Hey all,

I'd like to use my ultrasonic cleaner to clean an Iwata Revolution airbrush I use exclusively to shoot Alclad primers (lacquer-based). What solvent/solution can I use inside the UC to get the airbrush cleaned? Will Medea Airbrush Cleaner help if I first soak the brush for a few hours before running the UC?

I've manually cleaned the brush with lacquer thinner but I've gotten to a point where I'd like to use the UC for a deep cleaning (haven't done a deep cleaning in a couple of years). I know that solvents aren't really recommended inside the UC so I'm curious as to what I can use to get the cleaning I'm after.

Thanks!

Rob

Ultrsonic cleaners work by vibrating a hardened layer until it flakes and shatters. Water is the safest solvent for both the US cleaner and the AB. And it DOES work. I've done my Iwata HP parts a couple-three times and removed plenty of hidden, dired-on paint deposits of both enamels and acryls.

Soaking tips and such in the Medea cleaner is great - for that matter, in acetone, too - just let the soaked parts dry well afterwards and move them into your US bath for additional cleaning.

Bob

Thanks a lot, Bob. Just the answer I was looking for!

Rob

Can you get away with using a generic UC? I ask, because it would save me $20.

Matt,

I've had good luck so far with the small one from Harbor Freight

Matt,
That answers my question. Thanks.

I bought a UC from Amazon for about $30. Works great. I use it after manually cleaning the airbrush with the appropriate cleaning solutions (for whatever paint I used). In the UC, I only use DISTILLED water. If you use tap water, it can leave mineral deposits in the airbrush, depending on how hard your water is.

I can get one on EBay for $7.

What I do is put a glass (Not Plastic) jar in my sonic cleaner filled with lacquer thinner (or whatever thinner for the type of paint) and put the AB parts in it for a couple of minutes. So far I have not started a fire or blown up the house and I have not been found on the floor overcome with toxic fumes.



Here my old school Model Masters AB (Aztek) getting a cleaning after a paint session

Cheers

Thanks for the feedback, gents! I ran the brush through 3 eight-minute baths of distilled water mixed with some Medea Airbrush cleaner and it came out looking great! I did let the parts soaked in there for a couple hours before I ran the UC.

Rob

I got what looks like the same USC from a well-known discount supermarked in the UK, when it was errr... further discounted by 50%!
Result!

As above, if you are going to soak for a few hours, do it in a jar away from the USC, then transfer to the USC, I use (US-dishsoap)/UK-Washing-up liquid.

Caution, soaking some a/b's with rubber seals in thinners, cellulose/lacquer/enamel/nasty gunk will degrade the expensive, fiddly & tiny rubber bits.

As a bonus it cleans the SWIMBO's jewelery & CD's very well, = 1,000,000's of brownie points, but don't try putting it on the household budget column, or you'll loose them brownie points & hardly get to use it again...