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Basics - Pressure, Distance, needle & clean up?

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  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Scotland
Basics - Pressure, Distance, needle & clean up?
Posted by Milairjunkie on Monday, March 9, 2009 3:08 PM

A few basic questions here. I am using Tamiya Acrylics in as H&S Infinity;

What would be the optimal pressure for general work on 1/72 A/C?

What would be the "normal" distance from brush tip > surface?

Where is best to use the 0.4mm needle set as opposed to the 0.15mm set?

I have been using the UK version of Windex (windolene?) for clean up, but it seems to be little better than water. I have used enamels before (Although not via airbrush) & would like something which will "melt" the acrylic paint away in the same way enamel thinner does it to enamels?

 

Cheers.

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Monday, March 9, 2009 5:05 PM

Air pressure doesn't relate to scale, it's the brush's ability to pickup the paint. I use a Badger 100LG, which is analagous to the Infinity, and I use between 12 to 15 psi.

My normal working distance is anywhere from 1/4" to 4" and it all depends on the area I'm painting. Average will be 1 1/2" - 2".

The differences between the needles is a matter of line thickness, the thinner the needle the thinner the line and it all depends on the operator more than the needle! I rarely think about using anything other than the medium needle in my Badger.

I don't think UK version has Ammonia, which is the vital and important ingredient. See if you can find a brand (I use one called ZEP) that has Ammonia. Failing that you can probably buy some and add it into your existing brand, about 5% will do.

So long folks!

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Scotland
Posted by Milairjunkie on Monday, March 9, 2009 5:51 PM
Thanks for that.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Southern California, USA
Posted by ABARNE on Monday, March 9, 2009 9:30 PM

 Milairjunkie wrote:
I have used enamels before (Although not via airbrush) & would like something which will "melt" the acrylic paint away in the same way enamel thinner does it to enamels?

For something even stronger than ammonia which you might need if you're cleaning your airbrush and find some cured acrylic paint in it, try Lacquer Thinner.  According to our resident chemist, the term lacquer thinner, does not imply a specific chemical formulation, and as such particularly in the UK you lacquer thinner may be entirely different than what I buy in the States.  That disclaimer aside, every comtainer of lacquer thinner that I have ever bought, was an extremely aggressive solvent, not only for enamels but acrylics as well.

Andy

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Monday, March 9, 2009 10:44 PM

 Milairjunkie wrote:
I have been using the UK version of Windex (windolene?) for clean up, but it seems to be little better than water. I have used enamels before (Although not via airbrush) & would like something which will "melt" the acrylic paint away in the same way enamel thinner does it to enamels?

For cleaning up Tamiya Acrylics, plain old Methylated Spirits  is more than adequate. It will strip 20 year old Tamiya acrylics off an old model faster you can blink. If I find that I need something a little stronger when cleaning my airbrush, just a couple of drops of lacquer thinner down the well, let it sit for a few seconds and blow it out.  

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