Airbrush help needed.

QUOTE: Originally posted by J-Hulk Hi, Mike. I guess the bottles I'm using are airtight, because the paint never goes bad, as I mentioned previously. I can never match the colors exactly if I have to remix, so I like having the safety net of the extra paint!

That is true if you are mixing a special tone of color. I was referring to just using any standard FS color.

Mike

Hi, Mike.
I guess the bottles I'm using are airtight, because the paint never goes bad, as I mentioned previously.
I can never match the colors exactly if I have to remix, so I like having the safety net of the extra paint!

Good advice guys. I like to use eye droppers to dispense the paint as it's easy to just put three or four eyedroppers worth of paint along with about half that much thinner, stir it, pour it into the color cup and shoot. If I need more paint I repeat the process. I don't like to mix extra because if it isn't kept airtight it goes bad quickly because of the thinner.

Mike

Good advice.
I always mix quite a bit more paint than I think I'll need, for touch ups, or repaints if catastrophe strikes. I store it in those nifty empty bottles Tamiya and Gunze sell. Even when thinned for the AB, they seem to last just fine. They separate, like any paint does, but a thorough mixing returns the status quo.

Let me preface this with: I use a Paasche H and VL (but I strongly suspect this to be true of all airbrushes). I used to have the same problem until I built and painted enough kits to realize about how much paint to use. I also got rid of my siphon bottle and went exclusively to the color cup. I found I can completely prime a 1/35 tank with the color cup about half to two-thirds full (paint + thinner). If I do have leftover paint, it's usually enough that I can dump the cup into a paper towel and not saturate it. My recommendation: Get rid of the siphon bottle, go exclusively to your color cup, and experiment and build until experience shows what's right for you.
Gip Winecoff

When I have leftover paint, I usually pour it into a clean 35mm film container, & label it. You can also use empty or old paint bottles after you clean them. If you pour the thinned paint back into the original bottle, the paint will break down. You may even be able to find small bottles at a craft store. Hope this helps, Pix.