SuperStockAndy Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Hey, I've run into yet another airbrush problem. So, I decanted some Model Master Fathom Green Metallic lacquer. I go to shoot it through my Harbor Freight double action airbrush...nothing. Just air. Fathom Green is a metallicy paint, so I'm wondering if it's just too much metalflake to shoot through my AB. However, when I shot some silver, it worked just fine... The paint's definitely not too thick, it's actually a little thin, I think. This is only my second time airbrushing a body, first one was with gloss red and it was fine Any obvious problems here? Thanks, Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Daddy Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 maybe try adjusting your airbrush so a bit more paint comes out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 It sounds like you've got the flakes jammed in there. Clean it out well. Adjust your air pressure a bit higher than normal, see if that works. If not, you might need to thin it a bit more. How large are the flakes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Steinbacher Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Obvious question and the first one I would ask anyone posing this situation to me. Double action airbrush...Are you pulling back the the control after you press it down to get air. Not meaning any insult, it is just what I would ask anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperStockAndy Posted April 6, 2012 Author Share Posted April 6, 2012 maybe try adjusting your airbrush so a bit more paint comes out Sorry, exactly how do I do that? I'm still kinda new to airbrush, so yeah. It sounds like you've got the flakes jammed in there. Clean it out well. Adjust your air pressure a bit higher than normal, see if that works. If not, you might need to thin it a bit more. How large are the flakes? I cleaned it real well after it didn't work the first time, still no luck the second. I never thought of adjusting the air pressure, thanks! Too late now, I decided screw it so I just painted it with a can, it actually came out decent Obvious question and the first one I would ask anyone posing this situation to me. Double action airbrush...Are you pulling back the the control after you press it down to get air. Not meaning any insult, it is just what I would ask anyone. Yup, I'm pulling it back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Hey, I've run into yet another airbrush problem. So, I decanted some Model Master Fathom Green Metallic lacquer. I go to shoot it through my Harbor Freight double action airbrush...nothing. Just air. Fathom Green is a metallicy paint, so I'm wondering if it's just too much metalflake to shoot through my AB. However, when I shot some silver, it worked just fine... The paint's definitely not too thick, it's actually a little thin, I think. This is only my second time airbrushing a body, first one was with gloss red and it was fine Any obvious problems here? Thanks, Andy Is it metallic or metalflake paint as there's quite a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperStockAndy Posted April 6, 2012 Author Share Posted April 6, 2012 Metallic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKcustoms Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 did you try turning up the air pressure a little bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportandmiah Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 The HF double action has a.very small tip...for lacquer metallics you just need to thin them with lacquer thinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperStockAndy Posted April 8, 2012 Author Share Posted April 8, 2012 (edited) Here's what I ended up getting Definitely my best paint job from a can. Gonna clear it and make it like a mirror Thanks everyone, I guess next time I'll turn my air pressure up. Edited April 8, 2012 by SuperStockAndy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbox55 Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 The HF double action has a.very small tip...for lacquer metallics you just need to thin them with lacquer thinner. That's the one big drawback of the HF airbrush. I have never had problems shooting metallics through them, though. Also, I agree with Dave, the MM Laquers spray very well, as do their Tamiya conterparts. I never decant them, shoot them right out of the can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinfan5 Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 That's the one big drawback of the HF airbrush. I have never had problems shooting metallics through them, though. Also, I agree with Dave, the MM Laquers spray very well, as do their Tamiya conterparts. I never decant them, shoot them right out of the can. I agree, I have tried a few times to decant MM lacquer and shoot it through my A/B, and I had to strip and redo. What I learned is you have to really thin the MM lacquer to get it to come out nice, well in my case anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustym Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I have a badger and I usually use the fine tip for most spraying, but with that paint I step up to the medium tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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