What do you use to clean plastic eyedroppers?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Bought a set of MM mixing jars which came with three plastic eyedroppers and don’t know what to clean them out with as most stuff that flushes out enamels eats through plastic.

Cheers!

2

Since the plastic the eyedroppers are made out of isn’t styrene, most thinners will not effect them. When I do use the plastic eyedroppers (I really prefer the glass eyedroppers w/the rubber bulb - drops of a smaller and more uniform size and I can pop the bulb off and let the body soak in a small jar of thinner) I use lacquer thinner.

3

If you have access to laboratory supplies, small disposable plastic pipettes work real well. You can use them once and then throw them away. They come in boxes of 500 so the cost per pipette is quite low.

Morto

4

I recently heard of a fellow who used sand in (appropriate) thinners to get rid of paint residue in that type of dropper. Suck it in, squirt it out, repeat, rinse.

G

5

Thanks for yor help.

6

You shouldn’t have any problems with cleaning them with enamel thinners, mineral spirits, turpentine, or rubbing alcohol (for water-cleable acryllics)… Just keep the petroleum-based stuff away from the rubber parts… If your “cleaning fluid” is eating the plastic, it’s either laquer thinner or something you shouldn’t be using anywhere near your paint and paint-tools… Poly-vynil syringes, pipettes and droppers are pretty tough… Keep all laquers away from 'em though…

Here’s a source for pipettes and syringes if you’re interested, or you can google “plastic pipettes”…

http://www.rachelssupply.com/pipette.htm

I got a friend that works in the hospital lab here and I “raid” her office every now and then for 'em… All it costs me lunch now and then, lol…

7

My pipettes see lacquer thinner every time I use them. It’s what I clean with and they are fine.

8

Shooter, do you use the Testors pipettes?

E

9

Same here. I use the Model Master pipettes. The lacquer thinner I use is also Model Master. I don’t think it’s as “hot” as some other lacquers.

-Jesse

10

Yes, as well as some from a beauty supply store. I use ACE Hardware store brand lacquer thinner to clean with.

11

Right…-O.

I use laqcuer thinners, no problems/I don’t use laqcuer thinners, they eat through. I’m confused.

I think I’ll just go with Enamel thinner.