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the Airbrush or the compressor?

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  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: On the way to AC+793888
the Airbrush or the compressor?
Posted by lolok on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 8:27 AM
From reading the topics here I have a few questions. The needle size does not affect the size of line you get,fine needle does not give fine line...correct?
It seems that the pressure you shoot with is more important but without a pressure reg' your kind of limited...correct? Plus of course the thinness of your paint mix.....correct?
I have the Passche VL set with F/M/L needles and a small compressor with max pressure of 3.3 bar.It does have a water trap though and I have found that opening the valve by increments gives me some control over shooting pressure,not an exact science but by testing first I can get a fairly thin line.good enough for 48th/35th but not 72nd.Any more I could do? What does 3.3 bar translate as in PSI?
Jim Ryan Ex-Pat Limey in warsaw.Poland. " MENE,MENE,TEKEL U PHARSIN"
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Lower Alabama
Posted by saltydog on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 8:56 AM
if you have the Paasche VL i'd say that the needle/tip size you'd have the best results with in modelling would be the #3. its been a really long time since i've used a VL, so don't quote me on that. a fine line results when you get these 4 things lined up correctly, determining the correct tip and needle size, the viscosity of your paint in relation to the size of your needle/tip, low airpressure, and the distance between your airbrush and the surface of the subject. all of these factors must be experimented with in order to find the right combination for you and your airbrush. i use the iwata hp-cs which has a .35mm needle/nozzle size, i thin my paint about 60%thinner and 40% paint when doing fine lines, my airpressure is around 8lbs and i'm in really close to the subject, i'd say inside of a 1/4 of an inch or so.

airprressure is going to play a big role in the fine line. frustration will set in quickly without being able to control your pressure. good luck. later.
Chris The Origins of Murphy's Law: "In the begginning there was nothing, and it exploded."!!! _________ chris
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 5:15 PM
3.3bar translates to about 48psi ... hmmm you probably aren't seeing it on the airbrush end or you'd have trouble getting fine lines at all... of course unscrewing your water trap might be doing the trick for ya...

it's a worthwhile investment for a pressure regulator. In the US they are about 20dollars... you can get them at hardware stores with the regular aircompressors for industrial nail guns and such...
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 9:25 PM
I agree with SaltyDog's answer.
Well said my friend. Big Smile [:D]

Mike

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    February 2003
Posted by kaimuki21 on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 9:44 PM
Wow, all this time I used my VL with the #1 tip and couldn't get the results I'd imagined. Bought a HP-CS and it's just beautiful. Now I'm wondering how the VL would be with the #3.
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