more. I do a lot of paint mixing and use lots of paint cups with caps. (One type disintegrates in contact with Mr. Color paint and lacquer thinner: that’s sobering.) You can clean them out but a 180 seconds or maybe 360 leaves you will crystal clear cups ready for another round. Thing also does what’s it designed for - spiffs up jewelry very well. Mindless to operate.
Bought a Dremel at the same time. Can’t say that I’ve figured out a reasonable use for that yet, although I bet scratch-builders like them.
As for the cleaner, I took a look at amazon, but the one you speak of is hella lot more expensive than $30 right now. They have another one for that price range. Been wondering about this for a while though.
Never thought of using an ultrasonic cleaner to clean the crud out of mixing cups and bottles. Hmm…
Also…any thoughts about literally dunking the (disassembled) front end of an airbrush into the tank? My Iwata’s been acting up, and while I can disassemble the nozzle, tip, needle etc, the paint cup and needle/paint channel are literally part of the airbrush. No way to separate them, but I think something like this could really help with cleaning the gunk out of them.
And lastly…know anywhere to buy one of these in person?
Heard alot of good stuff on the dutch modelling forums about ultrasonic cleaning machines. One guy even said that goo will come out of your airbrush even if it’s very well maintained but i don’t have any first person experience with them.
Guess you can indeed put the metal parts of your airbrush in it as long as you remove the rubber rings and stuff. Again from hearsay.
$30? Makes me wanna fire up ebay… Thought they were lots and lots more expensive…
I have been using one for over a year, now. I dump the whole airbrush in and never had a problem. I have teflon seals, also. Liquids I have used are Mineral Spirits and water. I just do my usual quick clean (blow through laquer, MS or whatever i am painting with) to change colors. Then at the end of the night I put the airbrush in the cleaner and take it out in the morning. Even when I think the airbrush is clean this thing still finds more. Well worth the investment and really makes cleaning a whole lot easier.
