first spray with enamel with laquer thinner - question

[foxbat426]

i did my first spray with enamel/laquer thinner on a 73 duster today. after the first light dustings the paint seems very dry. you can run your finger across the body and it almost feels like dust is coming off. is this normal? as i build the paint up will it get better. i'm using testor's enamel yellow mixed with laquer thinner - 2:1 ratio paint to thinner.

one thing i hace noticed is that It does spray on nice and easier to control out of an air brush than acrylic paint -

thx, john

Edited December 4, 2011 by foxbat426

[Chief Joseph]

Hi John,

You might be spraying a little too far away from the body for the tip size that you're using in your airbrush. Or your air pressure may be a little too high for your setup. There are a lot of variables at play. Donn Yost's method teaches to spray at 32psi with a Paasche H-5 airbrush (a big tip size; about the biggest airbrush tip you'll find) at anywhere from 2 to 6 inches from the surface. I'm sure Donn could tell you more, but I'd recommend just following through and seeing what happens as you continue to spray. Then you can adjust your method to fix the problems that you find. You can always strip the body and repaint since the enamel/lacquer mix is very forgiving.

Edited December 4, 2011 by Chief Joseph

[Scale-Master]

Sounds like you are putting it on too dry.

2 parts paint to 1 part thinner might be a bit on thick side. The ratio is a rule of thumb, not a hard and fast rule.

[LoneWolf15]

John ,

You are spraying too far away from the body , move in closer with the airbrush . Wet sand the body back down and start over , this time with closer sweeps of the airbrush !

[Chuck Most]

That's one of the first things you'll find out when going from spray can to airbrush... unlike with the can, you SHOULD get in nice and close with the airbrush. I had the same thing happen the first time I tried out an airbrush, bringing it closer to what I was painting (about 4 to 6" away) helped get me in the ballpark.

[walt francis]

Ditto on what everyone has said about geting closer but i run my pressure about 15 to 20 and slow down my motion more.