The most helpful tip I've learned...

[tom mann]

...is from Ian MacMillan.  He told it to me years ago, but I just started doing it a few months back.  You know what he said: "use orange cleaner to clean your airbrush".  So what I do is after I'm done painting, I take apart the airbrush and dip the parts in a container of ZEP orange cleaner.  I let it soak until the next time I need it.  This keeps the airbrush clean with minimal downtime at the start or end of a painting session.

The ZEP really is amazing...better than anything I've seen for acrylic paint removal.

[Ian MacMillan]

Awe thank you pookie.

There was a tad bit more to that suggestion though, and that was to watch your chrome over time. I found that the chrome on my Paasche color cups discolored when submerged in orange cleaner for a month. My Iwata and Badger Pro have not had that problem though.

[tom mann]

Awe thank you pookie.

There was a tad bit more to that suggestion though, and that was to watch your chrome over time. I found that the chrome on my Paasche color cups discolored when submerged in orange cleaner for a month. My Iwata and Badger Pro have not had that problem though.

I paint 5-6 times a week, so it's never in the cleaner for too long.

[railbuilderdave]

I'm interested is what the airbrush will be like a few years from now.  I think the chrome may have issues if left in the cleaner long.  I make it a point to clean the brushes after every use and I find the Iwata I have with the color cup (not jar) cleans up real fast.  I run some badger cleaner I've had for years I got at an art supply store in Pittsburgh and then I run water thru the brush and that's all it needs.  I'm sure the orange cleaner is as good as the badger stuff I have now.  In fact, now I know what I'm going to buy when I run out of my badger cleaner.  Where do you get this orange cleaner, is it the stuff you find in Wall-mark?
Dave

[Sokramiketes]

Awe thank you pookie.

There was a tad bit more to that suggestion though, and that was to watch your chrome over time. I found that the chrome on my Paasche color cups discolored when submerged in orange cleaner for a month. My Iwata and Badger Pro have not had that problem though.

I paint 5-6 times a week, so it's never in the cleaner for too long.

But if you leave it in the cleaner between sessions... isn't it still in the cleaner most of the week, no matter how often you take it out for a painting session?   

[GonzoCRFan]

  Where do you get this orange cleaner, is it the stuff you find in Wall-mark?
Dave

Go to Home Depot and get a gallon jug of the ZEP concentrated orange cleaner. You can use it as an airbrush cleaner, all-purpose degreaser, even paint stripper in a pinch. It will cut through all types of paint, except for Accu-paint, which can only be thinned with acetone.

[tom mann]

Go to Home Depot and get a gallon jug of the ZEP concentrated orange cleaner. You can use it as an airbrush cleaner, all-purpose degreaser, even paint stripper in a pinch. It will cut through all types of paint, except for Accu-paint, which can only be thinned with acetone.

ZEP can also be used as a floor wax and as a desert topping.

[SquirrelHollow]

  Where do you get this orange cleaner, is it the stuff you find in Wall-mark?
Dave

Go to Home Depot and get a gallon jug of the ZEP concentrated orange cleaner. You can use it as an airbrush cleaner, all-purpose degreaser, even paint stripper in a pinch. It will cut through all types of paint, except for Accu-paint, which can only be thinned with acetone.

It's great stuff, but I second the warnings of its use.

I had a carburetor butterfly plate completely disolve in the stuff in less than 2 hours.  (yes, it was crap-metal... but a $350 piece of crap-metal)  Now, I always test the metals before use, and NEVER let anything soak in it.

If I remember, I'll post the other degreaser I came across that doesn't play well with chrome or rubber.  It was purple...

[DKS]

ZEP can also be used as a floor wax and as a desert topping.

Wow, that was a blast from the past...

[tom mann]

ZEP can also be used as a floor wax and as a desert topping.

Wow, that was a blast from the past...

no video on-line 

[Kisatchie]

"The most helpful tip I've learned..."


I learned (sorta) to never try to catch a falling X-Acto knife.


"Hmm... and never spray
gasoline with an airbrush..."

[ednadolski]

I learned (sorta) to never try to catch a falling X-Acto knife.

Never put an X-acto knife into a tool belt pouch.

I found out the hard way that the blade was sticking out thru a gap in the bottom.

[RDG_Rich]

Never stand up in a canoe?

Never swim with a circular saw?

The only thing I ever let soak on my craptastic airbrush (badger knock off) are the color cups and paint jars. I would think if the orange cleaner eats carbs....whatever little rubber or softer metal seals are in the brush would be fodder for the cleaner, but I'm certainly no expert.

I have learned that cleaning the crap out of the brush after every use has made my airbrushing experiences SOOOO much nicer.

[tom mann]

Well, I left for vacation with a color cup in the ZEP.  I'm amazed that the chrome does indeed look thin in one spot, almost like the underlying brass is showing through.  So you guys are right, don't leave it in the cleaner for a long amount of time.

ZEP is also very good on soap scum.

[cv_acr]

I learned (sorta) to never try to catch a falling X-Acto knife.

Never put an X-acto knife into a tool belt pouch.

I found out the hard way that the blade was sticking out thru a gap in the bottom.

Not to mention that's a good way to really quickly dull the blade if it's rolling around unprotected, and you want it sharp as possible when actually using it. (On your modelling, not yourself!)