(Update) Need some knowledge mixed with some wisdom

well the overspray is probably due to the pressure you are spraying at... I usually spray at anywhere from about 18psi down to 8 or so... (I use a siphon feed airbrush, if yours is a gravity feed you could probably go down to 6 or maybe a little less for fine lines) example: for close in detail work I am sitting about 5psi maybe a hair more... with the brush about 1/2 to 3/4 inch out from the model... again if you have a gravity feed you can go in closer at a lower pressure for finer lines...

the splatter effect is probably from paint not being thinned enough, I *believe* Tamiya recommends a 3:2 mix for some of their paints... you might try that and see if it helps the spattering... the brush also might need a good cleaning, take out the needle and look at it... look for dried paint etc.. remove the head and soak it in the appropriate thinner for awhile and then use a micro brush or Qtip to work the paint out if you find some there..

you can buy a regulator at a hardware store for about 15 to 20 dollars and it will make airbrushing a while lot more enjoyable!!! if money is not an issue for only a slight bit more (30 dollars or so) you can get one from an online hobby source that is graduated in smaller increments and will do the job as well...

---edit---

also take the needle and roll it on a flat surface... if the tip of the needle looks like it is wobbling then it is bent, if it is not bad you can run your fingernail along the needle to the tip while you slowly roll it and maybe straighten it, but it is probably worth the 5 dollars or so to buy a new one...

Both of your problems are most likely caused by way too much pressure. 31 psi is just way too much air blowing out of the brush. Get a regulator as Tho recommended and cut it back around 15 to 20 psi. When doing fine line camo get the pressure as low as you can and still get good paint flow and coverage. For me that's down around 5 - 10 psi. I know that will eliminate most of the overspray and should take care of the graniness as well.

i agree, way too much pressure friend. does the compressor have a tank? i'm not sure if you can regulate an airsource without a tank and pressure switch, but i could be wrong.
the grainy finish is a combination of too much pressure and too far from the model. especially with acrylics, which dry much quicker than enamels, the paint is actually drying before it gets to the surface of the subject. i never spray over 15psi, i just thin my paint until it sprays properly at this pressure. the finer the line, the thinner the paint, the lower the pressure, the closer to the surface. later.

QUOTE: Originally posted by saltydog i agree, way too much pressure friend. does the compressor have a tank? i'm not sure if you can regulate an airsource without a tank and pressure switch

After doing some further research, the compressor I have is a Silentaire Scorpian l which has a pressure switch, but no tank. Bager sells a air regulator, filter, and gage for an air-compressor. Is there a differecne between a compressor and air-compressor?

Oh and I just bought a Badger 155 Athem, looking forward to trying it out

in this case it's one and the same.... your air compressor would work fine with the regulator and moisturer trap. just hook it up and hook your brush to the other end and you'll see an immediate difference!!!!

---edit---

you might already know, but when setting the pressures we listed above, it's done with the trigger down, as if spraying... so it ends up being your SPRAYING pressure that matters... not the overall pressure.


good luck!!

Ok thanks for the advice. I am going to take a trip to Lowes and see what kind of air regulator/filter I could buy if I don't like what I need. I may also order one (made my Badger) from Dixie Art.

Lowes has both, the regulator is graduated in 4psi increments and while it works, I eventually bought a testors pressure gauge from Hobby Lobby in 1psi increments. (you have to guestimate the pressure with the Lowe's one... not hard though)

The regulator at Lowes is about 20 dollars and it's worth the drive to Wal Mart if there is one close, the moisture trap at Wal Mart (same one as at Lowes) is 11 dollars versus like 19 at Lowes...


pick up some teflon tape while at Lowes too.. it's in the plumbing section. it costs about 96 cents and helps make it easier to thread on and helps minimize leaking from the threads. Just put a complete wrap of tape around the threads before you screw on the regulator.

You'll also need possibly 2 1/4 male to male NPT adapters... about 1.50 each at lowes. one would be to screw the moisture trap onto the regulator with, the other to screw the airbrush hose onto...

let us know how it goes!!!

yeah, a regulator should probably fix the problem

I will let you know by Monday how it goes. Hopefully it will go well.

Ok after checking out some prices and different models I desided to go with a Badger (#50-054) filter regulator. Max psi is 60 and its in increments of two, easier to adjust then a regulator that goes in increments of 5. Just to remind everyone I have a Silentaire Scorpian l which comes with a pressure switch . It will turn on when the pressure drops below 31.63 psi and then stops when it has a pressure of 45.38 psi. Nice feature to have if you do not want the compressor running continuously. I decided to leave on the pressure switch on for now. The gauge reads 45 psi when the compressor is on. I just have to decrease the pressure when I get to painting lets say about 10 psi.

I wonder if leaving the pressure switch off would harm the compressor? Any thoughts out there?

The regulator did help, now I just got to get the thinning ratios down. Are there any threads that talk about thinning ratios for various acrylic paints?

Just tried the Athem 155 airbrush and I am extremely impressed with the results . I just may have to retire my Aztek.[:0]