Floquil to thinner ratio for airbrush

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Good morning,

I can not find the thinning ratio for floquil paint.I have a single action air brush which has worked well in the past.Any help here is appreciated.

Thanks,

Vince

2

Well mixed, Fresh Floquil should spray pretty easily out of an airbrush. I rarely thin it unless it’s older paint and some of the thinner has evaporated. What are you powering the airbrush with?? (please don’t say you’re buying canned air)…

3

I usually thin it 2:1 paint to thinner. This often requires a number of coats, but the color control is very good. Works real well when weathering.

4

Rolleiman,

Canned air-I don’t think so.I use a 20 gollon air compressor that shuts off at 125psi.From the compressor I connect a Foxboro instrument air regulator that I set at any pressure.When I was painting model cars I set the air at 12psi.Is this a good starting point?

Thanks,

Vince

5

Vince, That was actually kind of a gurarded joke as I know some people do use it. I typically spray floquil straight from the bottle at about 25psi in a Paashe H type airbrush (single action) but it also depends on what I’m painting… Someone above here suggested a 2:1 paint/diosol mix which is also fine and you can probably drop the pressure some with it. Too much further with thinning you won’t be spraying paint but dirty thinner. You have experience so just experiement a little and see what works for you…

6

Regarding pressure, I like to start at 5 psi, with a small compressor designed for airbrushes. I use a Paashe double action airbrush; you may find that you need different settings and thicker paint with your single action tool. The low pressure and thin paint give me good results and I don’t have trouble with my models getting blown around.

BTW, my airbrush works OK, but it’s a little more tool than model railroading calls for. There are times I wish it was a little less fine.

One last comment about thinners, When I want instant results, I use laquer thinner (it’s mostly MEK), for a little on-the-surface paint flow I use mineral spirits. Then I use a clear-coat to get the shine or lack-of-shine I’m after (usually dullcoat or semigloss laquer).

7

I agree with a previous poster that about two parts well stirred paint to one part thinner should be a good starting point. You are probably going to have to adjust though since you have a single action air brush. With A duel action you can just mash the air button all the way on and adjust the paint flow so it evaporates most of the thinner When traveling from the air brush and before hitting what you are painting.

8

The older formula did need additional thinning. I find that 2:1 worked well. Some of the new formula paints need less thinner. Using a Badger/ Blue Point (double action interal mix) and fine/ small needle 20-25 lbs gives me the best control.