This is a collection of airbrush cleaning tips and tricks that I have picked up over time.
I will split them into sections of easy (do regularly) to more complicated (periodic maintenance).
Easy Cleaning
I generally run these steps in between different colours or the beginning of an end of paint session cleanup workflow before any disassembly for deeper cleaning.
Back Flushing
Back flushing circulates thinner around the inside of the pot and the internals to agitate and loosen any stuck on paint.
Use back flushing when switch between colours or as one of the first steps of cleaning the airbrush.
Wipe with a paint brush
Put some thinner or tool cleaner into the paint pot, back flush if you want to, then with a reasonably small round tipped paint brush, soak and brush/scrub around the edge, the inside wall and any where else the brush could reach within the airbrush paint pot and around the visible parts of the needle.
Rinse out the paint pot with cleaner/thinner and repeat the steps as needed.
I also like to brush the tip of the airbrush nozzle with the soaked paint brush if there’s any visible dried paint.
Dry Blasting
I have not seen and read on anyone doing this but I find this incredibly helpful in checking and identifying if there’s any more paint remaining within the airbrush that still require cleaning out.
After a few rinse out of the paint pot and it looks clean and dry, take another airbrush (if you have a second one) or something that can apply directed bursts of air, work from the top of the paint pot down into the needle channel where the air and paint flows. This will blow out any dust as well as any residual wet paint and thinner.
Clean out any residual paint by rinsing out with cleaner/thinner or wiping with lint-free wipe.
Repeat the steps as many times as needed.