Iwata Airbrush Cleaning Station First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Iwata Airbrush Cleaning Station

Over the years, I've seen some interesting home-grown methods for cleaning an airbrush. When you've finished with a color, but you still have paint remaining in your cup, many folks spray the remainder on another surface (like newspaper), then load the cup up with the appropriate solvent, spray that through the brush, then take whatever additional steps are required to ensure that the airbrush is clean.

While many folks don't mind the cloud of vapor around their workbench from cleaning the airbrush, this is particularly harmful if that cloud is composed of atomized enamel or lacquer thinner. Even simple Windex isn't the greatest thing to be breathing. What to do?

One home grown method has involved using empty plastic milk jugs that are altered to accommodate an airbrush and retain the vapor. This works okay until you have to clean or replace the jug, but you're wasting space on your bench for this gallon jug. There has to be a better way.

Iwata to the rescue. They produce a desktop cleaning station that is easy to clean and doesn't take up much room. The jar is made of frosted glass and the lid is a heavy-duty plastic. There is a removable top on the lid that contains one of the three included filter elements that will remove the vapor from the air. There is a metal cradle for your airbrush and a support leg to keep the jar from falling over when you place a loaded airbrush on the cradle.

The nozzle goes into a hole in the lid. You can rest your airbrush momentarily on the station, or clean out the brush to change colors or put away the airbrush. You can put water with a little detergent in the glass jar to help trap the paint and vapors being blown into the jar.

Also included with the set is a plastic jar that the cleaning station can be stored dismantled in (they are shipped inside this jar) and can be used to place a dismantled airbrush in for periodic maintenance cleaning. Very handy!

This is an inexpensive tool to keep your airbrush performing at its best and to keep from inhaling excess vapors from cleaning your airbrush. If you don't mind those excess vapors, check with your spouse! This station is definitely recommended!

You can find the Iwata Airbrush Cleaning Station at your favorite hobby shop and if not, they can special order it for you. In the meantime, you can read more about these and the other cool products from Iwata by visiting their website at http://www.iwata-airbrush.com/

My sincere thanks to Iwata Media for this review sample!