Friends,

I recently purchased an AZTEK 470 airbrush. I'm absolutely happy with the results of the airbrushing I do, but have a question on the matter of cleaning the airbrush.

When using acrylings, what do you use to clean the nozzles ? Unlike with other manufacturers, the Aztek needle can't be removed, so the user must soak his entire nozzle in a cleaningfluid. What fluid is best to be used to clean the nozzle when spraying acrylics ?

May be some suggestions on what's best to clean nozzles when spraying enamels too ???

Danny, I use the Aztek4709, and use enamels. After use, I spray mineral spirits until I'm getting a clear spray coming out. There are times when, dispite the warnings not to, I pull the little needle out of the nozzle, and clean that with mineral spirits as well. So far, nothing bad has happened.

Mike

I do the same as Mike when cleaning the Aztec. Just gently pull the needle out of the nozzle to clean it. I use either Testor's cleaner for acrylics or Tile-X bathroom cleaner.
BTW, I spray only acrylics.

The needle CAN be removed. There are three pieces to an Aztec spray nozzle: the housing, the spring and the needle. When the housing is unscrewed from the airbrush you can pull the needle and spring out of the back. I use pipe cleaners to clean out the housing and clean the needle with an old toothbrush. Also, clean the inside of the airbrush around where the air hole is. Paint can get stuck in there restricting the airflow.

Here is a PDF document showing how to clean the components:

http://dcfx.com/scma/articles/Aztec%20Airbrush.pdf

I agree with all of the other posts. I have a aztek470. At first I didn't pull the needle out but I decided to try after reading about it. I had found alot of dried paint and gunk on the needle, that was even after soaking and proper cleaning.

I've had an Aztec airbrush ever since they 1st came out and I have always pulled the needle out....there are 3 pieces to the tip....the outer casing...the inner casing and the needle and spring.....the outer casing is a different colour for different uses....I gently pull the needle out the back....then I pull the inner casing out the same way....I use Q-tips and pipe cleaners to clean the inside of the casings and paper towel to clean out the needle and spring that are together as 1 piece.....don't try to pull these apart......I spray only acrylics and use only rubbing alcohol 99% for cleaning....I also store the tips in the alcohol when I'm not using them......if you do this...always give a burst of just air through your assembled airbrush before painting to blow out the excess alcohol 1st.....then attach your paint cup and away you go.
I have never had to buy a new tip in the many years of cleaning and storing them this way and many of my friends have bought new tips within a year of not pulling the tips apart to clean them.....maybe this is Aztec's way of getting people to buy more tips....by telling them NOT to pull out the needle?
Also Aztec now sells a tip specially designed for blowing acrylics....I have one but haven't tried it yet....I have heard they work very well....I'm going to try it this week on my DUKW.

Dioman,

Am I right to conclude you store you nozzles under the alcohol surface ?

What about nozzles...which nozzle do you prefer for what sort of work ? Or maybe you use "one nozzle for all purposes" ?

I very quickly learned that I had to take the nozzles apart with my Aztek. Also, make sure you rinse out the body of the brush, as paint can stick the actuator rod in place. I don't know what the technical term for that part is, but I'm talking about the rod attached to the trigger in the center of the brush that moves the needle in and out.
For armor models I usually used the medium head for base colors and the fine head for camo. I found that the special "acrylic" nozzle did not work any better than the regular medium head.

Hiya Eagle....yes I store the tips in a bottle of rubbing alcohol......to my thinking...it just keeps them at the ready and keeps the rubber ring from drying out as I have seen with people who don't do this....plus the blast of air to blow out the alcohol lets you know everything is working fine before you have your paint in.
I use the gray tip the most....I think it's the medium....having used the acrylic tip this past weekend I found that there wasn't the usual build up at the tip that you get after a lot of blowing acrylics.....but the results were about the same as the medium tip...the choice is yours.

I keep the tips in alcohol, and once in a while I open them to clean the needle.
The tips I use : medium acrylic one and small one. That's because I've been working with acrylics only so far.

Where is this rubber ring you guys are talkin' about? is it on the nozzle?

Yes it's on the nozzle......as you screw the nozzle in it creates a tight seal on the body of the airbrush.

damn! that will explain the leaking I get sometimes, is it on every nozzle or does it fit on the gun?

I've got them on the nozzle...around the tip, I mean. And, Grifter is right about cleaning that little area in the handle after you remove the tip. I use a Q-tip soaked in thinner to rub around the area to pick up whatever. Like my mother used to say about my ears when I was a kid..."you'd be surprised what comes out of there."

Mike