SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Thinning problems with Airbrushing

1414 views
10 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2021
  • From: Somewhere near Chicago
Thinning problems with Airbrushing
Posted by Teenage Modeler on Thursday, June 24, 2021 4:17 PM

I had some Tamiya X-1, and airbrushed it. I tried getting a good 50/50 ratio between the paint and the thinner as a starting point. When it sprayed, the paint looked pebbly and grainy when I sprayed onto a test piece (too much paint). I added some more thinner, and it was pooling when I was spraying it (too much thinner). I tried to go in between, and what I got was not an even spray, but a mix between the two.

 

If you are confused (I am as well), it basically sprays like it would when there is too little thinner (pebbly look), but it also pools (too much paint). It sprays pebbly and it pools.

 

I never experienced something like this. Does anyone know what this means?

 

Tamiya X-1 Gloss Black

Tamiya X-20A Thinner

20 PSI

2 inches away

Made you Look

 

  • Member since
    April 2021
Posted by Cafguy on Thursday, June 24, 2021 4:34 PM

I am not a pro but when I spray tamiya paints 35 percent thinner works for me There are alot of variables heat humidity etc... I am getting better at painting working with water bottlles (free substrate) but No one can really give you an exact Ratio It is kinda learning curve. all I can advise is don't use your model to experiment on use plastic silverwear or water bottles to find what works best for you. also what P.S.I. are you spraying, I myself like around 9or 10 for Tamiya seems to spread very nice for me you should experiment and see what works best in your enviroment. 20P.S.I. is pretty harsh for tamiya paint that is pretty much what I spray Vallejo Model Color at and I would reduce that if I could manage the dry tip thing any better. I tend to spray around 6 inches away from my model but that is not a hard and fast rule It just works for me

Life tip:  Skip marrage: find the women you hate the most and buy her a house and car.

  • Member since
    February 2021
Posted by MJY65 on Thursday, June 24, 2021 5:44 PM

20 PSI is too high for a 50/50 mix.   I rarely go above 15 for anything other than a thick primer.  

  • Member since
    January 2021
  • From: Somewhere near Chicago
Posted by Teenage Modeler on Thursday, June 24, 2021 6:42 PM

I spray at 16 PSI.

Made you Look

 

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Thursday, June 24, 2021 6:52 PM

If you're getting dry, pebbly at each end of your pass, and pooling in the middle, I suspect you're making a sweeping motion.  Further away at each end and closer in the middle.  Try to keep the same distance from gun to piece for the entire length of the piece.

If you are using, say a water bottle, spray lengthwise rather than across the bottle standing upright.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Friday, June 25, 2021 7:44 AM

MJY65

20 PSI is too high for a 50/50 mix... 

I wouldn't say that that is an absolute.  I spray at 20 psi, and I spray Tamiya acrylics thinned 50/50 paint to thinner.  I have no problems with those parameters.

 

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2021
Posted by MJY65 on Friday, June 25, 2021 7:56 AM

the Baron

 

 
MJY65

20 PSI is too high for a 50/50 mix... 

 

 

I wouldn't say that that is an absolute.  I spray at 20 psi, and I spray Tamiya acrylics thinned 50/50 paint to thinner.  I have no problems with those parameters.

 

 

 

You're right.  I should have added: IMO.  Too many variables for absolutes.  Airbrush, needle size, gauge accuracy, etc.  

  • Member since
    November 2018
Posted by oldermodelguy on Friday, June 25, 2021 10:44 AM

I suspect it has more to do with flow rate and pass execution than exact mix ratio and air pressure. Also what airbrush and tip size is not mentioned. Nor

air temp and humidity.

 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Friday, June 25, 2021 1:08 PM

oldermodelguy

I suspect it has more to do with flow rate and pass execution than exact mix ratio and air pressure. Also what airbrush and tip size is not mentioned. Nor

air temp and humidity. 

Yes

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2021
  • From: Somewhere near Chicago
Posted by Teenage Modeler on Friday, June 25, 2021 6:49 PM

oldermodelguy

I suspect it has more to do with flow rate and pass execution than exact mix ratio and air pressure. Also what airbrush and tip size is not mentioned. Nor

air temp and humidity.

 

 

I have 0.3 mm nozzle. Side feed.

Made you Look

 

  • Member since
    November 2018
Posted by oldermodelguy on Saturday, June 26, 2021 1:56 PM

I wouldn't expect anything too out of the ordinary from that. Your X-1 hasn't thickened up in the bottle by chance has it ? This can happen if it's getting old or if you do a lot of brush painting from the bottle leaving the lid off for extended periods. The solvents evaporate out.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.