Hello all,

i finally got an airbrush!!! its a sparmax DH-103

but i have a question about maintaining it..

after finishing spraying, do you use water/thinner to clean it? I'm using acrylic paints so i need to use an acrylic thinner to clean it? All i need to do is, to pour the thinner into the cup and spray right? nothing else?

i may have more of this dumb questions coming soon... cause i dont wanna ruin my equipment...

http://www.rlm.at/start_e.htm?cont/thema06_e.htm&1
for tamiya acrylics i usualy clean my ab with water than alcohol and dry it with a towel and blow air on it( yes i do take care of my ab's look )

Frank

I have an Aztek 4709, and for that, I usually unscrew the nozzles also when I clean it rather than just run some cleaner through it by spraying. I do this especially when using acrylic paints.

Hi Danny.....
Took the time to do a search for your model airbrush, since I have never seen that brand before.
It's a top feed, airbrush, and rather easy to clean. Simply spraying thinner through it will keep it fairly clean, but eventually you are going to have to completely strip it down and do a complete cleaning. Especially if your flushing with thinner doesn't get all the paint out, and you always run the risk of that, plus no matter how well you flush it, you will always leave a little behind that will eventually dry in the brush or the needle causing problem later one.
It looks like an Iwata, so I assume it would disassemble like an Iwata, which is pretty simple.
I would suggest that you read and follow the instruction manual that came with your new airbrush, for cleaning and maintaining it for peak operation.
The biggest problem for airbrushes is not properly cleaning them. If you want your airbrush to last 10, 20, 30 years I suggest you learn to completely disassemble it, and completely clean it.

Hi guys, thanks for the replies and Dave, thanks for taking the time to do a search...really appreciate it...

i have the menu instructions for cleaning the airbrush...but being a complete AB idiot...i dont quite understand the instructions

this is the procedures for cleaning as stated in the menu:

1) loosen the needle stop screw and pull the needle back abit ...( i get this one)

2)Add a few drops water or cleaning solution .. (where? in the paint cup?)

3) place finger on a piece of cloth over needle cap and blow air through to produce backspray into paint passage. This will dislodge any paint residue from the nozzle and paint passage.... ( this, i completely dont understand)

4) Clean colour cup with q-tip ( ok , i get this one )

5) Flush out airbrush with water or cleaner... ( so it means spraying the stuff out huh..)

sorry guys, for such a long post...

Danny, If I recall correctly, Cliff (Mr.Roo) used that brand of airbrush, and would probably be better able to discribe it's proper cleaning to prolong it's life and keep it at peak performance.
Not having a diagram, or book on it, I can only try to help....
by looking at the one picture I found.
1.Loosen the needle holding device..... and pull it back a little.
That's the knobby thing on the rear end.
2. Add your solvent (Thinner) to the color cup on top.....and run a few cup fulls through your airbrush. This removes most of the paint.... (you'll find that some colors require more flushing, usually the primary colors, due to there natural tendency to dye, or stain)
3. After you start getting clear thinner from your airbrush, follow the rest on #3 backflushing, your finger over the tip will force the air to back up into the color cup, creating bubbles which in theory should finish up the cleaning of any left over paint.... you probably will see the clean thinner suddenly getting dirty....
that's left over paint, the just blowing the thinner through left behind. Do this several times until you no longer see any paint dirtying the thinner. I suggest you use a low air pressure backflushing unless you want dirty thinners all over......
4. Wipe out the color cup, I would also suggest totally removing the needle and wipeing to clean also.
5. Shoot some more clean thinner through the airbrush....
you may have to do this process several times,

I'm suprised they haven't given you instructions on a complete disassembly of the airbrush.

As I said, Cliff (Mr. Roo) has used this brand, and probably would be much better at answering any questions on it, than I am. Try PMing him, he really doesn't bite, and probably could explain a total disassembly, and maintainence of the brush better than I can, since I have never own this brand.

Good Luck, and remember..... it's really 90% practice...... practice.... practice...... The more you use it, the better you'll get.....

Thanks Dave!! I read you, loud and clear! thanks for the explaination

they have got a parts-breakdown diagram of the AB...but the picture is in such a poor quality...

i think i hav the same brush as u dude

ya..i used normal paint thinner and flush it through and cleaned it with q tip

Hi Leopold...

yup, i went to hobby point and got it, thanks for your advice...