It's the day after Christmas, so new airbrush user question: What do you have to do to clean the airbrush after you finish spraying paint (Tamiya acrylics, in my case)? Just put some Tamiya X-20A thinner into the cup and spray until it's clear? And that is the procedure, doesn't that mean using enormous quantities of thinner as you switch back and forth between colors?

Hi Bill,
Yes, Tamiya thinner is very expensive and if you cleaned your airbrush with it you would go broke very quickly. Using Tamiya paints, flush and clean your airbrush with Windex or Medea airbrush cleaner and shoot it through the airbrush until clean. Then shoot distilled water through to clean out the cleaner.
If the airbrush clogs or sputters, disassemble and clean thoroughly.

Hi Bill,

Matt is correct, Tamiya thinner is WAY too expensive to use for cleaning.

You can also use denatured alcohol or Isopropyl alcohol for cleaning, and in a pinch, as a substitute thinner for Tamiya acrylics.

Hi
Matt is dead on with his recommendation. Windex is an excellent, inexpensive cleaner.
Just flush it out with distilled water as it contains ammonia.
Regards
Garth

Matt Iwata told me NOT to use Glass Cleaner, they were not specific but they said no way!

I don't see any problem using windex. Its will clean out acrylics the best. It will however leave your airbrush dry and take out any lube in it.

So just lube up your airbrush after cleaning it out and make sure you dont mix your paint with the lube when you airbrush next time.

Frank

That's because ammonia is corrosive and if you leave it in the airbrush it will pit the metal parts. If you soak the airbrush in ammonia it will eventually dechrome it!
Iwata and Grex both say no Windex or ammonia because they can't control how people will use it and they need to cover their rear end. Just like the "Coffee is extremely hot" warning on the McDonalds cup.
I have an Iwata Revolution CR over ten years old that I have always cleaned with Windex and it still has all its original parts. The important thing is to flush the Windex out with distilled water afterward.
When I clean my airbrushes in the ultrasonic cleaner, I use Medea airbrush cleaner and distilled water. Medea works well and is not too expensive but nothing obliterates acrylic paint like Windex.
If you are uncomfortable using Windex, use the Medea cleaner.

Hi
I have heard great things about windex - does anyone know of a direct equivalent here in the UK ?
Cheers