Thinking about downgrading my compressor.

Gill · 22 Apr 2009

Well, you live and learn...

I just filled a small cup with some water and found that pressing the trigger releases it into the airflow. So you are right, Chems

. Thanks for your help - as I said before, I'm a complete novice with airbrushes and the instructions which come with the kit are no help whatsoever.

The next step is to try to brush with paint. The advertising blurb says the airbrush will cope with acrylic paint and I've got lots of that. However, I have heard that paints designed specifically for airbrushes are available. Would it be wiser to use airbrush paint instead of acrylic?

Gill

matt · 22 Apr 2009

Just outta interest... What is practical these days with regard to spraying?

I've no idea about the benefits of HVLP over well, erm, non-HVLP. I would like to be able to spray varnish and paint though cos I hate brushing (so boring). What I don't want, though, is a myriad of complications and dodgy finishes.

Also... I have a garage in which I could set up a temp spray booth with some plastic etc but is this good enough? (i.e. I've seen reference to extractors and all sorts of extras).

Chems · 22 Apr 2009

I bought a cheap HVLP system recently, its been great. But learning what you can and can't do with it is a pain. So I bough a book, Spraying Finish by Andy Charron, its not massively indepth as a lot of websites are but gives enough of an overview to get you started and troubleshooting on bits that are going wrong. I'd highly recommend it and I bought it for under £13 if I remember.

laird · 22 Apr 2009

Glad you got sorted Gill. I've only used spray guns (cars, walls, etc.) and airbrushes (fine car work, makeup - theatrical, not mine :shock: ) never HVLP. All the brushes I've used have paint and air volume adjusters on the gun. The knob at the compressor end of the airline adjusts the incoming pressure (usually if the luvie doesn't scream when you point it at them it's about right) and the gun adjusters fine tune, for different paints, spray patterns etc. The better dual function guns give you air and paint control on the trigger. Pull for air, push in for paint sort of thing.
They're fun. Enjoy.