Best Of When your done using the airbrush?

[chicken45]

So yeah, spraying with acrylics...
I'm slowly getting on board with team enamel.
I have an Iwata eclipse dial action gravity feed.
I love it. It's easy to clean. The problem I'm finding is the acrylics dry awfully fast. If I stop for a few minutes, things tend to dry up and flow drops, and I have to clean things.

The One Handed Peter method sounds awesome, and he mentions that it prob won't work for acrylics. I'm betting that's because they dry up and give that latex body paint peel.
My biggest problems are the bottom of the cup, and the needle. I try to clean the needle before I pull it out remove it, but it never works great and I pray that the paint on the needle doesn't muck up everything on its path to removal.

[peteski]

So yeah, spraying with acrylics...
I'm slowly getting on board with team enamel.
I have an Iwata eclipse dial action gravity feed.
I love it. It's easy to clean. The problem I'm finding is the acrylics dry awfully fast. If I stop for a few minutes, things tend to dry up and flow drops, and I have to clean things.

The One Handed Peter method sounds awesome, and he mentions that it prob won't work for acrylics. I'm betting that's because they dry up and give that latex body paint peel.
My biggest problems are the bottom of the cup, and the needle. I try to clean the needle before I pull it out remove it, but it never works great and I pray that the paint on the needle doesn't muck up everything on its path to removal.

I see what you did there! 
Yes, that is the reason I don't think my method will work on water-based acrylics.  But feel free to try.  It probably depends on how long the paint sits in the airbrush and probably on the particular brand of paint.

What can I say - stinky paints rule!  Multiple generations of modelers survived using them (and that was before spray-booth days). I don't know if using those paints in the quantity we do shortens our life span or not. I guess I'll never find out (I'll be dead). 

[svedblen]

If I may return to the issue of brushes: I am using an interdental brush when cleaing out acrylic paint.

[narrowminded]

On cheap acrylics used to paint buildings I've cleaned the air brush with Windex (window cleaner) sprayed through the brush.  It cleans those acrylics like lacquer thinner does for solvent based paints.

[peteski]

On cheap acrylics used to paint buildings I've cleaned the air brush with Windex (window cleaner) sprayed through the brush.  It cleans those acrylics like lacquer thinner does for solvent based paints.

The ammonia in Windex is the solvent for those paints. But as I understand, ammonia also attacks brass (most metal airbrush parts are made from brass).

[narrowminded]

The ammonia in Windex is the solvent for those paints. But as I understand, ammonia also attacks brass (most metal airbrush parts are made from brass).

I also rinse final with water regardless of what else I've done, solvent or otherwise.  It's worked well.  (Water corrodes brass, too.)   I then blow air through to dry and put it away.  Haven't had any troubles in the several years I've had this brush.  I got that recommendation from various air brush sites and due to the conversation, just checked again in case my memory had failed me... again.   Info remains the same.

[peteski]

I also rinse final with water regardless of what else I've done, solvent or otherwise.  It's worked well.  (Water corrodes brass, too.)

That is pretty funny.
I suppose that any substance containing oxygen in it will corrode brass. However most household plumbing fixtures and good portion of ship's hardware is made from brass, because it resists water corrosion rather well.  Household ammonia is Ammonium Hydroxide which is considered a corrosive liqiud (much more so than water).    I simply wanted to give a warning about it and brass airbrush parts.

[muktown128]

You could always run some acetone through the airbrush after the final water rinse.  Acetone and water are miscible, so it should remove any remaining water.  Plus, if you wanted to spray solvent based paints through airbrush, it is already prepped for solvent.

Also, it's not a bad idea to fully disassemble the air brush from time to time to completely clean it out.  Frequency will depend on how often it is used.  I would suggest doing it more often if the airbrush is used for water and solvent based paints.

Water based paint + solvent based paint = gak

Scott

[peteski]

You could always run some acetone through the airbrush after the final water rinse.  Acetone and water are miscible, so it should remove any remaining water.  Plus, if you wanted to spray solvent based paints through airbrush, it is already prepped for solvent.

Also, it's not a bad idea to fully disassemble the air brush from time to time to completely clean it out.  Frequency will depend on how often it is used.  I would suggest doing it more often if the airbrush is used for water and solvent based paints.

Water based paint + solvent based paint = gak

Scott

I agree - once in a while the airbrush should be disassembled and cleaned.  I don't do it often - it usually ends up being about once a year. I go by the condition of the translucent nylon siphon tube.  If I can't see through it then it's time to do a full cleaning.

[PaulCoats]

Acrylics... dump out remaining paint.  Spray 3-4 squirts of Windex (blue stuff, with Ammonia into the cup, swish around, wipe
around with a cotton swab to get it off the sides.  Blow some through the nozzle.  Put finger on the nozzle and backflow. 
Do this twice.  Wipe out cup with a paper towel each time.  Wipe down the outside.  Use a little Windex on the paper towel
if necessary.

Dump out, squirt in some more Windex into the cup.  Dip in cotton swab, stick into the nozzle and twirl to clean the tip of the
needle.

Repeat the first step, spraying through the nozzle and covering n ozzle, backflowing.  Dump out the cup and wipe out with a
paper towel again.

Squirt in some ArmorAll Window Cleaner (the clear stuff, no ammonia), spray through the nozzle, back flow, dump out.  Squirt
in some more of the Armorall, spray through the nozzle, put on the cap (you should have cleaned it, too).  Check the outside
and wape clean as needed.

Leave the ArmorAll in the airbrush and hang it up.  Before painting the next coat, or the next day, dump out the ArmorAll and
spray  until there is nothing coming out.  You are now ready to paint again.

All this takes 2 minutes.

[PaulCoats]

Airbrush cleaner for acrylic paints... 1/3 isopropyl alcohol + 2/3 Windex or other blue window cleaner. 

[wm3798]

I usually thin my acrylics with cheap vodka...  then I clean the tips and cups with the same.
Have also used windshield washer solution, but it and windex are tinted, so I don't use them for thinner.

Works like a champ.
Lee

[peteski]

I usually thin my acrylics with cheap vodka...  then I clean the tips and cups with the same.
Have also used windshield washer solution, but it and windex are tinted, so I don't use them for thinner.

Works like a champ.
Lee

While it is a clever solution (especially if one has plenty of it on-hand), I think that a generic 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol is still less expensive (but then again, I haven't looked at the prices of cheap vodka for decades). 

[wm3798]

Vodka is only about 40% alcohol, and is available at shops I have occasion to solicit.  The rubbing variety is only available at places that seem interested in whether or not you are healthy. 
There may be a cost advantage to the latter, but the former can keep you amused while you're waiting for the paint to dry.  Also, breathing the fumes during the project is more... uplifting...

Lee

[peteski]

Vodka is only about 40% alcohol, and is available at shops I have occasion to solicit.  The rubbing variety is only available at places that seem interested in whether or not you are healthy. 
There may be a cost advantage to the latter, but the former can keep you amused while you're waiting for the paint to dry.  Also, breathing the fumes during the project is more... uplifting...

Lee

LOL!
No need to visit pharmacies. Rubbing alcohol is stocked at all the supermarkets I frequent (in the isle with toothpaste and Bandaids), and likely in Walmarts and other department stores. No need to go to the pharmacy. And 70% version is more readily available than 91%. But yes, vodka is 40% grain alcohol which is fit for human consumption.