Poor man's gravity feed... sort of

I've heard a couple of people do this. It's a good idea, though one that takes getting used to the trigger being underneath!

I've never quite gone that far, but when I need to paint a very small item, I will thin only a drop or two of paint in my color cup, and hold the airbrush with the trigger on the side.  With the airbrush then working more or less as a side-feed, it sprays up the barest amount of paint.

Andy

Bgrigg wrote:

...that takes getting used to the trigger being underneath!

It's actually not that bad. I wouldn't want to do a mottled camo this way, but for just hitting small parts or the inside of the fuselage of a small airplane, it worked pretty well. I'd imagine I could even touch up some camo with practice.

 

ABARNE wrote:

I've never quite gone that far, but when I need to paint a very small item, I will thin only a drop or two of paint in my color cup, and hold the airbrush with the trigger on the side.  With the airbrush then working more or less as a side-feed, it sprays up the barest amount of paint.

That's a good idea too Andy. I need to try that.

 

I wish I would have read this tip yesterday. I spent a few days painting a car body and realized the trunk lid still needed to be painted as it is a seperate piece. Of course I noticed this right after I cleaned up my airbrush after putting the final coat on. Not knowing any better I just brush painted the trunk and it's much darker than the rest of the body. Oh well, I still would have had to re-clean everything, which is the worst part of this hobby (other than those "man, did I screw up" moments).

bud156 wrote:

I wish I would have read this tip yesterday. I spent a few days painting a car body and realized the trunk lid still needed to be painted as it is a seperate piece. Of course I noticed this right after I cleaned up my airbrush after putting the final coat on. Not knowing any better I just brush painted the trunk and it's much darker than the rest of the body. Oh well, I still would have had to re-clean everything, which is the worst part of this hobby (other than those "man, did I screw up" moments).

Sorry to hear that, but can't say I haven't been there too. If it was me, I'd strip the trunk lid with some Purple Power or Brake Fluid, wash it off really good and paint it again with the airbrush. Maybe I'm just anal, but that would bother me way longer than the hassle of cleaning the airbrush would.

 

 

I do the same thing, DMK... 'Cept I just plug the hole with a piece of duct tape..

Hans von Hammer wrote:

I do the same thing, DMK... 'Cept I just plug the hole with a piece of duct tape..

So you can turn it over and hold it normally?

 This doesn't interfere with the suction and draw of the paint?

Cool trick, I found that if I wrap the air hose around my forearm a couple of times it helps to control a little better.

doc-hm3 wrote:

Cool trick, I found that if I wrap the air hose around my forearm a couple of times it helps to control a little better.

Good idea. I found the hose was getting in the way when I tried it, so I threw it over my shoulder. I'll try wrapping it around my arm next time.

dmk wrote:

Hans von Hammer wrote: I do the same thing, DMK... 'Cept I just plug the hole with a piece of duct tape.. So you can turn it over and hold it normally?  This doesn't interfere with the suction and draw of the paint?

Works fine, you can hold it normal, but you do have to "let it breath" now and again by "popping" the tape open a skosh now and then... You'll know when you need to give it a breath, cuz the paint will stop coming out..