French press cleaner

Cleaning your airbrush can be messy if you just pour solvent over the dismantled parts and try to clean them with rags; and you run the risk of losing the tiniest parts this way. For years I have been using a French press coffee maker to safely submerge small airbrush parts in lacquer thinner.

Be sure to get a glass container so you can see inside, and one with a press screen made of stainless steel, not plastic. A good quality French press can be had for around $10.

First, remove the press screen and fill the bottom of the container with 2-3 inches of solvent. Then insert the press screen back into the container, but only about halfway down. While keeping the top lid open, drop your airbrush parts into the container — the press screen will catch them. Lower the screen into the solvent and let the parts sit for a few minutes while swirling them around every so often.

To remove the parts, lift the press screen straight up and out of the container. The excess solvent will drain back into the container as you do this. Be careful to not let any parts fall off the screen back into the container. While holding the press screen over a paper towel or rag, carefully tip it sideways to deposit the parts. Then complete the cleaning and drying of your airbrush parts.


Tip submitted by:
Robert House
Rio Rancho, N.M.