Has anyone ever tried spraying paint from a rattle can into a bottle and then using an air brush to make the application to the model? Don’t ask why I don’t want to just use the rattle can. In my opinion paint straight from the rattle can goes on too heavy and is not really appropriate for anything intricate.
Thanks
I’ve never tried it, but I expect that you’d need to thin the paint further in order to get a better finish with the airbrush.
Another problem with rattle cans is the waste inherent with them. Unless you’re spraying something larger than the can’s spray pattern, much of its output doesn’t land where it does any good. If you finish the entire can in one session or two or three with only short intervals between uses, you may get use of most of the paint in the can. Leave it for too long, though, and you’ll often discover that there’s paint remaining, but it doesn’t want to leave the can. [;)]
A bottle of paint, Testors Dullcote for example, is totally useable in your airbrush, but even if you were to use the rattle can version completely, I’d guess that the bottle will cover more area than the can. Besides that, an additional bottle of Glosscote will allow you to mix semi-gloss to whatever degree of gloss you wish - no waste.
Prpoerly stored, there is minimal waste with bottled paint. Even the stuff you’ve thinned for your airbrush but then ended-up not needing all of it for a project, can be stored for some time. Bottles also allow limitless custom colours, and leftovers from one-off jobs can either be re-tinted or simply dumped in a bottle reserved for stuff you think you’ll never use. A couple more additions and all of a sudden you’ve got paint for the backside of wheelsets, or for weathering. I almost never throw away bottled paint. So, despite the high cost of hobby paint, I think you get more for your hobby dollars using bottled paint as opposed to rattle can paint.
Wayne
If you decant the spray paint, you still have the issue of bubbles in the paint that will cause the airbrush to splatter. So, no, it is not a good idea. David B
I do this all the time when I can find the desired color in cans only. You can spray from the can into either an airbrush jar or an intermediate container from which you can then pour into the airbrush color cup or jar. To get the decanted paint to spray smoothly, add a small amount of thinner (the amount will vary by brand of paint and airbrush, so experiment). So treated, decanted spray paint has worked as well for me as anything else intended for airbrush use.
Done it numerous times myself. The trick to decanting the paint from your spray can to your airbrush bottle is a large drinking straw.
Every so often you find a can of spray paint that is exactly what you want to use on you model. Unfortunately, most spray cans have a nozzle suited for spraying the side of your house ! The simplest answer is to decant the paint from the spray can so you can use it in your airbrush.
I’ve read on a couple occasions of people holding the can upside down and spraying out all the propellant, then punching a hole in the side and draining out the paint. I DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING THIS !!! …
I’ve done this too, but I picked up some good advice here. And a good LAFF[(-D]
I really have nothing to add…other than agree with, Wayne and David B. posts.
And Mark need’s to add some Yellow and maybe Purple, to His new body suit. [(-D]
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
One of the reasons I use Tamiya spray can paint - besides the fact that their nozzles produce a much finer spray than hardware store ‘rattle cans’ do - is that you can buy matching paint in small or medium sized jars for touch-ups.
I rattle can my track but since switch parts are protected and needed touch up brushing, I found I can spray into a bottle and add some thinner so I am sure if you add the right amount of thinner, it can be sprayed.
14:42:00
So, okay, I don’t get it.
Oh, never mind. I get it now.