Airbrush basics?

[Harvezter]

Hello All,

I've been trying to do some airbrushing on the model I am working on at the moment. Its the first I have done in years. I have found that I only need small amounts of paint to do most of what I am doing. I have a badger pressure fed brush and I hate the fact that I seem to waste paint when i thin it in a seperate cup. Also, I find that I make a mess no matter how hard I try. Fortunately I am using acrylics (model master and tamiya) so I can wash up with water and soap. Which reminds me, I read somewhere that acrylics are actually harder to airbrush? is this true? ANd last but not least, somewhere I read that thinning the acrylic with iso alchohol is good. My brush seems to clog and spit though at times, and the paint seems to dry up pretty quick.. is it because of teh alchohol?

Sorry for the jumble above.. Any help at all in the airbrushing dept. would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Jared

Oh by the way, does anyone happen to know where I can find an inexpensive gravity feed airbrush? Single or dual action... doesnt matter to me at the moment (unless you recommend one over the other)

[MrObsessive]

Jared, you don't say what type of compressor you're using............I use acrylics almost exclusively for interiors and always have used an airbrush. The airbrush I've used for the last 12 years or so is a Badger Crescendo which uses an internal mix.

I use an Paasche compressor which is set to about 20-25 PSI for all airbrushing. Acrylics need a bit higher pressure to push through the airbrush, so I don't think it's the alcohol that's causing the problem.

As far as the alcohol's concerned................Tamiya flat acrylics seem to not have a problem with iso alcohol. However, in the past I have had a problem with their glosses unless you use their thinner.

This is especially true if you plan to use their glosscoat. Fisheyes can result if you use anything else but their thinner...........at least that's what my experience has been.

When you mix the paint, you want it to have the consistency of milk.........sounds kinda trite, but it works. Too thin of a mixture will cause the paint to dry out quickly or runs.............too thick of a paint can lead to the paint not atomizing properly out of the airbrush, causing clogs and spitting, not to mention the dreaded orange peel.

If you're familiar with the rules of airbrushing...............always start the airbrush before your work..............paint past your work and never stop the airbrush on it! That will always lead to a blob on your model! :shock:

Hope all this info helps!

[Harvezter]

Thank you Bill for the advice and information.

Im using a Campbell Hausfield compressor. I think I see one of my problems already, thanks to you. I have only been using about 15 - 17psi.

This may sound like a silly question but... how do you recommend getting the paint from the jar to the airbrush? Do you mix in a seperate "cup" and then just pour from cup to airbrush? Thats what I have been doing but I seem to create a mess always lol I guess i may just need to be more patient and get more practice.

Jared

[MrObsessive]

Jared, you can make a temporary "funnel" out of newspaper------or do what I did and buy a stack of snow cone cups off eBay. "Snow Cones" are those things you see at the amusement park or wherever they sell flavored ice.

Cut the tip off the snow cone, tape the cone to your airbrush jar, and then spray your can directly into the "funnel" which will run into your airbrush jar. The same can be done with newspaper, 'cept that newspaper is so tall, you have to be careful it doesn't tip over your jar.

When the paint dries up a bit in the funnel simply throw it out.

This makes everything nice and neat and you won't have messy paint dripping and running from one jar to another! :wink:

Edit: Jared, here's a pic of the snow cone cup I used as a funnel behind the can of primer........

Hope this helps out!

[Harvezter]

I'm mostly using Model Master acrylics. I have some Tamiya but havent sprayed (or even opened) them yet.

I am so frustrated here tonight. I am building a model and decided it was time to primer some of the pieces. I used Model Master Grey Primer (acrylic) I thinned it to what seemed to be a milk like consistency with iso alchohol. I started spraying and it seemed fine at first... moments after starting (60 - 90 secs) the flow slowed down and noticed some spits... come to find out, the paint seems to be drying and clogging my brush. It seems to do it so fast. I kept trying to clean the brush and then continue to paint but soon as Id have it clean.,.. 60 secs later it was clogged again. Finally I put everything away fro the night assuming either I am doing something wrong or the dual action brush I got from Airbrush City is a piece of garbage. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Is it the alchohol thats causing the rapic cloggin? The arbush itself? Or something that I am doing (I wouldnt be surprised if this was the case, Im pretty new to this stuff but determined to learn)

Thank you, Jared

[MrObsessive]

Jared, I don't know what to tell you, 'cept to say that the problem may be the alcohol is not compatible with the Model Master Acryl paints.

I have some of the MM Acryls and here's what they state:

"If needed thin with Acryl Thinner #50496. If paint dries in airbrush or on tools, clean immediately with Acryl Cleaner #50498

I would highly recommend that those instructions be followed..........seems as though the paint is not formulated to accept any other thinner except theirs!

Just like Tamiya Acrylics, I guess they wanna make money off their thinners as well as their paints!

Lemme know if this works out for you..........Don't give up! :wink:

[Harvezter]

Thank you for the advice I went out and bought some MM acrylic thinner. I plan on giving it a go shortly

Also while at the hobby store, the owner was speaking to me about compressors and he said that some compressors, while they have the PSI they actually lack the CFM (volume) to properly operate the airbrush. It made sense to me but who am I to know for sure. Have any of you heard of this?

[Harvezter]

Welp, I broke down and returned my compressor to Wal-mart and ordered a Paasche D500SR compressor. I cant wait until it get's here. I'm told it will make a difference compared to the Campbell Hausfield. I'm hoping so.

[slotbaker]

Interesting thread here guys. Hope you don't mind if I add a query.

I'm just starting out with this as well, so I've got a lot to learn.

What difference does the compressor make? :?

I plan on using a small industrial job that has plenty of pressure and volume, but regulating it down to required pressure plus oil and water trap.

I've read where some people use converted fridge compressors, so there must be quite a wide range of compressors that can be used for airbrushing.

[MrObsessive]

Steve, the way the air gets to the airbrush doesn't matter to the paint.............its how much pressure it can put out at any given moment. I had years ago one of those Badger Whirlwind compressors (do they still make those :?), but couldn't figure out at the time why I couldn't airbrush certain types of paint.

Turns out that the Badger was only putting out something like 10 PSI where I needed 20 or better. I found this out by doing a test and reading an issue of SA(E) when they did a test of different compressors.

Some guys use an airtank........because they can only paint at night and the wife and kids don't like the noise, or the neighbors complain if you live in an apartment. Airtanks are great if you have somewhere to fill them up............but I'd imagine they're mighty heavy to have to lug around! :shock:

My Paasche's been going strong for 10+ years now..............I recommend them for someone looking for an inexpensive compressor.

[monsterman]

Great reads guys since I am in the market for an airbrush/setup