RidgeRunner Posted September 15, 2021 Share Posted September 15, 2021 Hi all, Having recently seen a post about stripping paint off kits with disinfectant I was wondering how effective it would be on an airbrush. Mine has some enamel paint dried here and there. Using proprietary stripper would trash the seals, I think, so I am looking for an alternative. Have any of you used this method? Thanks. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted September 15, 2021 Share Posted September 15, 2021 What airbrush? I primarily use Mr Color paints or other solvent-based paints with Iwata airbrushes. I use hardware store lacquer (cellulose) thinner to flush the airbrush after each use as well as for full tear-down cleaning. I've never seen ill effects to the needle seals within the body or to o-rings in the air-inlet and at the nozzle. I do use Iwata's lube when I re-assemble the airbrush after the full tear-down. The trick is to apply a drop of lube to the blunt end of the needle and use that to lube the interior needle seal. I also use Medea airbrush cleaner after the tear-down. My most recent tear-down was this past weekend. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted September 16, 2021 Author Share Posted September 16, 2021 It is a simple Badger 200 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Harmsworth Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 How about an ultrasonic cleaner? I have one which I use occasionally for getting the airbrush completely cleaned out. No harsh chemicals needed. Something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Signstek-Ultrasonic-Professional-Ultrasound-Earrings/dp/B08QYRTWD9/ref=sr_1_5?adgrpid=575834316&dchild=1&hvadid=80676697622363&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=69090&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-16692064580%3Aloc-188&keywords=cleaner+ultrasonic&qid=1631788911&qsid=261-0840305-9395822&sr=8-5&sres=B08QYRTWD9%2CB073WWXTRF%2CB088WJ2YXF%2CB08LGCLG6D%2CB07HQG4Q2V%2CB083K9SHQJ%2CB08S7RQMZ8%2CB08FJ4YWVK%2CB07D26D2SV%2CB08N67622X%2CB0744HV7X2%2CB076Q8VFQ1%2CB07C1ZCHZM%2CB07K41F7GJ%2CB00TFTUA1G%2CB078S1RDX9%2CB092J22HT2%2CB07MFQ1DXW%2CB079JQVN45%2CB07BL2DY5T 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted September 16, 2021 Author Share Posted September 16, 2021 A good idea Thanks, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted March 12, 2022 Author Share Posted March 12, 2022 Hi Mark @Mark Harmsworth. I know nothing about these but just need one for my airbrush. Would this type work? Thanks a lot. Martin https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mesuvida-Ultrasonic-Jewellery-Portable-ultrasonic/dp/B09BDZNWCK/ref=sr_1_19_sspa?keywords=Ultrasonic+Cleaner&qid=1647077372&sr=8-19-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFZSjVES1JaWVhFNzgmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAyNjIyMDMyV0ZWSFFUVjZESE5MJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAyNjIwMzgxRkNGTDFMRllZUUNJJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfbXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 19, 2022 Author Share Posted April 19, 2022 Hi Mark @Mark Harmsworth, Any thoughts on the above? Thanks a million. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denford Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 I use Nail Polish remover (with or without Acetone) available cheaply from SuperDrug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Harmsworth Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 Can't really say I'm an expert on these cleaners but that one looks pretty good. The only real difference with the one I have is a plastic basket which holds the bits being cleaned. Whether that makes any difference or not I'm not really sure. It is quite a simple process (vibrations in water with a little bit of cleaning product) so I would imagine if the cleaner is large enough to take the disassembled airbrush parts then you are probably good to go. Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 9/15/2021 at 9:22 PM, RidgeRunner said: Hi all, Having recently seen a post about stripping paint off kits with disinfectant I was wondering how effective it would be on an airbrush. Mine has some enamel paint dried here and there. Using proprietary stripper would trash the seals, I think, so I am looking for an alternative. Have any of you used this method? Thanks. Martin Take the seals out first? Chances are you need a new set anyway and they aren't expensive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 19, 2022 Author Share Posted April 19, 2022 Are they east to buy and install? @Bertie Psmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 1 minute ago, RidgeRunner said: Are they east to buy and install? @Bertie Psmith They are easy to but. Go to https://www.air-craft.net/index.html. The guy is very knowledgeable and helpful. He's a member here too so you could pm him for advice. Whether they are easy to change depends on the type of your airbrush and you own mechanical competence so I can't say whether it would be easy. Changing my Harder and Steenbeck seals is a doddle for me. I change them once every couple of years before they start to give trouble. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 20, 2022 Author Share Posted April 20, 2022 13 hours ago, Bertie Psmith said: He's a member here too so you could pm him for advice. What’s his name please? Ta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 Jet blast apparently. Real name Martin. Sorry I didn’t link him before. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 20, 2022 Author Share Posted April 20, 2022 As an interim I’ve managed to give her a strip down and clean with IPA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzersgt Posted December 28, 2022 Share Posted December 28, 2022 i've had and still own all the Harder Steenbeck brushes infinity, evolution, Al CR+ right down to an ultra. I have Iwata Revolution, eclipse and neo as well as some Chinese knock offs over the past twenty years. I use automotive lacquer thinner to clean the high end brushes and water and IPA for the ones that I cant retro fit PTFE seals in. Which is easy by the way. Strip them down once a month and clean the seals and pop them in an ultra sonic cleaner. pop a bit of lube on which in my case is either veg glycerin or the sort of lube you get from Anne Summers water based personal type, if you know what I mean and I've never had a problem. As for servicing an airbrush, lets face it, its a small hole with a needle and a spring. If you pull it apart with a screwdriver you wont find anything special. Your car needs servicing, your airbrush does not. Look at the exploded diagram and rip it apart, clean it and you'll be surprised how easy it is. The chrome is still chrome even on the cheap Chinese brushes. This hobby is full of myth smoke and mirrors and snake oil. Iwata lube is just glycerin but it cost £6 for 5ml. I just bought a L for £11. Don't be fooled. The manufacturer of cleaners etc don't have any special additives that you can't buy cheap off amazon. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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