Please tell me a simple and good way to clean a Paasche H airbrush after used with acrylics (Polly Scale).
Is it really necessary to use isopropyl alcohol and things like that or can it be cleaned by only using water?
I will try my Paasche today and need to know this first.
before you spray with paint its always a good idea to try with water first. that way you can get a feel of how it works without wasting paint. Also disasemble and reassemble a few time to get the feel of it. Usually , good airbrush like pasche are easy to clean. The needle will usually slide out after you undo the back screw. the nozzle with easily come part and be easy to clean using pipe cleaner ( get some good ones that wont leave too much lint) i usually soak everything that touches paint with alcool ( if using a bottle for airbrusing, fill a bottle with alcool and do a backwash to pre clean everything) . i wipe everything with a lint free cloth and reassemble. the first time you clean it will take you a good 20 minute or so, but after some practice, it should take about 5 minute to clean up everything. I usually do a few air blasts before i set it away to make sure there’s no more paint or solvent in the airbrush
hope it helps
This works for me.
When I use water ‘clean-up’ paints with my Passche, I just use plain water to clean it by spraying through it immediately, don’t let the paint set.
The worst part I find with Acrylics is that they will set/dry fast in the needle assembly, so when I finish spraying a colour, I open the needle up and spray some clean water through before setting the gun down to change colours.
I also have a habit of stripping the needle assembly out and leaving it soaking once I have finished a project, I use general purpose automotive thinners and place the needle assembly in a photo film cannister (remember them?) I spray a lot of laquers and enamels also, so my choice of doing the last item is a personal one.
If you are only using water based paints, it would probably be wise to soak the needle assembly in a cannister of clean water, maybe even a drop or two of dish washing detergent.
Just take note, none of the above is gospel, it’s what works for me!
Teditor.
I use Polly Scale paints as well, I use windex both as a thinner/flow agent and a cleaner. It works great for both. After spraying paint I add some windex to the color cup; spray then slightly plug the nozzel (w/paper towel) to get some backpressure. Then I properly clean the gun.
I completely agree with the previous comments about learning how to dis-assemble / re-assemble your gun. Because each and every time you use it you should remove the nozzle/needle then clean and reassemble. Your gun will perform well and last a lifetime if you do.
Hi Electro,
Years ago, I found a recipe for “Windex” in a magazine. My home made “windex” works great cleaning my airbrush when using acrylic paint.
Here’s the recipe:
Take a clean, empty 1 gallon container with screw top (I bought a gallon of distilled water at a drugstore about 14 years ago with a screw top and am still using it). Take the empty container and pour in 1 pint of 70% isopropyl alcohol. Then add 1/4 cup of Sudsy Ammonia (make sure it is the “sudsy” ammonia. Last, add 1 teaspoon of liquid dish detergent (I use Palmolive). Then fill the container to the top with tap water.
The total cost of my “windex” is calculated as follows:
alcohol…around $1.00
sudsy ammonia…around 20 cents.
dish detergent…a couple of pennies.
Total…around $1.25 per gallon
By the way, in addition to using this “windex” to clean my airbrush, I use it to do windows, bathroom fixtures, bathroom floors, inside my refrigerator, cleaning the stove top, etc.
Hope this helps.
Mondo
If you are painting with acrylics (water base) another vote for Windex! I’ve dont that with my Paasche model H too.
I have searched the net and found something interesting. It’s common here in Sweden to use a product called ‘AJAX fönster puts’ to clean airbrushes. It’s a window cleaner and I think it have some of the windex stuff in it. I have not tested it myself yet but I just bough a bottle of it. 500ml for 2 USD.
I immediately run either clear water, soapy water, and/or alcohol through the brush. I spray and work the controls (air on-off-on-off, paint on-off-on-off) until I can no longer get even a hint of color when spraying on a white napkin or cloth.
BUT, I have found that with acrylic paint regardless of how careful I am cleaning it as above, after 3-4 paint sessions I often have to disassemble the entire brush and wash each piece anyway. It seems the small amouts of paint that slip through the various clearances are almost instantly dry even while the brush is in use. Sigh, this is one of the few reasons I like oil based paints.
Edit - Ok I checked my airbrush and it is a V series, not an H as I thought. Apparently a model that is no longer made! Sorry.
The Paasche H airbrush is an external mix model, with no adjusting needle. I’ve owned one for about 40 years but haven’t used it for acrylics, preferring to use my internal mix Badger 150.
After using the 150 I clean it out with warm water and dish detergent the best I can. There always seems to be a residue (using Modelflex paint) in the color cup, so I used lacquer thinner to clean it out. I use the stuff to clean out my Floquil paint too, it will dissolve almost anything!
For the Badger I suggest removing the tip assembly, unscrewing the tip and soak them in whatever you choose. Clean the color cup (or bottle, I hardly ever use one) with the same stuff, making sure the passageways are clear too.
Another vote for window cleaner here. Also, if you disassemble your brush, you can use pipe cleaners to help clean the needle and cap. Be careful that you don’t damage the cap or it’s O ring though. Use the air from the brush to blow any dust out of the cap and needle before reassembly.