RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hi guys im a total beginner to art of airbrushing ... so i went down to my local hobby shop and got myself some Tamiya XF Acrylic paints. I know that im to thin the paint with the Tamiya X-20 Thinner but my question is -
What do i use to clean my airbrush and not destroy it?
Water? Thinners? Alcohol?

Thanks all!

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I am quite fussy about cleaning my airbrush. For acrylics, such a Tamiya, I immediately put the nose of the brush in Windex, which I buy in gallon jugs at "big box" home improvement stores such as Home Depot or Menards. Then I disassemble the needle and cone to clean them in a small amount of windex, carefully using cotton swabs and pipe cleaners. I then wash everything in warm water, inspect it, and reassemble it. I can be even fussier, so my air brushes last a long time (I have one age 52). There are also commercially-produced airbrush cleaners. I often use one sparingly on the disassembled brush. I clean with this care even when changing colors in a given painting session.

I've used lacquer thinner backflushed to clean the innards and cup, followed by windex. Like HDP, lots of gentle cleaning of the disassembled airbrush in window cleaner.

Mike.

First things first DON'T spend your hard earned on Yamiyas Thinners, It is a lot cheaper in bulk from other sources.

Thanks for the help guys! It's very daunting to a new guy!

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I have white spirits would that also work for cleaning my airbrush or would it cause damage? Thanks

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jfulls94 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 24, 2024 9:34 am I have white spirits would that also work for cleaning my airbrush or would it cause damage? Thanks

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It shouldn't damage your airbrush, but it's for cleaning up oil based paint, not for acrylic/water based paint.

Gotcha! Forgot myself that its for oil based paints

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I have been painting for over 40 years.....
Now I use acrylic paints for cars.
Like Tamiya paints, solvent R-12 cleans everything without problems; ask the auto repair shop what solvent they use for the “base”; it’s very cheap and effective.
In principle, if you have an airbrush with a rubber sealing ring on the needle, then no solvent will harm it during washing, I installed fluoroplastic rings for myself, they last forever!

Pavel wrote:I have been painting for over 40 years.....
Now I use acrylic paints for cars.
Like Tamiya paints, solvent R-12 cleans everything without problems; ask the auto repair shop what solvent they use for the “base”; it’s very cheap and effective.
In principle, if you have an airbrush with a rubber sealing ring on the needle, then no solvent will harm it during washing, I installed fluoroplastic rings for myself, they last forever!

Thanks for the advice i just had my first try at the airbrush and gave it a very good clean just using the thinners until i get something more inexpensive like the Solvent R-12 your talking about ... i found it quite difficult not to pool the paint, but im going to need to practice alot more on my technique im only used to rattle cans.

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