To maintain your airbrush in fully functional condition, there is nothing more important than cleaning that airbrush immediately after you are done using it. If you are a novice to art and the airbrush is a bit intimidating, just remember to follow the following tips on how to clean airbrush and you will find your machine in tip-top shape in no time.
The first step in cleaning airbrush is to flush it with water or airbrush cleaner (like Createx 5618) or solvent if you used solvent-based paints.
It is advised to use only warm water since hot can damage the interior and cold may have the adverse effect and make the paint harden to the interior. To flush, simply add the warm water (or cleaner or solvent) to the paint cup and dump it out.
After pulling the trigger a few times to flush the paint and particles out, you will want to cover the needle while triggering it on. This will make bubbles in the paint cup. Air will flow backward to clean out the color in airbrush.
Repeat this step until there is no more paint.
Take off air cap.
If your airbrush equipped with socket-type nozzle like Harder and Steenbeck, they are easier to clean. You just take off your nozzle and pull needle put from the front of airbrush. Clean needle with wet fabric.
Next you submerge the nozzle and air cap in warm water and turn it on until the water coming out is no longer colored. This will allow the entire area that has been touched by paint to be cleansed well.
Please note: if you’re using solvent-based paints and cleaning with solvent or another aggressive liquid, do not soak your air cap in it. Most air caps have rubber O-ring on them and solvent will damage it.
If you have Iwata airbrush or similar small screw-in type nozzle, it is not recommended to take it off because you can easily damage nozzle.
Best way to clean this type of airbrush is by taking off your airbrush handle and pulling needle back and forward with water (or cleaner or solvent) inside your cup until coming out liquid is no longer colored.
If you see any dried paint inside your airbrush or on air cap, you can remove it with airbrush cleaning brushes.
Cleaning brush set is must-have tool for cleaning airbrush and SprayGunner gives them for free with most airbrushes purchased from us!
You can also use toothpick. Be careful when using metal needle for cleaning. You can easily scratch your airbrush or damage nozzle with it.
Airbrush cleaning is almost done at this point. You can use compressed air from your air compressor to flash your airbrush with air to dry it out and prevent water-marks build up.
For best control use some special grease (like Badger #122) on needle and trigger.