ForestFan Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 Hi all, Can anyone tell me how best to go about cleaning Iwatas? Do you recommend stripping them right down after each session? What cleaning products do you use? I generally spray acrylics these days. Any advice appreciated. Bryn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
obtr32 Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 Do you recommend stripping them right down after each session? Yes and no.... :) Here is the thing, airbrushes of any kind, get very dirty. Half of the problems that makes a airbush fail is due to a dirty nozzle or system. The more you clean it...the better it is going to work. Strip and clean as often as you can... Of course, this dosn't mean you got to strip it every time. For example, if you are switching colors and as long as you are not going from water based to oils, then you can get by with running a cleaning fluid..... That brings me to the next part....to clean my airbrush, I just use window cleaner. Seems to work just fine for me.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grant in West Oz Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 A good rinse out after each colour during a session. Plan your colours tho, never follow a strong shade with a pale. Once done for the day, I disassemble and clean my instrument using an oils brush and general purpose lacquer thinners. The brush isn't hard enough to cause damage, the thinners is strong enough to soften all residue. Finish up with a drop of light mineral oil on all threads and moving parts. I use Singer sewing machine oil. G Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gambit3131 Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 That brings me to the next part....to clean my airbrush, I just use window cleaner. Seems to work just fine for me.... This will only work with acrylics. I use the cheap ammonia based window cleaner to clean up my acrylic messes either airbrush, hands, crappy paint jobs, etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
obtr32 Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 This will only work with acrylics. I use the cheap ammonia based window cleaner to clean up my acrylic messes either airbrush, hands, crappy paint jobs, etc. Right...I forgot to add that. However, you can use ammonia/window cleaner to clean oil paints out of an airbrush. The thing is, the oil paint still has to be fresh. I know, I know...it doesn't sound like it would work....but, I got the tip from an old timer airbrush artist. What he would do is, run the ammonia through the airbrush after each color and type of paint...and he was able to keep on working with out stopping to clean the gun. Of course, he had alot of cups on hand to do the switch quickly and he did admit to cleanning them with mineral oil...but for the gun...it was strictly window cleaner... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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