How to clean the airbrush yourself? How much pressure do you need for an airbrush? – Setafi

There are several ways to clean an airbrush. After each staining, the composition is poured into a separate container, after which the trigger is pulled several times with the nozzle closed. But sometimes a more thorough flush may be necessary. How to act in both cases is described in this material.

Partial cleaning

After each use, a partial cleaning of the airbrush is carried out. This is necessary to keep the container in good condition (even if the same paint is used).

Instructions on how to rinse an airbrush are quite simple:

1. Drain the paint into a temporary container - it can be a small cup. It is absolutely impossible to pour back into the container in which it was purchased. In this case, the entire contents will dry out, because a solvent is present in the drained residues.
2. Next, water or alcohol is poured into the container of the airbrush itself, depending on the type of paint. Add in a small amount, because this is quite enough.
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3. Pull the trigger while closing the nozzle with your finger. Repeat this action 3-4 times.
4. Drain the paint from the container.
5. The remaining solvent is poured onto a rag to saturate the remaining paint with it after draining. She should also process the body and other parts where smudges remain.

Complete cleaning

Pressure for an airbrush plays a big role, since the quality of painting depends on it. If the device is clogged, it starts to “spit”, the pressure settings are lost. This indicates severe clogging and the need for a complete cleaning. Usually it is needed in cases where the device is used for too long, for example, for 4-5 hours in a row.

For the cleaning procedure, different tools and materials are used:

• special needle;
• brushes (a set often comes with the device);
• cap key;
• old rag;
• a solvent such as white spirit;
• an alternative to brushes is a wooden stick with a pointed end (you can take a toothpick).

The basic way to clean an airbrush from acrylic paint is as follows:

1. First you need to remove the handle, that is, the rear element.
2. After that, the needle is loosened by turning the collet clamp.
3. Pull the needle out through the front. It is better to act in this way, because thanks to this, not many parts inside need to be cleaned.
4. Remove the nozzle cap and the nozzle itself.
5. All parts are immersed in an airbrush cleaner - that is, a solvent, for example, white spirit.
6. Just rinsing the parts is not enough - the nozzle must also be cleaned with a special soft and thin needle. You need to work carefully so as not to damage the expensive nozzle.
7. Then the guide needle is unscrewed and the trigger is removed.
8. The main tool than to clean the airbrush at this stage is brushes. With their help, the body and internal surfaces are cleaned.
9. The final stage is washing, rinsing. Solvent residues are removed with a rag. Instead, you can use new cotton swabs. If the place is narrow, hard to reach, use toothpicks.
10.  Then the device is assembled, acting in the opposite sequence. When the trigger is installed, the stem is treated with grease. If the tool will not be used for a long time, it is better to store it unassembled.

Pressure setting

Another important question is how much pressure is needed for an airbrush, and how to properly set it up. First of all, you need to remember that normal operation requires a pressure in the range of 1-3 atm. In this case, most often the range is narrower - from 1.2 to 1.5 atm.

The specific value depends mainly on the consistency and type of paint itself. If the composition is thick, it is more difficult for it to pass through the nozzle. Accordingly, more pressure is required. If the composition, on the contrary, is liquid, the pressure should be less. Otherwise, the tool will begin to “spit”, and then an extraordinary cleaning of the airbrush will be needed.

To ensure optimal pressure, compressed air cartridges or compressors should be used. They are attached to the tool using a flexible hose. Often the airbrush is used for professional purposes. Then it is recommended to purchase a gearbox and a pressure gauge. The equipment will allow you to easily adjust the pressure.

It is clear how to wash the airbrush. The device needs to be cleaned after each use. And if it “spits” or the pressure changes dramatically, you need to disassemble and carry out a complete flush. If necessary, worn parts are replaced. It is better to purchase them in the same stores where the airbrush itself was bought.