cleaning airbrushes

[vortexx]

I was wondering how often you guys clean your airbrushes. Once after each session or do you have to do it during your session as well, if it's a long session? I hate taking my airbrush apart. Many years ago I took an airbrush class and was always lazy about removing the needle and cleaning it. I usually just shot a bunch of water through the airbrush and hoped it was clean. What are your cleaning rituals?

[btbrush]

A clean tool is a happy tool. That goes for just about everything. I fully clean the airbrush after a paint session. Never put it away dirty. At the very least running some water through it is better than nothing. But if you take the time to fully clean when you're done for the day, you can hit the ground running the next day.

[Nalissa2]

A clean tool is a happy tool. That goes for just about everything. I fully clean the airbrush after a paint session. Never put it away dirty. At the very least running some water through it is better than nothing. But if you take the time to fully clean when you're done for the day, you can hit the ground running the next day.

What he said. If I have a long painting session I use the ultrasonic cleaner, but if not, I just go through the flush and wash. I never leave it dirty for any long period of time.
If you do, it takes a while to get it cleaned up again for the next time you use it.

[lorigrey]

I clean it after every session. A tool like that costs too much to let get dirty. Plus it only takes a few minutes to fully clean it.

[Zephyr]

Me too. I clean take my airbrush apart and clean thoroughly when I change colours and again at the end of the day. As lorigrey said, a good airbrush costs too much to let it get dirty.

[ManthingVT]

I'd say it all depends on how much paint has been spraying through it during any given painting session. A good rinse with some cleaner and water between colors is OK if you are spraying thin accent colors in spots. Heavier coats sprayed for longer periods may require cleaning even before changing colors. I don't break down the entire AB unless the "feel" is off. At the end of the day though, and during use too, I will spray it clean and remove and clean the needle. Clean the needle tip every few minutes if needed too without removing it by using a brush with solvent (I even use my fingernail.) Best advice: know your airbrush.

[sippog]

I keep a bucket of water beside me when I'm spraying (mostly acrylics and inks) and use it to douse and flush the brush after using cleaner first. I generally pull out the needle and clean the nozzle at the end of a session but don't strip the brush unless it's malfunctioning.

[HermitSinister]

At the end of a session, I run a cup full of cleaner through, wipe the cup and pull out the needle and wipe it off. Every few sessions (or if I notice build up or spray issues) I'll remove and clean the nozzle.