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What I do right now is, after I finish painting, but before I unhook the compressor, I run some badger pink airbrush cleaner through it, then some water. I then unhook it, disassemble it completely, and drop it into my ultrasonic bath of 50/50 water and simple green. After I let it soak a few hours, occasionally hitting the ultrasonic cycle, I rinse it with water, let it dry and put it away.

As I was doing this today, I was wondering - is this excessive? What do you guys do?

Between paints (my primary brushes are gravity feeds) I run either alcohol or windex through them, followed by water.
If it was a particularly nasty paint (primer, etc.) I will run thinner.

After a long session I will take the brush apart, clean the needle, and perhaps the tip. When my ultrasonic cleaner was working, I would soak it once or twice a month, either in water, or water/simple green mix.

An old paint brush, some cleaning picks and brushes, a nozzle reamer, and some acetone.
Acetone might be a bit harsh for a lot of airbrushes however. I got one with claims of solvent resistant o-rings and seals which seem to hold true so far (18months + and only the needle guide needed replacing so far)
On other airbrushes I have used rubbing alcohol, and some glass cleaner products (ones without vinegar in because this corrodes chrome)

Not dissimilar.

I run cleaner then distilled water through until it sprays clear, then I disassemble the AB and clean the gubbinz out with a set of brushes and cotton buds (cue tips?). The really small nozzles/tips go into a small jar of Revell Colour Mix which is amazing at removing acrylic.

Simple Green seems a bit OTT to me especially on top of an ultra sonic cleaner.

I run a tiny bit of Badger AB cleaner through it, but then take it apart and pop it into a cheap ultrasonic cleaner I got off amazon.com for $35 filled with water. Comes out looking almost new.

I hit mine with a wrench, over and over. Sometimes I use hammer.

Yes, I really need a new airbrush.

I just bought some Spectra Tex(made by Badger) cleaner from Michaels but I haven't used it yet.

I'll post my thoughts on it after I've used it a little bit.

Oh yeah, I do use Testors Airbrush Cleaner for the occasional full breakdown service. It's pretty good, not too expensive and doesn't seem too harsh on AB/O-rings.

I flush it out with water then run vallejo airbrush cleaner through it. I usually pop the needle out and wipe that off too. Every now and again I take the whole thing apart to clean and lube it

Skippy wrote:I flush it out with water then run vallejo airbrush cleaner through it. I usually pop the needle out and wipe that off too. Every now and again I take the whole thing apart to clean and lube it

.... wait, you're supposed to lube the airbrush? Where and with what?

Ideally you would lube seals and o-rings with vaseline to preserve the moisture in them which then preserves the seal they are making.

Ouze wrote:

Skippy wrote:I flush it out with water then run vallejo airbrush cleaner through it. I usually pop the needle out and wipe that off too. Every now and again I take the whole thing apart to clean and lube it

.... wait, you're supposed to lube the airbrush? Where and with what?

With an airbrush lube like iwatas super lube. Its the needle that benefits from it most but ill spot a tiny drop in to any moving parts every now and again.

This site is my favorite: http://www.airbrushguru.com/cleaning-your-airbrush.html

For lubricating airbrushes.. .well airbrush lube would be a good bet
Personally I've used skateboard bearing lubricant in its place with success. A brand called Speed Cream ; I always imagined any particularly fine lubricants will do?

A £10 tube of super lube will last me about 30 years so I figure its good value and easier to have something designed for the job.

That it is!
I figured better to use this here skateboard bearing lube than nothing atall... It worked fine, tbh the skatebearings I used it for actually have much much finer machining tolerances than my H&S Airbrush does so its a pretty darned fine oil.

I also ocassionally use the super lube, on the orings and on the needle after a really good cleaning (about every six weeks, unless of course, I screwed up and left paint in it over a weekend...and need it more frequently).

XmarvX40k wrote: That it is!
I figured better to use this here skateboard bearing lube than nothing atall... It worked fine, tbh the skatebearings I used it for actually have much much finer machining tolerances than my H&S Airbrush does so its a pretty darned fine oil.

Yes, im sure that stuff does a fine job if you have some around.

Man, am I glad I started this thread now.

So, I should get some airbrush lube going forward, and when I am done airbrushing, just run some badger cleaner through the brush and then some water - the full breakdown is not needed after every cleaning. Right?

Ouze wrote:Man, am I glad I started this thread now.

So, I should get some airbrush lube going forward, and when I am done airbrushing, just run some badger cleaner through the brush and then some water - the full breakdown is not needed after every cleaning. Right?

thats pretty much what i do. If i find it doesn't feel right when i come to use the brush next time, i do a strip down and full clean then.

Thanks again for the tips, guys. I've oiled my brush and will do a much more relaxed cleaning regimen from henceforth on.