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hello dakka,

I've seen several guides/posts mention the use of an ultrasonic cleaner as an extra step in cleaning airbrush parts. are there any particular features I should be looking for? they seem surprisingly cheap. a quick search an amazon turned up this guy (amongst many similar products):

http://www.amazon.com/Sonic-Wave-Ultrasonic-Cleaning-Machine-White/dp/B001DKDAVW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1383694017&sr=8-2&keywords=ultrasonic+cleaner

is that going to do the job? also, do you just stick with tap water or add in any cleaning agents?

cheers

You have to use a detergent or solvent. Personally I don't see much use for them for cleaning airbrush parts as they are meant to get junk and dirt off; not paint or chemicals adhered to the surface. I'd stick to conventional cleaning regimes for airbrushes.

Having already wrecked 3 airbrushes to terminal clogging due to inexperience, I am now paranoid about cleaning my new Iwata Neo.

I bought a basic ultra sonic cleaner (just make sure it is big enough for your airbrush to fit in the pan), and use with water and a little washing up liquid. I do this after a strip clean at the end of every session, and I still get some paint residue in the pan after running through the sonic cleaner.

YMMV, but for me, this is confirmation of it's worth.

Regards,
WABY

I have thought about ultrasonic cleaners to help with cleaning my airbrushes.. But have decided against them.. If you take proper care of your brushes they will last you for a very long time.. If you encounter a problem like clogging, its nothing more than using the correct solvent and elbow grease plus time to clear up any problem you have. Just be careful of the plastic brand air brushes they tend to dislike solvents..

I use an ultrasonic cleaner at the end of a session. It's pretty good at removing the stuff I miss, and also clearing the inside of my .3 nozzle. Needs a few runs and to be used after a wash with cellulose thinner (ie I spray trough the solvent to loosen stuff up, then let the ultrasonic disperse it). I use mixes of windscreen wash, water and washing up liquid in it.

They re hefty little devices that will loosen all paint stuck into tight spaces. With some acetone free nail remover they will make your airbrush sparkling clean.

Ultrasonics are great, however I must give a warning...

NEVER use a flammable liquid in an ultrasonic! You run a very high risk of fire by doing so.

alright, so no special features to look for other than size (i.e., find one with a tray big enough to hold all the parts). what about using the jewelry cleaner that's so often sold along side them? this stuff, for example: http://www.amazon.com/Blitz-Gem-Jewelry-Cleaner-Concentrate/dp/B000F1SCU4/ref=pd_sim_e_1

is that going to do anything useful (or bad) or am I better off with water and a bit of dish soap or some such?

They should work just fine.
Tattoo shops use them to clean their machines and stuff of the alcohol based inks that they use. Often with just boiling water.
Should handle acrylic paint just fine. Be careful about what you put in it to clean the brush with... basically the same rules for chemicals on your airbrush always apply, avoid things that corrode chrome or will melt your orings.