Airbrush working

Do you have a water trap anywhere on your line? water getting into your air mix can cause alot of unwanted problems.

Just wanted to note that I finally had a chance to airbrush same Tamiya acrylic. (XF-3, yellow, I believe).

Your advice was all spot on. Sprays like a dream!

NNTR, just following up, and thanks again.

If your single action (or double action) is drawing for a jar, make certain the vent hole in the cap is open, they do get plugged with paint at times. On your air compressor are you setting the pressure at 20 before spraying or do you adjust it to 20 with the air brush open. Most small regulators will not hold the set pressure with the air brush wide open. It's best to open the air valve on the airbrush then set the regulator to the pressure you want.

Baron, thanks for chiming in and confirming. I am very glad the info was wrong and very much looking fwd to some testing and learning.

Greg

I had read recently somewhere that Tamiya acrylics don't airbrush well. I was actually planning on moving towards Tamiya acrylics and found this rather disappointing.

I take it, then, that this was bad information?

Second the Doog and the others, that was incorrect info.  Tamiya acrylics are formulated for airbrushing, which is probably why they don't hand-brush that well.  I use Tamiya's proprietary acrylic thinner, for either application.

Bearcat, that is possible. I have been known to read things backwards from time to time. Thank you for reply and info.

Doog, very much appreciate your comprehensive explanation. Printing that one for reference. Have two new jars I haven't gotten to yet, so one of today's adventures will be some experimentation for sure. Thanks again for your great tips and advice!

Greg

I had read recently somewhere that Tamiya acrylics don't airbrush well. I was actually planning on moving towards Tamiya acrylics and found this rather disappointing.

I take it, then, that this was bad information?

They CAN be used to brush-paint, but you must keep them "wet"; thin them with a bit of water, and dip your brush in water every now and then, or--better yet--their thinner, or some isopropyl alcohol. If you don't apply them this way they start to dry very quickly--they start to "clump" and you get wicked brush marks. The best way to see this is simply get a bottle and experiment. You can learn their characteristics within a very short time.

I had read recently somewhere that Tamiya acrylics don't airbrush well. I was actually planning on moving towards Tamiya acrylics and found this rather disappointing.

I take it, then, that this was bad information?

Vallejos are notorious for drying too quickly when airbrushing. You really should try to use Tamiya for airbrushing, Vallejo for brushing.

I recommend soaking your head in lacquer cleaner--the airbrush head, not your real head! There's a vacuum principle at work in the paint feed, and here's a small air hole in your head that can get cloggd and so reduce the vacuum pump effect. Lacquer cleaner will clean out your head.

Also, make sure you have the Teflon washer on the head where it screws into the body.

Soak your paint cup in lacquer thinner as well. It's possible that the dried V paint in the stem may have narrowed the air flow passage.

There is a whole forum about painting and airbrushes.  There are continuing discussions on many of the topics that you mention.  I think anyone that does airbrushing should touch base with that forum periodically.

you're welcome, and model air comes in most of the same colors, not all.

Yes I do dismantle the airbrush after each use.  i will strart trying vallejo air, for a change instead of the regular vallejo paint.  

I'm guessing that they come in all the same colors as their regular line of paints?

Yes im using their thinner and cleanner both.

thanks for the information.

Kevin

Fullmetal,

1. an air compressor should be an air compressor, if it's delivering the pressure it SHOULD be ok.

2. good pressure to work at.  What's the viscosity of your paint like?  Is it thin enough for 20 psi?

3. do you ever dismantle for cleaning?  do you ever clean the air outlet on the single action?  I find mine chokes up sometimes.

4. which Vallejo acryls?  Model Air, Model Color?  Model Color is quite thick and should be thinned for airbrushing, while Model Air can be sprayed as is.  What are you using for a thinner?  Alcohol is a no no with Vallejo.

5. again, which thinner?

in general, it sounds like your paint is too thick if it doesn't want to pull.  I have a really cheap single action ($30) and it works fine, then a very expensive double action which requires as much attention as cheaper double actions.  

For Vallejo paints, I strongly recommend using their proprietary thinners, and their airbrush cleaner if you're not doing so already.  Their cleaner is amazing.  If you're trying to spray model color, I recommend giving model air a try, or at least thinning a fair bit (same for their panzer aces line).

Hope that helps.