Cleaning Airbrush | Solvent Based Paint

[Johnny Bass]

I recently airbrushed ( iwata Neo CN ) my plastic baits with solvent based paint. I cleaned the airbrushed with mineral spirits. Was that a good choice?

Maybe it would be a good to idea to get another airbrush?  One airbrush for water based and the other for solvent based paint. Any thoughts?

J bass 🎣

[ctom]

I've found that some airbrushes are resistant to solvents used to clean and spray solvent-based paints. The hard way. Now I have an airbrush for water-based paints and another for the more aggressive solvent-based paints and things are much happier. Some air brushes use seals that keep air from blowing back past the shaft of the needle that solvent will eat up and eventually you'll see blow back issues pop up. I had a nice gravity feed Badger air brush that was the cat's meow until I used a solvent-based paint in it and cleaned with the appropriate solvent.

[Johnny Bass]

Cool, so I will get another airbrush I think.  The mineral spirits shouldn't really ruin the gun and I could use it for awhile?

[ctom]

If the mineral sprits cut the paint while cleaning I think you'll be fine. I used a lacquer based thinner to clean my brush and it ate thru the seal on the needle shaft. Big time blow back, air and paint in the handle and air valve area..

[Johnny Bass]

Okay cool, would I be better off using isopropyl alcohol rather than the mineral spirits for cleaning the solvent base paint out of the airbrush or stick to the mineral spirts and just keep tabs of the seals.

I choose mineral spirits because I assumed that it was the mildest cleaner I could use that wont damage the gun.

[ctom]

I know rubbing alcohol will clot or clump Createx paints so I use the Createx reducer and cleaner. On Do-its paints I use their cleaner and reducer. If mineral spirits wash the paint away without clumping or clotting I think its a safe, milder cleaner.