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How to Clean Brushes for an Airbrush

Airbrushes are used to spray paint, food coloring, chocolate and more in order to achieve special finishes on projects such as die cast cars and cakes. A thorough cleaning of your airbrush brushes is necessary to keep all parts functioning and spraying properly. During projects the airbrush can be back-flushed to remove paint in preparation for changing colors. After each project, a thorough cleaning is necessary to prevent build up and drying of the paint that was used as well as damage and scratches to the airbrush equipment.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper towel or napkins
  • Cotton swabs
  • Airbrush cleaning kit
  • Pipette
  • Small container
  • Ethyl or Alcohol based cleaning solvent
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pour a small amount of cleaning solvent into the paint cup and spray it through the airbrush. The cleaning solvent should be capable of removing whatever paint medium you used. For example, if you were using acrylic paints the solvent could be window cleaner.

    • 2

      Use a cotton swab to rub the last of the cleaning solvent around in the paint cup and remove any paint stuck to it.

    • 3

      Repeat the process until the airbrush spray and cup are clear.

    • 4

      Disassemble the airbrush by removing the paint cup, nozzle, and back piece. Remove the needle by pulling it forward. Place the small parts in the small container and cover with solvent. Allow them to soak until you have finished cleaning the rest of the airbrush.

    • 5

      Dip a cotton swab in solvent and rub along the needle until all paint has been removed. Periodically wipe the needle with the paper towel, or napkins, to remove lose paint while cleaning.

    • 6

      Use the pipette to flush solvent through the body of the airbrush. Continue flushing until all paint has been removed.

    • 7

      Dip a cotton swab in the solvent and swab around the paint inlet until all paint is removed.

    • 8

      Dip the pipe cleaner from the airbrush cleaning kit in the solvent. Stick directly into the paint channel, rotating to clean all sides. Move the pipe cleaner all the way into the channel while rotating to thoroughly clean all the inner surfaces. Continue cleaning until the cleaning solvent and brush come out clear indicating no more paint is in the paint channel.

    • 9

      Remove the small airbrush parts from the small container of solvent. Use the pipe cleaner to carefully clean all the small parts inside and out. For areas to small for the pipe cleaner, use the cleaning needle included with the cleaning kit.

    • 10

      Insert the needle from the back and reassemble the parts of the airbrush.

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