Intersting observation - X20A and the airbrush

[archreptile]

Seems everyone is airbrushing these days. I've used tamiya and GW paints thinned with X20A in the aztek airbrush for a while for basecoating with little incident (I actually thought I was getting the hang of it).
After seeing Blackadders sterling work I bought a decent infinity airbrush and decided to give it a proper go. Note I still have a pretty crappy (mainly crappy in that I cant adjust PSI, its fixed at 30 or I can use a "bleed" valve that slowly lowers the PSI but it isnt regulated) compressor.
Anyway, also got some new scale color paints and proper airbrush medium. Twas a disaster. When the brush wasnt blocking it was shooting spiders faster than anything.
Read a bit more, youtubed a bit more and aside from some recommendations to avoid vallejo with tamiya X20A (forms a gummy gunk) most people suggested water so another few sessions devoted to water thinning with the same result.
Now I understand part of the problem is the higher pressure causing spiders especially if paint is thinned too much but its just dramtically worse than what I've become used to.
Last night I had a quick session and used good old X20A again and although the results weren't great they were streets ahead of what I've been seeing with airbrush medium and water.
While I suspect that experts have little problem with whatever they use and novices battle with even the best setups, has anyone else experienced this?
One video I watched expressly forbid X20A (alcohol) as it increased drying time but I suspect that is what is actually helping me.

 

[gohkm]

Yes, I have had poor results mixing Vallejo and X-20A.

I just dilute Vallejo with plain water now. The results aren't quite as good as my usual mix of X-20A with P3 paints, and aren't anywhere close to VMA, but are serviceable, especially since I always finish up with brush work.

 

[Ritual]

Sounds to me like you need to invest in a better compressor. Being able to adjust air pressure is a feature I simply couldn't live without!

 

[MAXXxxx]

I can second gokhm's experience with X20A vs Vallejo. The Vallejo Thinner + Vallejo works great though.

As I see you have 2 problems:
- compressor: it really is worth to invest in a good one. As seen on youtube (buypainted's channel): the AB is almost irrelevant for most of us as long as it is a double-action. A cheap noname will do just fine 90% of the time (priming, basecolor, basic preshading), but a good compressor is a must. Btw that 30psi can be adjusted a little with a double-action AB, by not opening the airflow all up, just a little.

- overthinning. Spiders are a sign that the paint you use is diluted too much for the PSI you use. With higher psi you can spray a bit thicker paints, but there is a limit, where it dries on the needle, so it can't be too thick.

 

[Kretcher]

I have looked around a lot regarding aribrush since I want too buy one and from the information that I have seen I agree with ritual a good compressor seems too be important, actually more important when one might think in the beginning. I am still looking and haven´t decided on what to buy thou...

I hope that you will get better result in the future with your setup.

/K

 

[archreptile]

Yip it seems the compressor is an issue, have my eye on a proper eurotek for the near future.
Just thought it was interesting. I think whats happening is that the paint is too thin for the fixed PSI but if I make the paint any thicker it blocks up. I'm sure I'm missing the "thickness sweet spot" but that means getting the right consistency is really really tough. I think using X20A is allowing me to thin the paints more as it dries faster out of the needle thereeby causing less spidering. With a decent compressor I'll try again with water.
P.S. X20A with GW and scale colour is fine. Just dont then mix with water as well - goop is a result

 

[Kretcher]

Yeah also thinking about a eurotek or Sil Air.

 

[boubi]

I personally use a mix for my airbrush thinner, something like 80% water, 15% Vallejo airbrush thinner, 5% Mr hobby paint thinner. The last one just melt everything down... so I just put a bit of this in the mix! This is working perfectly for me, so far with any paints, Scale75, GW, AV, etc...

 

[archreptile]

Crikey, Mr Hobby is a type of lacquer thinner. I might try a mix like this...
Oh and kretcher if you're looking at eurotek and can afford sil air then have a look at the sparmax 610. I think I've changed my mind about eurotek

 

[denstore]

If money is an object, and your compressor works fine, try to get a a tank with a pressure switch and a regulator, and your setup will work a lot better.