Paint Dropper Usage and Cleaning

[MiG Hunter]

I was wondering if you guys have a dedicated paint dropper for each and every color you have on your workbench. If not, then how do you clean them between colors?

I mostly use tamiya acrylic 23ml small bottles. I have a dedicated dropper for acrylic thinner and airbrush cleaner but for paints, I just simply wash my paint dropper with tap water until it looks clean but I can not clean it 100%. It has not caused any contamination yet, as far as I can see, but am I doing it wrong?

Any insight is appreciated.

Edited February 22, 2015 by Fulcrum Pilot

[Bob Beary]

Get some clear plastic tubing that is a pressure fit to the end of your dropper. Then the paint gets sucked into the tubing and not the dropper. Then, either clean the tubing or throw it away and fit a new piece.

Bob

[Triarius]

A dropper for every color?! Good grief, no.:o/>

Use an cleaner that contains ammonia to clean acrylics, such as Windex or a generic equivalent. I have an old glass jar with a tight fitting plastic lid. I keep it full of my primary cleaning solution. After using the glass dropper to transfer paint, I immediately drop the glass portion in the jar. This prevents the paint from even starting to cure and bond to the sides. I do the same thing with all items used to process the paint for airbrushing: the mixing container I use to thin the paint, the fine mesh screen through which I filter the paint to prevent clogs in the airbrush, and the airbrush cup and lid if it's detachable.

You can also obtain a fine bottle brush just slightly larger than the dropper tube, although most cotton swabs will fit, too. Pipe cleaners are also highly useful and come in various sizes.

[wdw]

What kind of dropper are you referring to? The glass eye-dropper style with the detachable rubber bulb, or the all-plastic one with a blown bulb that you squeeze?

If the glass/rubber kind, yes, Windex is your friend. Squirt the Windex down the tube and it will take out virtually everything very quickly. Even then though I find I get a slight build up of residue over time and so I use a Kleenex tissue rolled from one corner into a long pointy cleaner and inserted into the tube by rotation (rinse afterwards to avoid leaving any dust). That cleans out everything.

However, if you are referring to the all-plastic type with the blown bulb, you are on your own, I'm afraid. I'd suggest you drop by the chemist/pharmacy and pick up a glass eye-dropper.

[viper730]

I use these http://www.amazon.com/Karter-Scientific-206H2-Transfer-Pipettes/dp/B00207CO7I/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1424623944&sr=8-10&keywords=plastic+pipettes I get a bunch of uses from each one and at .03 cents each they are cheap. for thinner to clean them I usually use lacquer,Windex or plain water for certain acrylics. basically whatever thinner works for that medium

[MiG Hunter]

Thanks a million, guys. Very helpful.

I use the all plastic dropper. They are super cheap on ebay but the bulb part cracks quickly and makes it useless. I think I should shift to glass ones with rubber bulb at the end.

[Triarius]

Thanks a million, guys. Very helpful.

I use the all plastic dropper. They are super cheap on ebay but the bulb part cracks quickly and makes it useless. I think I should shift to glass ones with rubber bulb at the end.

Try to find one with a synthetic bulb (these are usually white). If you can't find a glass dropper with a synthetic bulb, go to the baby supplies section and find a plastic "child safe" dropper used to administer oral medication to infants. Dump the plastic tube and use the white bulb with the glass dropper.

Also remember to rinse the bulb with water after use.

[DutyCat]

I use the cheap plastic ones available on ebay. Use it once, then pitch it. They are dirt cheap if you buy them in bulk.

[wdw]

I use the cheap plastic ones available on ebay. Use it once, then pitch it. They are dirt cheap if you buy them in bulk.

I don't want to sound preachy, but using them like that just adds unnecessary plastic into our landfills which we don't need. The glass ones last for ever and are environmentally better for all of us.

[Netz]

I use plastic coffee stirrers, I buy a box of the 6" size,cut them in half and just cap off the end with my finger, once done I throw them away, by the tons.

Curt

[Triarius]

I use the cheap plastic ones available on ebay. Use it once, then pitch it. They are dirt cheap if you buy them in bulk.

I don't want to sound preachy, but using them like that just adds unnecessary plastic into our landfills which we don't need. The glass ones last for ever and are environmentally better for all of us.

I use plastic coffee stirrers, I buy a box of the 6" size,cut them in half and just cap off the end with my finger, once done I throw them away, by the tons.

Curt

:touche:/>

:popcorn:/>

[Mike C]

I reuse my dropper until the bulb cracks, or until the paint residue on the inside wall gets a bit too much. I usually rinse/squirt using tap water first, then methylated spirit. Works really well for me to rinse off Tamiya, Gunze, LifeColor and Citadel acrylics. I bought my droppers off eBay for a couple of dollars in pack of 100!!! They're the long ones (3ml).

I tried the glass dropper with rubber bulb, but found it much less user friendly than the plastic ones.

[billb]

Small metal screwdriver (flat).

It holds a good one to two drops every time I dip it into paint.

& as it's metal I can wipe it dry before the paint dries or simply scrape the paint off once it's dry.

Low tech but far less hassle then stuffing around with a dropper. I sometimes even use a toothpick to transfer a drop of paint from the jar to the airbrush...

[Hawk10]

I use enamels (Testors and Humbrol) and have used the glass droppers for mixing for years. As far as cleaning them, I keep a bottle of lacquer thinner handy and start by drawing thinner into the dropper and squirting it quickly back into the jar. After doing that a few times, I take a take the top of the dropper off and wipe out the glass part two or three times with a pipe cleaner dipped in the thinner. When clean, put the squeeze bulb on and put the dropper away.

My only complaint now is the cost. When I first started using them, you could buy a box w/a couple of dozen droppers for 2 or three bucks. Now the same amount of money will get a card holding 2 or 3 droppers. Ah, progress!

[Triarius]

Small metal screwdriver (flat).

It holds a good one to two drops every time I dip it into paint.

& as it's metal I can wipe it dry before the paint dries or simply scrape the paint off once it's dry.

Low tech but far less hassle then stuffing around with a dropper. I sometimes even use a toothpick to transfer a drop of paint from the jar to the airbrush...

:thumbsup:/> for small amounts, I use my stirring paddle, a metal rod with a flattened end, polished.

[Crash Test Dummy]

I use enamels (Testors and Humbrol) and have used the glass droppers for mixing for years. As far as cleaning them, I keep a bottle of lacquer thinner handy and start by drawing thinner into the dropper and squirting it quickly back into the jar. After doing that a few times, I take a take the top of the dropper off and wipe out the glass part two or three times with a pipe cleaner dipped in the thinner. When clean, put the squeeze bulb on and put the dropper away.

I do exactly the same thing, except I use the corner of a paper towel instead of a pipe cleaner to wipe them out. I bought my first 2 about 30 years ago and just replaced them with a couple new ones when the rubber bulbs had dry rotted to the point of being useless. 4 droppers over thirty years isn't much expense.

[Bob Beary]

See this link...

https://sites.google.com/site/donsairbrushtips/paint-measure

Seems to be the best of all worlds.

Bob

[Janissary]

I only use a toothpick for this purpose and have been using the same one for the last 6 years. I first put the appropriate paint thinner in the airbrush, and then use the toothpick to mix the paint in its bottle and carry it over into the airbrush. I scrape the toothpick against the a/b's upper rim. You will be amazed how much paint you can transfer this way.

I always eyeball mixtures, so never needed to use an eye dropper. The only time I use one is for extremely runny paints like Alclad or MM metalizers. Everything else (Tamiya, Gune, MM enamel, dull coat etc.),I use a toothpick.

Edited February 23, 2015 by Janissary

[Hawk10]

Paper towels work great but I used to get my pipe cleaners free - would hit up the unit supply sgt about every other drill for a pack or two of pipe cleaners - he had boxes full of them - they were party of our weapons cleaning kits - still have a dozen or so packs left.

[Air-Craft]

I use oral syringes for Tamiya acrylics & thinners, 1ml for smaller mixes & 5ml for everything else - rinse & pump in warm water as soon as you've used them & all the paint is gone.

There are a few different brands on the market, Baxa Extramed are the better ones, their plungers seals don't swell with X-20A - they can be identified by their blue branding / scales. Avoid the cheaper brands & those with the purple plungers, one or two uses, the seal swells & the plunger jams...

[DutyCat]

I don't want to sound preachy, but using them like that just adds unnecessary plastic into our landfills which we don't need. The glass ones last for ever and are environmentally better for all of us.

What are you, some kind of Canadian tree hugging socialist? You are going to preach environmentalism about the pollution caused by plastic droppers? They are designed to be disposable. There is more plastic in the sprue left over from your build than in the plastic droppers you use painting it.

At least I am not filling the air with solvents in an attempt to clean them. What about that pipe cleaner or Q-Tip you need to get your glass dropper squeaky clean?

BTW, I put them in the recycle bin. They don't go in a landfill. Don't you have an aggressive recycling program up there?

[G_Marcat_Italy]

Some years ago I invented this: Link translated from Italian to English HERE

[Joel_W]

I use glass eyedroppers for Acrylics, Enamels, and Lacquers (Dullcoat & Glosscoat). I just remove the rubber ball and drop the eyedropper in a jar with lacquer cleaner, replace the top and give a few swirls. After the paint session I remove all the eyedroppers and run a damp Qtip through it followed by a pipe cleaner. Spotless every time. I've been using the same half dozen eyedroppers for years on end. I do prefer the ones with the straight tips and not the angled ones.

Joel

[djcook]

I just picked these up on EBay. http://m.ebay.com/itm/191152896290?txnId=1111221061009

I used to use the long pipettes but these are more durable and actually have small measuring markings on the side. I can post a detailed picture for comparison if you like.

Dj

[duck]

G_Marcat_Italy , I like your idea.

Looks simple yet effective.