KISS - Keep ItMost malfunctions are caused by a dirty airbrush. With airbrushes, cleanliness is next to godliness. water based paints use distilled water or purified water from oneYou won't get any mineral deposits in your airbrush & the colors of whatever medium you use won't be affected by chlorine, minerals or anything else your tap water Wear a mask or- Even water based dyes, paints, and inks aren't good for you to inhale. If you're using something other than water based paints make sure you use a respirator that will remove theGet one that is approved by NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). mediums are made from. A lot of artist's materials are toxic, not only the solvent but also the pigment (that goes for water basedRead labels, call manufacturers (800 numbers are great!), and read this book: "Artist Beware : The Hazards of Working With All Art and Craft Materials and the Precautions Every

Artist and Photographer Should Take" by Michael McCannYour local art store should have it or tryBeware, a lot of solvents (M.E.K. - denatured alcohol - lacquer thinner etc.) can be absorbed through the skin! When I repair airbrushes I always wear gloves to protect my hands from whatever solvents I'm using. Remember the dust from overspray can also be toxic.You can make a simple & cheap spray booth or ventilator for waterbase paint only using a bathroom fan from Home Depot, a small wooden frame made from 1x4's to mount the fan in, and dryer vent hose to reach aSet this on your work area. Use foamcore to make theI have two sets of foamcore "wings" that I can change, depending on what I'm doing and how large it is. You can use the same setup for solvent base paint but you need a fan that is safe around flammable type paints, most bathroom fans aren't. It's something to check out if you buy a commercial unit.- You never know.

true if you use a Paasche AB. modern alchemy air purifiers inc ottawaIts very easy to launch one of thosetownecraft air purifier for sale needles and have it hit you in an eye.hepa air purifier asda Use some type of station" or "catch container." your excess  paint into the container when you clean out yourIts just another way to keep from breathing paint andYou can buy one or make one from a plasticI use a round container that originally held babyI popped it open and filled it with coarse foam that I got from an upholstery supply shop. Since I don't use acrylics I canFor acrylics you could use the foam if you don't let the paint dry or use paper towels. I have a second one with

1" of coarse foam at the top and bottom with good aquariumI use this for oils and lacquers. also cut off the tips of the four flaps in the lid to help saveYou can even use soft drink cups, T.P. or paper towels for water based mediums in a pinch. & outs of your airbrush and how to disassemble &Other than Paasche's AB, they're very simpleThis is the best reason to buy from a local dealer, start out, use a water based medium such as Dr. Martins dyes orThey are easy to spray, don't require thinning, and are water soluble after they dry making clean upAcrylics can be a hassle to use for a beginner because they dry relatively quickly, clogging the airbrush and slowing your learning curve.  An easier & quicker way to practice airbrushing with virtually no cleanup is to use "Brush-Up Paper" by Loew Cornell. It's a specially coated paper that was designed for practicing brush stroke techniques. "brush " water on it, the wet part turns black.

black fades as the water evaporates, magic. It works with regularI use it to test repaired airbrushes so I don't have to re-clean them. It costs $3.95 and can be reused hundreds of times, especially if you use distilled water!Drying of Acrylic PaintWater-based acrylic paint uses an acrylic emulsion to bind pigment. Notice I said an emulsion, not a solution. The acrylic does not dissolve in water, and therefore an emulsion is created. When the water evaporates from acrylic paint, the polymer cross-links its molecules and forms an adherent acrylic-paint film. Once dry, the film is no longer water soluble. Therefore, to remove dried acrylic paint from a porous or nonporous surface, you will need a cleaner that is capable of dissolving acrylic resin. However, please take note: Some solvents and cleaners may not be appropriate for some surfaces and materials. This article will go over the appropriate surfaces for each cleaning liquid. SafetyBefore we really get into the various household chemicals useful in removing paint from various surfaces, I feel it prudent to mention a few words on safety.

Most of the liquids mentioned here pose some kind of hazard to health and property. The most important danger to consider here is flammabilty. Four of the five liquids featured in this article are moderately to extremely flammable. Remember to not use alcohols and solvents anywhere near naked flames or energized heating elements. The vapors of the most flammable, namely acetone and lacquer thinner, are heavier than air and can travel considerable distances to a source of ignition. Most solvents are not only flammable but also nervous system depressants and may also be toxic. Special care in making sure adequate ventilation is provided when working with organic solvents. Also, ammonia is an irritant and can cause asphyxiation in closed spaces. If possible, it is best to work outdoors. The next consideration is health concerns. These liquids can be dangerous: To inhale or ingest: You should only use solvents in well-ventilated areas. Ingestion or excessive inhalation can be extremely hazardous.

Both the denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner may contain methanol, which is highly toxic by ingestion. It can cause blindness and even death! To touch: Do not allow contact between the solvent and your skin as the liquids will penetrate and get absorbed into your body. Ammonia solution also produces noxious vapors and can irritate the skin. Wear gloves and protective eyewear to mitigate accidental exposure risk. Now that we have assessed the risk, we shall proceed better prepared and more informed. Five Liquids That Clean Dried Acrylic Note on Removing Acrylic Paint From WoodAlcohol, acetone, and lacquer thinner should work on bare, unvarnished wood. If the wood is varnished and gets acrylic dried on it, then hot soapy water is the only way. Although alcohol will not strip varnish per se, it may dull the shine or discolor it. Good old cheap household ammonia is quite effective in removing semidry and dry acrylic paint from non-porous surfaces, such as metal, glass, and plastics.

This is because ammonia is often used to stabilize acrylic emulsions by raising the pH. The sudsy variety might actually be best since it contains detergent to keep the loosened particles suspended for easier rinsing. Be careful as the fumes can be intense. It might be best to clean with ammonia outdoors or under a fume hood or similar fume-extraction device. It's rare, but the fumes can also cause an allergic reaction. Also, it bears mentioning that ammonia should not be used to clean airbrushes or regular paint brushes. It dissolves brass—including the brass plating on the ferrules of brushes—and blackens aluminum. Rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol, is effective in removing dried acrylic from not only non-porous surfaces but also clothing with a little elbow grease. It is another cheap and readily available cleaning solution. The 99% concentration works best, but I am sure the 91% and 70% would work fine too. Unlike ammonia, this liquid actually has some solvent action on the acrylic binder.

Small stains on cotton and other natural fabrics should come out if they are soaked, then agitated with an old toothbrush. How to Remove Acrylic Paint from Clothing With Rubbing Alcohol Step 1: Gather Your MaterialsYou will need rubbing alcohol (the higher the concentration, the better) and a butter knife or old toothbrush. Step 2: Soak the Dried Acrylic With Rubbing AlcoholFirst, test the rubbing alcohol on a spot of the fabric that's not usually visible to make sure it will not remove any of the dye (this is uncommon, but it is always best to be safe). Then soak the paint stain with rubbing alcohol. Step 3: Scrape off the PaintLet the stain soak for about 15 minutes. By that point, the rubbing alcohol will have loosened the paint, so now you can scrape it off. Use your butterknife or toothbrush to separate the paint from the material. Step 4: RepeatEach time you do this, some of the paint will come off. It may take several applications to get the paint off entirely.

For this sweatshirt, three applications were needed in order to remove the paint entirely. Something that is a little stronger than isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) but still safe on plastics is denatured alcohol. Denatured alcohol is stronger than isopropyl alcohol for two reasons: It does not contain water, unlike rubbing alcohol. It is composed of ethyl and methyl alcohol, which are stronger solvents than isopropyl alcohol. One word of caution, though: Denatured alcohol contains methanol, which is a strong poison. Also, as with all alcohols, denatured alcohol is quite flammable. It burns with a very pale blue flame that is invisible in sunlight. Good ventilation and fire prevention are essential. A stronger option would be acetone. Unlike alcohol, this powerful solvent cannot be used on plastics or synthetic fabrics. It really is only for getting into hard-to-reach areas where scrubbing is not possible. Acetone-safe surfaces are mainly nonporous, such as glass and metal.

It is extremely flammable but low in toxicity. Most hardware stores, paint stores, and home improvement centers carry acetone in metal tins. Acetone is a common solvent used with fiberglass resins. I soak airbrush nozzle tips in acetone when they get gummed up with paint. Lacquer thinner is a stronger solvent blend that would remove acrylics effectively from glass and metal. Unfortunately, lacquer thinner often contains toluene and methanol, which are toxic. Toluene is capable of long-term health affects. Lacquer thinner should only be used outdoors. Newer "green" formulations of lacquer thinner have eliminated toluene and replaced it with ethyl acetate, a low-toxicity solvent with a pleasant, fruity odor. Share Your ExperienceIf you had successfully removed dried acrylic paint from a surface what did you use? Ammonia Rubbing alcohol Denatured alcohol Acetone or nail polish remover Lacquer thinnerSee results without voting More by this AuthorSoap & CandlesThe Roles of Different Fats and Oils In Soap MakingThis article is about the fats and oils used in soap making.