Airbrush cleaning kit

robfosters · 20 Feb 2019 at 19:42

I have always used cotton swabs and tissue to clean my airbrushes, but thought I'd get an airbrush cleaning kit off ebay to give it a proper strip down. Problem is, I'm a bit confused as to what some of the tools do. Wondered if anyone more experienced could give me an idea.

Pic 1. Top one I imagine are like pipe cleaners, but what are those long metal sticks in the bottom bag. They are extremely bendy.

Pic 2. What on earth this is for I dont know. It's the sharpest thing known to man. Haven't got a scooby how this could have anything to do with cleaning an airbrush!

Dis86 · 20 Feb 2019 at 20:06

2 looks like needle cleaners for various diameter needles. 3...that's just there for you to hurt yourself on cos I have no clue.

Torquar · 21 Feb 2019 at 07:43

3 is for cleaning the inside of the nozzle.

paintguy · 22 Feb 2019 at 19:36

I'm not an airbrush user but I do have £1000's worth of spray guns, and I would never use anything metal to clean them.

Soft brass brushes are supposed to be OK for extreme cleaning, but I wouldn't even risk that. Plastic only for me.

Werewolf · 27 Feb 2019 at 23:33

I only use cotton buds, H&S soft/nylon cleaning brush, and sometimes a toothpick or the needle to help clear the nozzle.

The spikey bit is a reamer for the nozzle. IIRC only really meant for the worst blocks and you should use one made by the same company as the nozzle (so it fits properly).
I think I've only used our reamer once, normally if the block is really bad i'll leave the nozzle to soak in a small sealed tub of cleaner for hours/days so it has a chance to loosen up then try the the toothpicks and sometimes very very cautiously and gently the needle.

Another option is the liquid reamer sprays which are stronger versions of the normal cleaning fluid.

Don't ever do what I did, I put one of our brushes in the ultrasonic bath with a solution without reading the warnings*, my evo 2 in 1 body is now a bit tarnished

(the ultrasonic solution is not good for plated metals).

*I was knackered and found that it been left dirty after it's last use weeks earlier so the paint had dried completely and it needed a really thorough clean, so thought i'd take a short cut