Abstract: An automatic tack-off machine comprises a generally cylindrical rotary brush for lifting dust, dirt and sanding particles from the surface of a body to be painted without contacting the surface and a control system to position the brush is spaced noncontacting relation to the surfaces to be cleaned. The brush has strands of polymeric material that are radially extended and electrostatically charged by rotation with the control system operating to position the free ends of the strands in close proximity to the body. An ionizing system neutralizes the static charge in the strands to enable a vacuum system to remove the dirt particles from the brush.