Hey guys… i just wondered if anyone here uses a Dullcote/Krylon can or airbrush inside their houses, and how? I’ve thought about getting an airbrush to paint my track and help with weathering, but i’m not sure what i’d do about the exhaust and having some kind of suction/ventilation.
the same goes for krylon-ing… since i have to set my stuff outside to do it and have them dry, it keeps me from doing it as often as i would if i could just do it in my train room.
anyone? airbrushing my track just seems like suuuuuuuuuuch an easier way to go about painting it.
I paint some in my cellar,just small bursts.I wouldnt recommend any prolonged painting without proper venting.I airbrush my track indoors installed on roadbed and dont have any problems,but I only use acrylic paint(dont know how dangerous this is though).Use your head if there is a cloud of fumes get fresh air and vent the area.
Spraying a water-based acrylic is going to be healthier than using a thinner-based paint. You’d still want to wear a respirator to prevent breathing the paint particles. It’s still not that great an idea, the acrylic paint will still have a smell for a day or so, and non-acrylics are leaving you open to lung problems.
FWIW I “paint” my rails with Neo-Lube, an electrically-conductive lubricant which dries to a flat dark gray, then paint some of the ties by hand with shades of brown and gray, leaving about half black. I find it easier to do it before laying track.
I normally advocate safety and proper procedures…but I’ve been in your situation before. You should get a ventilated spray booth. However…
If your layout is near a window or windows then you have the majority of the problem solved.
In the past when I airbrushed models in my “hobby room”, I opened the window and turned on a small, cheap house fan on the lowest speed setting behind me. It worked very well in blowing the fumes gently out the window. I had a dust mist mask on.
Acrylics? YES, I strongly recommend them in a scenario like yours. Instead of using Krylon rattle cans, just get some acrylic based Flat Clear from Polly Scale or Testors and apply with your airbrush. After finishing my paint jobs, the acrylic paint smell would disappear within 10 minutes, since the fan was blowing.
BTW: Have you considered which airbrush model you’ll likely be purchasing?
Do you have access to an air compressor or CO2 cylinder for your air supply? Or will you have to make a purchase as well?
does anyone know if its okay to wash a dullcoted engine under warm water to remove more finger prints? i got a couple smudges on an engine i already krylon’d because i forgot to do some things i needed to do before i coated it. plus, i want to wash off the dust and fuzzy things that have accumulated so that I can weather the engine.
As long as the Dullcote was fully cured when you put the fingerprints on the surface, yes. You can even use a drop of Ivory Liquid or a plain, unscented soap in distilled water with a soft terry cloth towel to wipe the surface.
If you use tap water from the sink, be aware that “hardwater” can leave spots on a plastic model’s surface if not dried right away. Compressed air works great, especially for hood units. I’ve washed shells before with no adverse effects.