Airbrush Question

[RuneBrush]

I\'ve just been airbrushing what I still intend to take with me as this years golden demon entry and have a small question for anybody who knows. What I\'ve been finding is that the needle on my airbrush needs wiping clean fairly regularly. Basically it\'s just a matter of carefully using a bit of kitchen towel (or your finger), to wipe the build up of paint off the tip of the needle and then it\'s good to go. Am I doing something wrong or is this normal?

cheers in advance

pete

 

[airhead]

Normal. You can grow your pinky nail out long and use it (and also look like a coke head....)

I use the Q-tips (cotton buds) that come on the hollow blue plastic tube. Dip them in cleaner and carefully place the needle through the bud into the plastic tube, spin and remove, clean needle and tip.

What paint are you using? Acrylics are the worst (GW, Vellajo, etc.). A bit of retarder in your magic wash will help.

Another thing is are you leaving the air on before and after you pull back for paint? That also minimizes buildup.

Have you filtered your paint before using it? Little hard bits will stick to the needle and cause odd patterns.

 

[Einion]

I use a solvent-dampened brush (a stiff synthetic round) to help keep the tip of the needle clear of buildup.

Einion

 

[RuneBrush]

Cool thanks both. I was slightly concerned that I was doing something wrong, which it appears that I\'m not . It\'s GW paints thinned with screenwash. I think that today I\'ve managed to only release the air before the paint once - not bad for 4 hours worth of airbrushing, practice does indeed help! I\'d not filtered this lot of paint either - it may be worth trying to remember to do it for future runs.

ttfn

pete

 

[airhead]

My favorite paint uses snap tops similar to these:

Remove the top from the bottle of paint. Take a piece of the wife\'s old pantyhose and stretch it across the opening. Put bottle top back on.

Now, you\'ll filter the paint as you dispense.

This is a one-day / one-shot deal. the paint dries in the hose weave and has to be replaced the next day\'s use.

 

[freakinacage]

good tips!

i have just bought an iwata tr1 to play with. tips like that are what i need to get going!