I just bought an airbrush kit and being a novice i’d like to ask a few questions
1…What is the best acrylic paint to use?
2…What is the best thinning ratio and can i use plain water to thin down paint
3…For general painting what is the best pressure setting
Thanks
These are questions that if you ask them to a hundred people, you’ll get a hundred answers.
I don’t use acrylics myself. I use flat latex that I can get at Wal-Mart. I can use plain water to thin it as much as I need to. I keep the regulator on my compressor set at 28 psi.
You asked, those are my answers.
I use mostly PollyScale acrylics thinned a little bit with distilled water. I dont have a ratio for how much I thin it, just until it seems about right. If you live in an area with soft water or have a water softener you could probably use water from the tap, I use distilled because the water here has tons of calcium and lime which could build up in the airbrush. I usually use from 20-40psi, depends on what and how I want to paint.
A couple tips:
Get a compressor with a tank, it will not pulse like a tankless compressor and you can run the airbrush for quite a while without the noisy compressor motor going. My compressor has a 2 gallon tank and the pressure is fully adjustable from 0-135psi. It cost $100 at Lowes.
Also get a water trap, a single drop of water through the air line can ruin an entire paint job. Its especially important where I live since humidity is often pretty high.
Many thanks for the info.A can of compressed air came with the kit but i guess this would’nt last very long so i’ll invest in one of tank compressors
My airbrush is an Aztek single action external mix. It came with one of those cans. I read the label, it said "PROPANE PROPELLANT". I tossed it out with all due haste.
that “Propane Propellant” is the same stuff that they use in those “Air” dusters for computers/electronics. DO NOT turn it upside down and spray it… all that comes out is a REALLY REALLY cold*, white jet of the stuff, although i bet it would make for a decent steam effect for a photo if you could get the pressure and the volume of the stuff down to a more realistic looking level (otherwise the jet will completely obscure the loco you’re trying to take a picture of…)
*It’ll leave FROST on whatever you spray, even if it’s 90º outside - i did that on a block of wood…
Hello All,
New here, hope I can learn a few things…
Interesting comment on using latex paint. I’m just starting to research air-brusing and am currently looking at a IWATA Power Jet Compressor. Everyone I’ve talked to says to get an air tank and I’m always one for getting good quality tools… Anyone had any experience with 'em?
LAte,
Loco
done the air tank thing. it works well enough. got a compressor with a air tank, works even better. gives steady pressure all the time and dont have to take it anywhere to fill it.
I used to use a tank before I decided I needed to drop $100 on a compressor. It works OK for small jobs, but there is nothing worse than running out of air in the middle of a coat of paint. Also remember to save a little air for cleaning the airbrush. The biggest pain was that I had to drive to a gas station to get it filled, IMO, cough up the extra $60 for a real compressor, it is MUCH more convenient.