When I use the airbrush the paint starts to flow ok if I stop for a second it won’t flow unless I keep opening the needle more. I am using acrylic water based paint and I clean the brush after each use. any help rambo1…
You’ve discovered one of the minuses of using acrylic water based paints - they dry very quickly. This is the primary reason I don’t like using them unless absolutely necessary.
[#ditto] Try a larger tip. Thinning the paint a bit more might help too.
Acrylic paints work just fine, I’ve been using them for over 10 years with no problems and they don’t dry that fast! There is usually a problem with setup or operator error, it’s not the fault of the paint. Don’t blame the tool if you can’t make the adjustment.
What paint are you using? Is it thin enough to run through the tip? Which tip are you using?
I have the same problem if I do not strain the paint before using it in the airbrush. I simply use a pair of panty hose as a paint filter. My experence, which isn’t much, is to make the paint about the same consistancy as milk and use a fine filter. Try it and see if it is any better. Mike
Yup. As the others have said either the tip is not big enough, the paint isn’t thinned enough, the air pressure isn’t proper, or it has clumps in it and needs straining. Personally, I thin acrylics with 50% alcohol. One must immediately use all the paint so thinned. Alcohol will evaporate very quickly exposed to the air, but will ruin many acrylic paints if the mixture is allowed to sit around.
All the advice so far is good. In addition, the air pressure should be around 20-30 psi. Are you using a compressor? While modelflex paints are supposed to be airbrush ready, depending on how long the paint was on the shelf, the paint could have thinkened some and might need to be thinned back down to whole milk consistency. PolyScale and all the craft paints must be thinned
As a thinner I recommend a 80/20 mix of distilled water/isopropl alcohol, you can adjust for more alcohol as you gain more experience, (the more alcohol, the faster the paint dries).
You should be using a medium or #3 tip and needle or cone depending on your brand/model.
Thorough mixing and straining is a must with acylic paint (actually all paint). Stockings work great.
I find using a paint cup easier (and there’s less to clean) than the paint bottles and siphons etc. Use a clean bottle to strain the paint into and then pour into the paint cup if you decide to try the cup.
I keep a stiff wire brush handy to scrubb off buildup on the tip.