For those of you who use a 2k clear gloss over your finishes i would like to ask what you use to clean out your airbrush afterwards? from what i understand lacquer thinner will not touch 2k once it is cured but is it sufficient for cleaning the AB immediately afterwards and if not what else can be used. also i have read to never use a cetone to clean 2k or any paint out of your brush because it can ruin the brush so if true in what way? my first thought is damage to the rubber o rings and packing.
this is my first time spraying 2k and i do not want any hard buildup in my nozzle. i soaked it in laq thn overnight
Thanks Joe
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So, what is 2k? Most paint we use is lacquer, acrylic, or enamel. Lacquer thinner should dissolve most anything you are using.
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The only 2k paint I’m familiar with is two-part epoxy paint. Never heard of it being used on a model.
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2 k means two component, so clear coat and hardener activated once mixed, and like a ticking time bomb, you have to spray and clean before they set… Best to clean with lacquer thinner right after spraying, but if life makes you forget, soaking in lacquer thinner may do the job, but expect it to flake off, not dissolve.
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You might try acetone as it is a little hotter than Lacquer thinner. Working on a car kit or a 1 to 1 car?
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I, personally, would never use the stuff. While it looks amazing, remember, this is the product auto body repair facilities are using to paint cars with. They have fully contained spray booths and technicians wear full respirator suits. I know guys spray this all the time. It’s just really toxic nasty business that I don’t think most modelers are really equipped to properly handle. That being said, maybe contact an auto body shop and ask them what they use to clear out their spray guns.
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exactly what i experienced. i noticed that cleaning drips on the outside of the brush it was flaking off. i think there is also in the brush because it it sputtering when i spray laq thinner through it.
Joe
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i wanted to stay away from acetone as i had heard it will damage the AB and seals. don’t know if that’s true but i did risk spraying som nail polish through it and it seemed that the rubber o ring on the cap swelled.
Joe
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Yeah I would never put 2K through my airbrushes. When the airbrush runs empty, the air flowing through it actually dries the 2K inside the airbrush and you’ll never get it out. I’m not sure what the auto body guys use to clean their guns, but they clean them wet and I’m pretty sure they use lacquer thinner.
Acetone is a NO-GO in airbrushes. It will swell and eat the rubber seals and bushings. If you have shot acetone through your airbrush, clean with distilled water and hope for the best. Otherwise you may be looking for a new airbrush.
Lacquer thinner should be the hottest thing you shoot through your airbrush. Rubber and nylon seals and bushings, and the needle packing inside are designed to take it, on a good airbrush anyway.
I don’t know what type of airbrush you have. Lets assume it is toast, and you need to get another airbrush. In that case no harm or foul in attempting to clean it. I would disassemble the airbrush, if you can. All items that do not have seals, inspect them well for evidence of the 2K. Soak in acetone and see if the part is clean. If not clean, onto the new airbrush. If clean, then make sure to clean the needle and nozzle. I would use a jar with acetone inside a ultrasonic cleaner. Try spraying again to see if there is an improvement. Follow the paint channel back into the cup. Get some dental point as an aid. Then scrub the inside of the paint cup with a Q-tip and acetone. If your seals swell, OK get some new seals. If this is a $30 airbrush, chunk it. If this is a $200 dollar Iwata go for it.
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it is an neoeco and i ran laq thinner through it immediately after use, then a little nail polish remover which had acetone then again immediately followed by laq thinner to flush any acetone out. i soaked the cap and nozzle in laq thinner for a few minutes and took the cap out. i left the nozzle in over night since it has no rubber seals. i scrubbed out thoroughly the paint channel w/laq thnr. i did notice the o ring on the cap swelled a bit but it went back down to normal size, i also have spare seals. it seems the laq thnr and or the acetone caused the dried but uncured 2k to flake off rather than dissolve. i don’t plan on throwing away the brush, i know a friend who uses acetone all the time to clean 2k from his brush but i don’t know if he has had issues.
Joe
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matt i don’t know if the air flowing through it would dry the 2k. it dries by chemical reaction not necessarily by air.
Joe
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Acetone will not hurt the Neoeco airbrush. Acetone is always the final step in my cleaning process when switching colors…lacquer thinner until the thinner doesnt stain in the cup when back-flushing then spray a cup full of acetone through it…Acetone is the recommended method for cleaning 2K out of an airbrush, and yes, I spray 2K through my neoeco, and acetone will remove hardened 2K…for that matter, 91% Isopropyl alcohol will strip 2K right off of a model, or anything else thats coated with 2k if soaked in IPA for a few hours. Most airbrushes on the market today will have no issues with acetone., beware of those really cheap ones that come with compressors, like 3 in a kit type…acetone will eat the seals in those for dinner.
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welcome dave. this is a great site for help and info. some great builders here although we need more car builders especially stock car and F1.
when i sprayed some nail polish remover containing acetone through my airbrush i noticed the rubber o ring on the cap swelled up and i imagined the packing and seals inside blowing up so i was concerned i could damage them. currently it seems i have some obstruction in the nozzle of my eco, it was sputtering thinner when i was cleaning it. i dropped the nozzle in lacquer thinner for a couple days since it has no rubber seals. the thinner has turned cloudy as if it dissolved something. i was always told acetone will ruin the seals and even eat away the chrome coating of the AB.
Joe
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acetone may over time cause the chrome to slowly wear off, My Iwata Eclipse HP-CS is starting to show some wear in the chrome on the bottom of the cup, but that doesn’t affect anything as far as being able to clean it and such. However I can confirm that my neoeco, the red and chrome one that came with all the extra cups and 3 sizes of needles, is having no issues spraying acetone through it. I wouldnt take it apart and soak all the parts in acetone, if left to sit in the acetone over time, yeah, its likely to break down the rubber, but just spraying through it won’t hurt. I’ve even put acetone in the cup after finishing painting, and fell asleep before I could finish cleaning, and it was fine. Most airbrushes made today have chemical resistant seals unless they’re the uber-cheap ones…like no brand name, included with some sort of kit type, but the Neoeco, all Iwatas, Ghallheri, H&S, Paasche, etc, are chemical resistant now. Not sure if you are on youtube, but Barbatos Rex is a youtuber who does reviews of airbrushes, paints, and gives lots of tips on airbrushing and painting. His family has been in the business for years, so he has a lot of passed down knowledge. I’ve been watching him for several years now. He’s the one that I got the acetone step from.
Thanks for the welcome. Not sure how I found this thread, ADHD I think when I was reading another post after a google search. I build plenty of cars. Never done an F1, but lots of NASCAR, and street cars. Planes and ships as well.
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looking forward to seeing some of your nascar builds here.
Joe
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