Airbrushing

[Gill]

Does anyone here use an airbrush?

I recently acquired a basic model and tried to airbrush the components of a segmentation project I'm working on. The force of the air was so strong that the components ended on the other side of the room :lol: !

I'm using a can of compressed air while I learn how to use the brush and I'd like to regulate the airflow so that it isn't so strong. Is there a way to do this, or would I have to get a compressor?

Any other tips on using an airbrush would also be enormously appreciated .

Gill

 

[davy_owen_88]

Axminster sell a regulator for airbrushes. You'll need to buy the relevant adaptors aswell though.

The very small compressors for airbrushes are pretty reasonably priced and pay for themselves quite quickly when you consider how much the cans of air are.

Might be worth looking into those if you get the hang of it.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-CP101-Air-Brush-Compressor-21804.htm

 

[jasonB]

The air regulator that screws onto the top of the can should be able to control the volume of air but they are a bit on/off rather than a gentle increase in airflow.

You really only need around 30psi depending on the viscosity of the liquid.

The small diaphram compressors are not nuch good for fine work as you can actually see the spray pattern change size in time with the movement of the piston. If you don't mind the noise then one of the DIY ones with a 6-10lts tank will be fine. The best option are the silent compressors that use a similar compressor to a fridge so you just get a gentle hum, machine mart do them at a reasonable price with regulator & moisture trap.

If you stick with the cans then put them in a bucket of warm water as this will stop them chilling and loosing pressure.

I've got about 4 airbrushes and having worked in an artshop know a bit about them so ask away if you need to know more.

Jason

 

[Anonymous]

Most airbrushes I have used allow one to spary almost no paint out with gentle pressure on the 'trigger' and flood the area (or blow things away) with it held fully down.

As other's say, maybe regulation is the issue

 

[Chris Knight]

Gill,
You say it's a basic model - does it have a separate control for air and fluid. Some airbrushes (Badger IIRC) have for example a little "joystick" that both depresses and pulls back - one motion for air the other for fluid.

 

[jasonB]

Chris the "down & back" movement is refered to as "double action", next one down is single action where the paint flow is adjusted by a knurled knob on the needle and the button just goes down for air. These are both found on internal mix brushes where are flows around the nozzel within the brush creating a vacuum which sucks up the paint and atomises it. The cheaper external mix ones pass air over the paint regulator again creating a vacuum and atomising the paint but you get coarser paint droplets.

Jason

 

[Chris Knight]

Jason,
Thanks. I knew there was a special name for it but had forgotten it - another senior moment!

 

[Gill]

Many thanks for the advice. I'll have to see if Santa can be persuaded to put a small compressor on the back of his sleigh for me this Christmas .

Gill

 

[seaco]

Hi Gill

Could you just clamp the air tube in some way as a temporary measure to cut the pressure?

Lee

 

[Neil]

Hi Gill,

My wife has the small compressor in Davy's post. She seems pretty pleased with it, and its nice and quiet. £10 off at the moment, too!

Cheers,
Neil

 

[engineer one]

the problem with compressors without tanks is the length of time
that you can use them before they need to be turned off and cooled
down.

as others have mentioned, go for one with a small tank it will
make usage more simple. air cans are a real pain, since they
always run out when the shops are shut.

there are adaptors for using car inner tubes, but you need a compressor
to blow them up, so go another way.

for most people the biggest problem is using paint without proper
spraying thinners which has different characteristics
than brush painting thinners. of course you can use acrylic
paints and water to thin.

with a compressor you can set the air pressure quite low which is also
useful.

basically a badger 250/ 350 type is for larger areas, whilst a 200
single action is for smaller areas, and for really fine work, i use
a 150 double action. lots of 1/43 racing cars under my air brushes. :lol:

a good mask is something called frisk, but you can use cling film
but always use low tack masking tape to ensure that you get clean
lines when you remove it.

paul :wink: