Dusting Minis

[Baldur8762 3000]

I have been out of the painting scene for several weeks and am now picking back up where I was.  I pulled one of my works in progress off the shelf and noticed that there is a noticeable level of dust particles on it.  Can I run it under water even though I have already painted a few layers? Any suggestions on how to clean it if not?

[Pingo 96615]

I have cleaned semi-painted minis by running them under cold water with gentle brushing with a good soft paint brush, then letting them dry.

 

If the paint is long cured, a brief rinse should not be a problem.

[OneBoot 64697]

I usually just use a clean cheap brush that's soft and fluffy and use that like a duster all over it. I did need to do a spot rinse once where a drop of something sticky got on a wing, but that didn't damage the paint at all.

 

Huzzah!        

--OneBoot :D

[LittleBluberry 25977]

I'm a terrible housekeeper and my house is very dusty.  I have a larger brush that I dust minis off with before painting them if it's been a while.  (It's a soft flat brush that's almost half an inch wide.)  I have found that when dusting my house with a damp cloth it makes the dust clump up and stick to things, which is only tolerable when wiping flat surfaces. 

 

My philosophy is that it's easier to start with a dry dusting and then work up to full washing than the other way around. 

[Gadgetman! 9230]

Not a help now, but... 

All my partially painted minis are stored in a transparent box on my desk. 

(A 6x6" square box. I stuck the lid to the desk with double-sided tape, and use the box upside down like a display case)

[Cyradis 31010]

Would compressed air (used for computer fans, keyboards) work? You'd have to hold the figure well, but it may help alleviate worries about water. 

[Gadgetman! 9230]

I wouldn't try it...  

It's very cold air and can(in addition to ripping the paint off) cause condensation.

I think... 

 

[Pingo 96615]

5 hours ago, Cyradis said:

Would compressed air (used for computer fans, keyboards) work? You'd have to hold the figure well, but it may help alleviate worries about water. 

 

Just from my (extremely limited) experience with art curation and restoration, I would go with a really soft paintbrush (like a squirrel mop) used dry if I were seriously worried about dust.  I can't think of any situation where canned air would be an improvement.

[Humansquish 2888]

Get a nice big blush brush and use that. It is very soft and won't hurt the minis.

[Cyradis 31010]

3 hours ago, Pingo said:

 

Just from my (extremely limited) experience with art curation and restoration, I would go with a really soft paintbrush (like a squirrel mop) used dry if I were seriously worried about dust.  I can't think of any situation where canned air would be an improvement.

 

My thought was that it might get the nooks and crannies well. But if it can peel paint off then it is a no-go. 

[knarthex 59005]

I use air from my air compressor, and never had a problem. ..

[DocPiske 2423]

18 hours ago, Pingo said:

I have cleaned semi-painted minis by running them under cold water with gentle brushing with a good soft paint brush, then letting them dry.

 

If the paint is long cured, a brief rinse should not be a problem.

 

What she said.

[Guildenstern 3967]

Cough

 

I use my makeup brush

 

That's about the only thing I use it for too

 

lol

 

but definitely try to keep them in containers or one of those glass cases (Ikea has one I'm eyeballing btw, if there's one near you, - Look up the Detolf)

[Doug Sundseth 35157]

IME: Water works fine. High-pressure air works fine. A soft brush works fine.

 

Painted minis are generally not all that fragile, so long as they've been painted using best practices and you don't get too extreme about what you do.

[Gadgetman! 9230]

13 hours ago, Guildenstern said:

but definitely try to keep them in containers or one of those glass cases (Ikea has one I'm eyeballing btw, if there's one near you, - Look up the Detolf)

 

Or maybe the Kasseby.