Airbrush Cleaning and Maintenance

[@WoWdreamWoW]

I just bought my first airbrush and this is the first video I have watched to take care of it. This is the perfect video for a noobie like me.

[@terrymiller111]

That soothing PBS voice. Good stuff.

[@SeasparrowDD979]

Great video. Now I can stop tearing mine apart after every use. I do use delicate methods tho. Being an engineer for 10 years did teach me something🤣

[@sandmanhh67]

Things I learned today: 1) how to take care of my brush 2) That airbrushes have been around for over a century??? WOW!

[@Lectwar6]

this channel is super underrated. this video was the most informative and thorough one ive seen about airbrushes.

[@vincepugliese911]

Dr Budzik - Another tour de force that many will reference and find useful! A quick tip if I may: Have a set of stencil brushes, the short stubby ones, at the ready as they are great for getting into the color cup for cleaning. .vp

[@scale-model-workshop]

Great tip Vince!

[@eyeanim]

Thank you for the informative and detailed video. I have to share that my user manual (Badger airbrush) suggests to pull the needle out by pushing it through the front. This is to avoid pulling in any residual paint, or dried paint crumbs inside the teflon seal, where it creates problems and damages the seal. I find this a very useful tip!

[@hughjoiner9816]

I truly enjoy ur videos … this old ugly man is just getting started with airbrushing … and no I don’t have the most expensive equipment … in fact I only know how to use one of the 3 brushes that came with the kit without making a big mess! Thanks to u I now know how to properly clean and maintain them …

[@SwiftSlots]

Perfect, I think you have highlighted all my questions about my Iwata brush and confirmed the pulsing I have with my SBS. I bought new seals today and your video has confirmed I did the right thing 🙂 Thank you.

[@MeasAgun]

I've been watching tons of videos of so called 'Pro tips'... This video is the best ever, annihilating all other goofy BS I've seen, simply because this is real scientific thinking and common sense. Thank you a million times for this Paul!!! Cheers from France :)

[@scale-model-workshop]

Meas ...Thank you very much!

[@MeasAgun]

My pleasure, really!!! :)

[@joshriver75]

Most helpful video by far!!! I gained a very thorough and proper understanding of what I was doing wrong and why not to do it. Thank you! Side note .....you could replace the main narrator for Ken Burn's documentaries and no one would ever notice.

[@notisgeorgakopoulos3749]

Absolutely great and informative tutorial!

[@aavalen1133]

This is the best airbrush maintenance video on KZbin or anywhere. The trigger on my Iwata HP-CS had been sticking even after careful cleaning and sending it into Iwata to have it professionally cleaned. I use the blue super lube on the trigger assembly after careful cleaning. I bet that is the root cause. Thank you Paul!

[@ThomasSielaff]

No nonsense video. Thank you!

[@tomgriffin3800]

Thanks for re-posting this video Paul. It is very informative. Your method of reinserting the needle until the spray stops should prevent nozzle damage which I have experienced in the past. Your videos have given me a lot of new techniques that I now use. I appreciate it when you explain the theory of operation for airbrushing so I understand it better. It helps shorten the learning curve of using an airbrush properly. Tom

[@21EpicFail]

Ditto!

[@wolverinebear5357]

Holy konoly this thee best, i feel like i owe you some money now, lol, thankyou sir

[@clivecro4971]

Great advice Paul and as usual a brilliant tutorial. I see far to many modellers on You Tube messing around with their airbrushes unnecessarily.

[@ADRIAAN1007]

When I was looking to buy an airbrush, my number one requirement was that it had to be easy to clean and have replaceable seals. I settled on a H&S Evolution CR Plus It can be broken down fully in less than a minute thanks to the nozzle being clamped down by the aircap which has very large threads compared to other airbrushes. Every seal besides the aircap and air valve oring is made out of teflon which has great chemical resistance.

[@frog8220]

So many tips that were things I was doing wrong! And what I love is that you explain what happens when you do something wrong. e.g. "don't slam the needle in the airbrush, it can bend/split the nozzle" I always pushed the needle in thinking a better seal was better! Such a nice informative video! This is great, not clickbaity entertainment but well-presented education on a topic!

[@phayzyre1052]

Awesome video!! 👍👍 If you don't already have one I highly recommend an ultrasonic cleaner. I bought a small ultrasonic cleaner for around $40 on eBay and it was money well spent. I always clean my airbrush the same manner as Paul has done in this video however when I put the parts in the ultrasonic I still see paint oozing from the airbrush parts. After a few minutes in the ultrasonic it's really clean!

[@scale-model-workshop]

I just use the one in my dental lab for my restoration stuff, but honestly, doing the routine cleaning that I've shown gets everything.

[@Manaritzis88]

Thank you doc for the big afford of work, great teacher, to become a better modeller.

[@tombuck]

I’m new to airbrushing, this is very helpful. Thank you!

[@timdodd3897]

I just bought a Badger Patriot. I love it.

[@jimmbbo]

The airbrush maintenance bible!! Well done!!

[@ThomasMoore.1]

Excellent video. Informative and concise

[@nokiot9]

Aresol firearm spray is MY best friend lol. The gun scrubber they sell at Walmart eats paint and gunk for breakfast and then a good firearm oil like hoppes9 is amazing. Eats carbon material and lubes at the same time. The products they use for guns are very well suited for airbrush maintenance.

[@danielquinn8669]

Love the film canister!

[@beautifulboards4404]

Great job on the video. Thx for sharing it.

[@Vormulac1]

I am getting more into airbrushes now and have a couple of good ones that I want to look after. This video was excellent, thank you.

[@1davidpeter]

Many thanks for great tutorial

[@Nomadcreations]

Thank You For The Greatly Comprehensive Info Vid.

[@jaye8872]

so helpful, I have gone through so many air brushes. And only because I did not understand how to do maintenance. You make it understandable and simple. Thank you

[@haroldquill8761]

Another great video, thanks Paul.

[@hankvana2149]

Thanks Paul! I'm new to airbrushing (haven't even used my HP-CS yet) so this is all excellent advice! Subed, and bookmarked for reference!

[@thomasputko1080]

The best cleaning vid. Thank you.

[@someairplanenerd2417]

Very nice and instructive video. Thank you !

[@ethereal.airbrush]

For lubrication, I've used just your ordinary drug store glycerin. It's worked great with no sticking or drying out. Thanks for the video, I love the idea of cleaning an airbrush using another airbrush. Cheers.

[@alanmorgan1389]

Sir, may I congratulate you on such an informative and articulate video - no prattle, just plain useful information delivered precisely. As a newbie to airbrushing, I've learnt more from this single video that all the others on airbrush maintenance. It was a joy to listen to and view and no doubt I'll watch it a good number of times yet.

[@scale-model-workshop]

Thank you Alan

[@marcelgerou]

Thank you for this very informative, detailed and well-presented video.

[@flyboy2610]

Great video, Paul! Thanks for taking the time to make and post this!

[@usssaratogacv3lefevre978]

Thanks Paul, lots of good information. I'll use it all.

[@grahamkylevulcan4340]

Always a pleasure watching your videos, Paul! I'm one of the owners of a Badger 200 airbrush, so your explanation really helped; thank you very much!

[@stevebrimsvideochannel1235]

Being new to airbrushing, I very much enjoyed you informative and easy to understand video on keeping your airbrush clean. Thanks Paul.

[@nickdom3880]

that was awesome info, much appreciate your attention to detail, thanks!

[@richardperry21]

Doc, once again, thanks for the great video!!!

[@marcopreto]

Thank you for another video with some brilliant advice!

[@2666loco]

Very informative as well as the other videos in this series. Thank you. Jim

[@Shepherdstudio1]

great video on point you the man.

[@Georgeolddrones]

Excellent video.👍 George in uk

[@Howie2025]

Excellent video, I learned a lot. Definitely some things I’ve been doing wrong and explained common problems I’ve experienced. Thank you

[@brucestone7004]

"Thanks" so much Paul _ Great Presentation / Great Points _ Very Well Done. Kuddos and Keep it Up _ Your "Craftsmenship" is as evident in your Videos as it is in your Modeling Work. Finally a Dentist I'm not Afraid of ! _ Cheers ~

[@snickdesnick]

Best,most informative maintainance video I've seen, well done!

[@carpar4571]

the most perfect tutorial, about airbrush....

[@kurk1701a]

! ! Excellent vid great tips and usefull information.

[@cliffordpearson5322]

I love your videos! I'm just getting started with airbrushing and you've been incredibly helpful to me.

[@ShorrockPaul]

great video. which solvent are you using , and what type of paint are you using it on. thank you.

[@bound05]

Really useful video. I've killed a nozzle with overtightening before so I'm super keen for good maintenance advice.

[@cloudhop]

First class video !!

[@Will-bh8mu]

Very helpful video. Thanks

[@wychkingsarmoury]

Fantastic video! Very insightful and will definitely aid me in dissecting my airbrush from time to time. Just a brief question; I use Hoppe's 9 gun oil for lubrication. It works well, but is it too harsh a chemical compared to the other brands you use? Thank you!

[@militarymodellerpaul5932]

Paul really usefully, just ordered the tool kit. Just in case lol

[@matteoreich7539]

excellent guide! I found out that some airbrushes like Harder And Steenbeck are easier to disassemble and mantain rather than others... but maybe it is just my impression!

[@scale-model-workshop]

Actually their odd-ball way of securing and adjusting the needle chuck and spring assembly is much more complicated and cumbersome than the conventional method.

[@matteoreich7539]

yes, that's true indeed on some top-quality models like their Infinity and Evolution...I personally never used one of them before, since I'm only 19 and I have little funds for modelmaking I purchased a Ultra for a good price and it is surely more rugged but also very simple.

[@tonyromano6220]

Good stuff, thanks.

[@iryairya2008]

This helps a lot for me. Thanks!

[@tubeflorian]

Thanks Paul.

[@cdpgbc-mw2kz]

Very useful and resource rich video. Thanks for producing.

[@Mechanic618]

Great video! Very helpful. One question - what sort of bees wax product are you using for sealing threads? I see all sorts of products on Amazon, from pellets to wood renovation oils to hair products to bars. Thanks.

[@MrCros1970]

Thank you really helped me, cheers Brus

[@jetpack5]

I was given a couple airbrushes with the wire like the front of the video. Where can i learn about them?

[@victoralosi1461]

Great info here

[@cliffhelm7121]

I just purchased a Procon Boy MR. Airbrush Custom 0.18MM GSI Creos PS-771 Supreme Detail Mr hobby It states to not remove the needle and nozzle? So how do you do a detail clean? I have owned Iwata, Badger, and Pashe over years and have always taken them apart for a detail clean at the end of a session.

[@rscott3141]

Hi Paul. Thanks for all the clear, precise information in this and all your videos. I really like your thinner can with the long spout. Can you please point me to where I could purchase those cans? (No luck so far in my internet search.) Thanks again!

[@zaccampa4055]

Awesome video. I picked up an airbrush recently and it's pretty intimidating. What do you mean when you say reducer?

[@mostxtremenoob6384]

Nice video, i've seen that other airbrush operators recomend taking the needel apart from the front and not from the back, is there any reason why it's save to take it apart from the back of the airbrush?

[@-Markus-]

Thank you!

[@realitylicker]

Thank you

[@Vincent9895]

Very helpful, I usually insert the needle from the front to prevent bending the tip What brand is this reducer you used?

[@vasilis8208]

What kind of lube should you use? I usually use silicone grease, is that ok?

[@tcloud2741]

Great vid. Very helpful. I don't know if anyone can help. I bought my first airbrush compressor combo from amazon, when attempting to clean it after all that I found a very tiny rubber ring left and can't tell where it goes..

[@andreagiordano2689]

Nice and very well presented 👍! Have some questions here, which I hope you may reply: 1) would silicon-based lubricant - those for personal care, so medical-grade - do well for lubrication? What's the composition of those you suggest? 2) What would happen if one used Teflon tape (white, soft, extendable...) to replace (when needed) those rubber O-rings? Teflon should stand nitrocellulose thinners, so it may be beneficial to some people. What do you think? Cheers? 🙂

[@scale-model-workshop]

I don't care if it's NASA silicone ... it has no business around anything you are painting with ... for that matter, anything.

[@geneavorio1806]

What size dental brushes and paper points are you using for cleaning? Thank you for your video!

[@TheHelado36]

What type of lube do you use? Will that interfere with having "fish eye" on the finish?

[@haroldgrey]

I'm usually known for my round-about reasoning, but it never occurred to me to turn the needle backwards when checking for blockages.

[@Zbair99]

I have an Iwata RG3l spray gun. I watched your airbrush cleaning video and intend to follow similar steps/techniques. The solvent you use- is that simply acetone? I saw some other individual clean their whole spray gun with acetone. Is there reason to be concerned? Thoughts?

[@imrozgill9711]

where do i get the cap that you have on your thinner can ?

[@NeonsStyleHD]

Thanks. Didn't know, this. I've been taking it apart after every job. I won't now, I'll just clean it your way n get more done. :)

[@nokiot9]

I also keep a couple drops of solvent in my cheapo master brushes when I store them. They always spray the first time every time. I worry about it damaging my expensive ones though.

[@gerryparker1390]

Really stupid question, but what is reducer? Is it another name for thinner? I loved the video.

[@scale-model-workshop]

Reducer is the particular "thinner" for your line of paint. It's a more commercial/professional term as each product has a specific reducer. So if you're using one of those lines of paint that is not compatible with lacquer thinner ... then you want to use their recommended reducer.

[@willparsons32]

You mentioned: "if a second airbrush is not available for cleaning out the colour (paint) cup, One could use Carb cleaner.. What if one is painting with or finished painting with Acrylic paint? Would you recommend solvent cleaner or just plain water?

[@jonz-qg2lo]

Dried up Acrylic paint won't come off with water, it becomes water-proof when dried. I will suggest taking it apart (assuming the paint's dried up inside) and soak the main part inside a bowl of Paint Thinner (Mineral Spirit) which takes off dried Acrylic like a breeze. Maybe leave to soak for no more than 7 minutes. (again, if it's dried up inside) ~I do recommend asking your local hardwares about the Thinners, Spirits or any Solvents, if you've no knowledge of them as some could be/are different. ~I don't know about using Carb cleaner but from what I've heard in this video it acts like typical solvent which should remove Acrylic paint. ~Again, Ask around! I may not be right so don't take my words for granted :)

[@klink646]

Paul, in the video, you show using Break Free CLP instead of Iwata Super Lube on the threads, but do you use Break Free on the needle also?

[@scale-model-workshop]

Typically I use white lithium grease for everything. But I wipe the grease off the needle with my fingers so there is only a very thin film.

[@frankcoteron9161]

what doe's it mean when you let go of the trigger and no paint comes out but the air is still shooting out of the tip?

[@bkk6211]

Great video! I have an airbrush with a 0.35mm needle what size of absorbent paper points should I get?? Size 15, 20, 25, 35...?? Thank you!

[@scale-model-workshop]

I would probably start with 25 and see how that works for you.

[@madcowrebel4216]

Any iwata rg3 mini spray gun supplement recommendations? They have tripled in price for some reason. Thanks

[@vincentfiore2228]

Doc, what is a good cleaning solution to use in a sonic cleaner for laquer paint. I live in Morocco and I can not buy sonic clearner here.

[@jimbolaiya]

Do I have to take apart the nozzle and needle after each paint session ? I’ve been doing the flush and back flush cleaning only

[@hizokuto]

Going by 2:14 and his experience seeing the wear on the threads during vintage airbrush restoration - no. Also, 3:40 implies that buck flushing to clean isn't necessary because one of the good habits he said to adopt (so you don't have to take it apart often) is to not backflush with paint loaded. Treat it like a one way street down to the nozzle. If you spray thinner/cleaner the same way you spray paint, its touching and dissolving paint in all the places it's been. He has a bias/different perspective than an average hobbyist because of his restoration experience, and I don't know how fast the threads wear. If you want to strip it down more frequently for peace of mind, and don't care about your airbrush being a vintage sold 2080 on eBay, then go ahead.

[@reigels]

Excellent. Can we get a little more info on sealing the Badger with beeswax?

[@BigAndTall666]

Contact Ken Schlottfeld on facebook, easy peasy..

[@kaijuk]

Is WD 40 a good lube for the needle and parts?

[@scale-model-workshop]

WD40 is not a lubricant ... it is desiccant. ... leave it on too long and it will turn into varnish.

[@kshatriya1414]

If you don’t have a second air source can you unscrew the hose on the airbrush you’re cleaning and connect it your second airbrush to then spray down the one you’re cleaning?

[@scale-model-workshop]

That works fine as well.

[@kshatriya1414]

Scale Model Workshop Thank you very much for the response!.

[@BertTirona]

What solvent do I use with acrylic?

[@flyboy2610]

That depends on the acrylic. Tamiya is alcohol based, so isopropyl alcohol or Tamiya's thinner is the best choice. Vallejo and Model Master Acryl are water based acrylics, so either their proprietary thinner or distilled water would work. So their's no one answer, it depends on the brand of paint you're using.

[@benjimlem1284]

A thought here - you remove the needle and take off the front part of the airbrush, then spray it with a second airbrush... would dunking first half of the airbrush in sayyy shot glass filled withairbrush cleaner work instead of that (as long as it doesn't rest on the nozzle, ofc... I guess I could not remove the front part at all)?