Airbrushing gloss/matt varnish?

[verpine]

Hey b&c,

 

I recently got an airbrush (iwata hp-cs, no cheapo) and I was wondering how you would thin gloss/matt varnish to spray through it? To thin paint, I use a mix of distilled water and Liquitex flow aid, so would it be different for varnish, since varnish is.... not paint?

 

thanks!

[Vindicatus]

I haven't had the need to thin my varnish when I use it, as it's generally a little more liquid than paint is. However...when you airbrush on varnish, after finishing, IMMEDIATELY strip it, blast it with hot water, and clean the insides as thoroughly as you can. I airbrushed on some varnish onto a few models and left it overnight because I was too tired; the next day, it was completely stopped up, and I had to spend about two hours with a needle pulling at the insides of the nose cup to peel out all the layered on varnish to get paint to flow again.

[Tanhausen]

Windowcleaner (as a generic) is what I use to thin my paints and works perfectly instead of water.

 

As for varnish, I'd go along with what vindicatus says and if you REALLY need to thin it, don't do so too much.

 

Regarding the stripping, if you have a hard time with the airbrush, get some alcohol (cheap normal works ok, isopropyl alcohol is a bit more expensive but is AWESOME), throw the AB in for a couple hours and it should unclog anything short of having melted the AB :lol:

 

Hope it helps!

[verpine]

Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it.

 

Another question: What about citadel washes? Do you thin those?

[Vindicatus]

It depends on what you thin it with, since you'll get slightly different effects. Water will just make it more runny and well..thin. Floor wax (like I use) makes it run really well, but has a weird sort of tacky feel to it.

 

I actually have two pots of each wash; one thinned with floor wax, one not. Unthinned works if I need to just slather it on, but for detail work, I like the other stuff.