Starting with airbrushing

Pascal-A

Gravity Guru
Hello,
I'm starting with airbrushing. So far I did the following:
- bought a set (Sil-air 20A and Iwata Eclipse HP-CS, Com-art paint, bottle)
- I have set-up the system (adding oil, connecting the air wire and airbrush pistol)
Now I was thinking to start to airbrush, but doesn't an airbrush need to be cleaned every time you worked with it?
I think it's better to learn to clean first, right?
So where do I start and What do I need?
Is water and alcohol from the pharmacy enough?
 
I found this:
According the cleaning manual of Iwata, I need the following:
- an Iwata washing brush.
- Medea Airbrush cleaner or appropriate cleaner.
- artool studio wipes

A few questions:
- Is the Iwata washing brush something special ? Or is a regular small brush fine too?
- Can I use alcohol from the pharmacy instead of cleaner?
- Can I use paper kleenex tissues instead of artool studio wipes?
 
The answer is yes! Go get yourself some cheap paintbrushes some soft some more stiff, good paper towel, and some isopropyl alcohol and dilute it with water, 50/50. You don't need to use the alcohol unless you have a stubborn bit of paint, just a flush through with clean water will be ok in between colour changes, and after you finish you may want to run some alcohol mix through the airbrush followed by some more water. Buy a spray out jar so you can safely spray the alcohol mix as its not nice to breath in when its in a spray form.

Madea airbrush cleaner is great stuff and recommended. It will last ages. If you get a blockage you can pour some in a container and drop the metal parts in it to soak. Its also reusable so after the soaking you can pour it back in the bottle. Everything else you can use alternate products.

Lee
 
You don't need that stuff.
Go to the wibra and get a bottle of Dasty degreaser.
some cotton swabs and toothpicks (the mini brushes)
paper handkerchief.
And a bottle of brasso copper polish.
My working method is.
Spray the airbrush empty.
put some dasty in the paint cup.
take a cotton swab, stir it through the paint cup and empty it.
do the same with water.
Take out your needle put some brasso on your handkerchief and wipe your needle clean with it (you polish your needle right away)
your needle back and spray with water and you're done.
You can use the brushes if you are going to clean it thoroughly.
For me that is twice a year.
Or I must have problems with it before.
 
This is also a good find.
But I prefer to use Dasty.
It dissolves the paint just as well. And has no fire risk.

To go back to my previous post.
I dump the cub empty in a container.
It doesn't matter what kind of cleaning agent you use.
It is not a good idea to spray away (old) paint and cleaning agent.
The less cleaner in the air, the healthier it is for you (Mask)
Until your cub is clean.
Only then do I spray out the last leftovers with some new cleaning agent
and water.
 
Cleaning is the less glorious side of airbrushing but will amount in quite some time spent on it. I don’t always properly clean my brush everyday, but only (and especially) when I feel the performance lacking, or, once or twice a week. The less I clean it (i.e. disassemble the brush), the better. I simply use water to rinse the brush, and for proper cleaning, I use paint thinner.
 
Have you tried the iwata cleaning agent it works a treat just soak your nozzle in the solution for a day you will be amazed how it works no mess no fuss.
 
Have you tried the iwata cleaning agent it works a treat just soak your nozzle in the solution for a day you will be amazed how it works no mess no fuss.
I use createx airbrush cleaner. According an Iwata demo video airbrush cleaning can be max. 10 minutes in the cleaning liquid.
 
You can soak the nozzle, nozzle cap and needle cap over night without a problem.
But be sure to remove any o-rings because they will swell in the airbrush cleaner and then you will have to replace them. Been there done that
 
Hi guys,
I generally paint with acrylic paints and I use Fantastic to clean my AB's. Right after I'm done with painting for the day, I use that in my AB and spray through. When the brush is clean, I rinse with water well. It will break down the paint and clean the brush on a daily basis. For deeper cleaning, I will remove my nozzle and let it soak in the Fantastic overnight. The paint will dissolve well. Rinse and reassemble. I've been doing this for years with no adverse results on my brushes. Thought I'd share.
 
The O-Rings are a black rubber like Seal in the form of a Ring. You will recognize them when you see them. Not all airbrushes have an O-Ring in head area.
It is best to know how to disassemble and assemble your Airbrush an what the parts are. And the best part is, if you need any help, here is the right place to ask questions. Take the manual and look at the diagram and the parts list of your airbrush and in no time you will know what is what:thumbsup:
 
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