Which solvent to use to clean the airbrush after Alcad 2?

[philo426]

Which solvent do you use after spraying Alcad 2 laquer to clean the airbrush?

[Pete J.]

Lacquer thinner or Acetone

[philo426]

Thanks!

[ferrarijoe]

I use lacquer thinner from home depot. Get 1/2 gallon for price of small hobby store bottle. Remember to clean and oil brush after thinner or it will dry seals out. I run createx air brush cleaner threw mine after thinner. You can get big bottle at hobby lobby

Edited September 16, 2014 by ferrarijoe

[StevenGuthmiller]

Actually, I'm not even sure what it is, but occasionally when I order paint from MCW, I get a can of "Airbrush Cleaner" from him. This stuff will clean anything out of your airbrush....Pronto! I should find out exactly what it is because I'm sure I could get it a lot cheaper from my local auto body supply store. Steve

[Pete J.]

I believe that MCW paints as well as Zero paints are lacquers.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I believe that MCW paints as well as Zero paints are lacquers.

Yes Pete, They are automotive lacquers, so I'm assuming this "airbrush cleaner" is some sort of automotive lacquer thinner. But I know it's not the same as the lacquer thinner from Home Depot, etc. This is a much more powerful solvent. I've soaked airbrush jars in the store brand stuff for days & it never really cleans them too well. This stuff from MCW will clean them like new in minutes. Steve

[Pete J.]

That was one of the first things I learned when I started spraying lacquers many years ago. There is a difference in lacquer thinners. The best can be had from automotive paint stores if you don't live in the Peoples Republic of California. They cost more but are definitely better. Incidentally, if you can get them in Minnesota, the store will have different "temperatures" The higher the temperature, the slower they evaporate. For models you want a lower temperature so the thinner doesn't have time to work on the plastic and etch it.

[jwrass]

My Two Cents,

Lacquer thinner used to be made in three different blends, Low Temp, Med Temp, High Temp. As you went up the temp range the thinners got hotter. The reason for these different ranges was for painting in different weather conditions and to help with paint flow to produce a flat and even surface ready to buff (this all relates to 1:1) All of these thinner were compatible with each other so you could brew your own blend to thin your paint. Their was also a additive called lacquer retarder this stuff was hot, hot, hot. We used to always thin our primers with the low temp thinner because of it's short flash times which equals fast dry time. In the 1:1 environment production is money. Low temp thinners would be the product that you can buy at the big box stores. I use this stuff all the time, blow out between colors, cleaning yada yada.

My guess is that MCWs cleaner is high temp thinner or a combination of high temp and retarder, this would make for a very hot blend. It may be a blend of many things that they mixed together and found that worked as a good cleaner. Acetone is a hot solvent and I have used it in a pinch however I did use it as a blow out cleaner with some Black Gold HOK Kandie lime gold (lacquer) and I got a big wad of jello when I poured the acetone in the cup and I had a mess. I had used acetone before with other black gold HOK lacquers and never had a problem so have no idea why it gelled with the lime gold.

I'm really anal about my airbrushes and disassemble and clean when I'm done for the day. I also use airbrush lube when I put them back together and I have found that this really makes a difference on the trigger action.

jwrass

[Pete J.]

I am actually lucky, I have about a quart of my old DuPont thinner left and a whole gallon of House of Kolor un opened. I only use those for thinning paint. Too precious to waste on cleaning out the gun. You clean the gun every day? I do it after each color or use. I have had too many messed up paint jobs not to do it and it really doesn't take that long. Not directing the comment at you jwrass. Just threw it in there for the benefit of those who may not have the experience. Keep your tools clean!

[philo426]

Well since i primarily use Tamiya Acrylics,i do not want to trash the seals in my airbrush if i use lacquer thinner!

[StevenGuthmiller]

I am actually lucky, I have about a quart of my old DuPont thinner left and a whole gallon of House of Kolor un opened. I only use those for thinning paint. Too precious to waste on cleaning out the gun. You clean the gun every day? I do it after each color or use. I have had too many messed up paint jobs not to do it and it really doesn't take that long. Not directing the comment at you jwrass. Just threw it in there for the benefit of those who may not have the experience. Keep your tools clean!

I clean mine immediately after each use. When I was young & stupid, I would just run a little thinner through after I used it & call it good. Strangely, after a while, they kind of stopped working. Now I dis-assemble & give it a good cleaning out after each use & have had a great run with my cheapo Badger 200 for the past few years. Steve

[jwrass]

What I meant by cleaning it at it end of the day is that some days I have a airbrush in my hands all day (I'm a custom painter who's hobby is modeling) If I took mine apart after each color, phone call etc I'd spend most of my day cleaning my airbrushes.

Most modern day professional airbrushes (within about the last five years) have seals that any type solvents won't harm them. To be sure!!! check model and manufacture as to if they have installed solvent resistant seals. I don't want anyone damaging their airbrush based on my comments and usage.

Thanks for the concerns about cleanliness mates! Jimmy "RASS"

Edited September 16, 2014 by jwrass

[Pete J.]

Actually, Teflon seals(solvent proof) have been around for quite a while, and there are replacements for just about any airbrush. I just got the seal in my 20+ year old Badger Crescendo/175 replaced(see the thread on "Greatest airbrush shop ever") It went out years ago and I just got it overhauled(no Chip Foose had nothing to do with it) and had them put a Teflon seal in. Never had any issues with my Tamiya's or my Iwata. By the way Coast Airbrush use to replace the seals in all the new airbrushes before sending them out until the manufacturers started using the Teflon ones.

[jwrass]

I used to have Coast Airbrush put seals in all my new airbrushes (as and option) at least 15 years ago when Dave's father was still top dog. Now any airbrush that is of professional quality are sold with solvent proof seals (not all are Teflon) The fact is before any exotic seals were available we all used standard air brushes and had a copious supplies of seals. I was on the airbrush line of a major player in the van craze days and have put just about every type of fluid through those things. They also make excellent flame throwers my choice of amo back on the line was Ronco lighter fluid

I don't know of the thread greatest airbrush shop ever but I'm guessing it's Coast. I have been there many times including one of their Christmas parties as my Daughter lived about a half hour from Coast when she was Flying out of Edwards Air Force Base. I'm not going to drop names but I know many of the major players who frequent the Coast Lounge. If you are ever in So Cal It is a must see!!! jrass

[Pete J.]

I used to have Coast Airbrush put seals in all my new airbrushes (as and option) at least 15 years ago when Dave's father was still top dog. Now any airbrush that is of professional quality are sold with solvent proof seals (not all are Teflon) The fact is before any exotic seals were available we all used standard air brushes and had a copious supplies of seals. I was on the airbrush line of a major player in the van craze days and have put just about every type of fluid through those things. They also make excellent flame throwers my choice of amo back on the line was Ronco lighter fluid

I don't know of the thread greatest airbrush shop ever but I'm guessing it's Coast. I have been there many times including one of their Christmas parties as my Daughter lived about a half hour from Coast when she was Flying out of Edwards Air Force Base. I'm not going to drop names but I know many of the major players who frequent the Coast Lounge. If you are ever in So Cal It is a must see!!! jrass

I'm about an hour south(2 hours if the traffic is bad) and get up there once a month. I am a member of a model club than meets just east of the 5 across from Disney land and I generally stop by for supplies before the meeting. Always something going on interesting and I can always find some thing I need to have.

[jwrass]

Pete,

Your one lucky guy!!! If Coast was that close to my house I'd never get anything done! Every time I have been in there I confused as were to go first. It's like being in a maze of all things good for a custom painters. I always leave with a much lighter wallet and have to ship it home because it's a such a hassle to bring it home on my flights. But I leave with a smile on my face and have something to look forward to when I get home. Cheers, jimmy "RASS"

Edited September 18, 2014 by jwrass

[Mike_G]

They also make excellent flame throwers my choice of amo back on the line was Ronco lighter fluid

Do you mean Ronson lighter fluid?

I use B12 Chemtool carb cleaner myself.

[jwrass]

Mike,

I couldn't remember the name of the lighter fluid that I had used back then and I'm not a smoker (it's been like 30+ years since I did that trick) I know it started with R (I guess I had Ron Propeal on the brain) and came in a blue and red or yellow can and yes I think the name was Ronson.

I doubt I'll be trying that trick anytime soon as I had a incident with fireworks at a party I had and a four year old got hurt, so that put a damper on my pyro days. However thanks for the tip!

[Pete J.]

Always wondered what it would look like if I lit of the acetone when I was cleaning the gun, but never had the guts(or stupidity) to try it! Now I'm too old and value what parts I have left to try it!