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Windex for Acrylic paints


Night Owl

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Ever dream of that one product that will clean your airbrush across multiple acrylic brands...well recently while switching from Meng paint to, Vallejo then to Tamiya I had seen online a tip to use plain old Windex. After airbrushing just fill up your airbrush cup swirl it with a paintbrush for a min and spray it through it takes two to three applications to get your parts clean and Windex does not dry out the metal. The best part of all this is its super cheap you can get a huge bottle at Wal-Mart for $4-5 as compared to brand name airbrush cleaners. I don't recommend thinning with it unless its the Windex clear not the Windex with the blue hue. Works great and smells good too.

 

I have used lacquer to thin across all brands of Acrylics it works great but the noxious fumes are a health concern you need to wear your mask, gloves and ventilate. Lacquer is great for a deep overnight soak cleaning but it evaporates quickly so it can cause drying out of your parts especially while spraying tend to get allot of build up on the needle tip.

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  • 2 months later...

DON'T use lacquer thinner or Windex with Vallejo paint you will end up with a gooey mess. Vallejo is a water based acrylic paint, not a lacquer based like Tamiya, Guenze and others. If you use lacquer thinner to clean up make sure you us water to flush out the remaining lacquer thinner before you use any Vallejo paint. Most Vallejo Model Air needs some Vallejo thinner and a drop or two of Vallejo flow improver and it will work fine, lets say to 20 drops of paint put 8 to 10 drops of thinner and 1 to 2 drops of flow improver.

Ron G 

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One thing to be aware of is that Windex will, over time, strip the chrome from the inside of your airbrush. Giving it a good rinse and blow-through in warm water after cleaning will aid in slowing that down, but it will still happen. Just  something to be aware of.

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9 hours ago, Crankycraftsman said:

DON'T use lacquer thinner or Windex with Vallejo paint you will end up with a gooey mess.

Ive been using windex with Vallejo and Mig paints for two years with zero issues ? Ive not had that at all, If you have I'm sorry. 
 

Dennis

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I will testify to lacquer thinner turning Vallejo into a gummy mess demanding a complete breakdown cleaning of the airbrush. Isn't quite the universal airbrush cleaner I thought it was.

 

No clue about Windex.

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On 04/10/2019 at 10:51, Joel Abery said:

I would never use cheap windex with my ammo paint. It's nasty stuff and as paint company's change their formula how can you tell how it will react especially if you mix in your airbrush cup 

I would never use anything but the genuine thinner from the paints maker. I spend a long time and quite a few quid on building my models. I wouldn't risk some adverse reaction with a non compliant cheap thinner ruining my finish. Just my way..

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  • 1 month later...
On 10/3/2019 at 3:37 PM, Crankycraftsman said:

DON'T use lacquer thinner or Windex with Vallejo paint you will end up with a gooey mess. Vallejo is a water based acrylic paint, not a lacquer based like Tamiya, Guenze and others.

Genuine question.

 

I have seen this advice on a number occasions on different sites so I have no doubt that it is correct.

 

But I am puzzled by products such as Ultimate Airbrush Thinner

 

6Ulgaac.jpg

 

how does that work then?

 

Can’t believe they can advertise it working with Vallejo if it will turn it into a gooey mess.

 

Cheers,

 

Nigel

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I saw that there was some discussion about ammonia destroying copper or brass on airbrushes. I think that this shows how much of a concern it should be as long as ammonia is used in moderation and being aware of the concentrations that cause problems.  https://www.facebook.com/davegs.airbrush.exploration/photos/ms.c.eJw9zdENgFAIQ9GNDIUHLfsvZlDx9~_Q2dQcPI1uRctTlDySAakRrQVOwtUUhp~;A~_C~_QU~_idEpvlJ50JoJiAWGM~;E~;ANZDbB6wWMm9t~;qvbX3VqK65WCxboQtKXw~-.bps.a.2217473291691580/2217473598358216/?type=3&theater 

 

Edited by Bobk
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  • 3 months later...

Well Vallejo airbrush thinner yes is great I am not saying use Windex as a thinner with your expensive paints use your manufactures recommended thinner. Windex is a cost saving "Safe" alternative when your done painting or between colour changes to get a good spray out and scrub without wasting the expensive name brand cleaners just to wash out your parts. It only works with acrylic paints so don't even attempt it with lacquers. I have been using it for over a year There is a ammonia free alternative at the link below.

 

https://www.windex.com/en-us/products/ammonia-free-glass-cleaner

 

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Well Vallejo airbrush thinner yes is great I am not saying use Windex as a thinner with your expensive paints use your manufactures recommended thinner. Windex is a cost saving "Safe" alternative when your done painting or between colour changes to get a good spray out and scrub without wasting the expensive name brand cleaners just to wash out your parts. It only works with acrylic paints so don't even attempt it with lacquers. I have been using it for over a year There is a ammonia free alternative at the link below.

 

https://www.windex.com/en-us/products/ammonia-free-glass-cleaner

 

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