LokisSword Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Hey all, Last night I got out my airbrush that my wife bought me as a gift a few years ago. I'd used it once to do some base coating, but fancied trying my hand at something more advanced. It is a single action brush with a max PSI from the compressor of 15psi. I got some ok results (paint going where I want!), but the paint was pretty speckley. What psi do people tend to use when running acrylics - just a ballpark figure as I know it varies with paint, viscosity and what you are doing. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacinda Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 With my Iwata I run 5 to 10 psi MOST of the time. Depends on the tip size, paint and what I'm doing. I also have an older single action bottom feed Badger I use for base coating large models and sometimes varnishing but it needs about 20 to 25 psi to draw the paint. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4022987 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olis Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Speckly paint, eh? Sounds like the thing might need a good clean on the inside, maybe. When did you dismantle it last, brother? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4023000 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LokisSword Posted April 28, 2015 Author Share Posted April 28, 2015 Olis: I've only used it once before and that was to base coat a few models. I may not of stripped and cleaned it thoroughly enough after, so last night I stripped the full thing and put it back together. I'm very aware of the many pitfalls (I've done a fair bit of reading) and I'm happy to admit it maybe one (or multiple) of many issues. However, right now I'm leaning towards it possibly just being a really bad brush! I've tried running thinned paints and acrylic inks and both displayed the same speckley-ness. I'll report back after tonight's experiments. Jacinda: Thank you - I'm pretty keen on getting into airbrushing, so I believe investment into an Iwata Neo and a decent compressor might not be too far in the future. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4023253 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olis Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Funnily enough, I have an Iwata Neo myself (along with the dinky little compressor that I bought along with it). Been using it to prime and base coat today. ^_^ Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4023292 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firepower Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Funnily enough, I have an Iwata Neo myself (along with the dinky little compressor that I bought along with it). Been using it to prime and base coat today. Neo for the win :) If you intend to get into airbrushing, you really should get a dual action. The Neo is just $50. Also, 15 PSI is pretty damn low. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4023472 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olis Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Funnily enough, I have an Iwata Neo myself (along with the dinky little compressor that I bought along with it). Been using it to prime and base coat today. Neo for the win If you intend to get into airbrushing, you really should get a dual action. The Neo is just $50. Also, 15 PSI is pretty damn low. Indeed. It's simple and relatively cheap. As far as dual actions go, I think it's great for rookies. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4023490 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarlessllama Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 I use a Badger 105, and a cheapo compressor. However, I usually run around 15 PSI. It might be your paint mix. I run Vallejo game color (not game air) through my brush and have been very happy. Also, I tend to thin 3 drops of paint to 1 drop of thinning solution. I use Aztek thinner, although I'm sure Vallejo thinner would work about the same. I heard some people use Windex, but I don't know if I would. However, Badger airbrush also recommends plain ol' water. Just some lessons I've learned from my time dinking around with an airbrush. :D Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4023560 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoic Raptor Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 I'll be honest - I haven't used an airbrushin years because I live in an apartment building and paint at the kitchen table (so no room/ventilation for spray and too much noise). But from my understanding, if your airbrush is clean but the paint is speckly, it's either your paint is too thick or the PSI is too low. If your paint is properly thinned, then the brush is clogged or your PSI is too low. If your PSI is fine, then your paint is too thick or the brush is clogged. Basically, it's one of those three factors. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4024034 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firepower Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 Hm, after looking around some, I'm surprised to see what PSI folks tend to recommend. I keep mine locked at around 30, but lots of folks go as low as 10 for some work. Weird. I've yet to see a drawback to using higher PSI though. Except some airbrushes have very low tolerances, I suppose. Running too much pressure through one can cause serious wear and tear, but each model has its own tolerance. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4024586 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Data Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 I tend not to dip below 20, 15 bare minimum for very fine highlight work, this is with a dual action Iwata HP-CS. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4024647 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bung Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 I run around 25 -30 PSI and use all sorts of color from GW, Vallejo, Scalecolor, Schmincke Airbrush and even some other paints for illustration and cheap acrylics from home depot with H&S guns (Evolution Silverline and Infinity). The problem is, that there is alot of personal preference in airbrushing and every painter will give another recipt that works for him and every recipt runs with other viscosity from thining the paint, gun and pressure. Its a bit of experiencing on how to work best for someone. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4024973 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LokisSword Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 Thank you all for your input, it is definitely interesting to see the variety of answers given. It reinforces the point that a lot of airbrushing is "what works for you" and not something easily passed on. However, what prompted my original question was the majority of tutorials I'd looked at were recommending ~25 PSI. 10 - 15 obviously can work, probably with a very good quality gun and very thin paint. I cleaned my cheapy brush and experimented again the other night, I was a little more pleased with the results: (Please ignore the crappy line work, I was rushing and tired!) Progress I think! I do think the brush is struggling to atomise the paint at 15 PSI, so it seems like a new compressor is in order... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4026218 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TotalInsomnia Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 What paint colours are you using because different colours spay differently (also because I really like those greens ). I usually spray around 35 to 40 psi. If you are having trouble with your paint atomising you can thin it with some isopropyl. This will lower the cohesion of the paint (the property that makes the paint stick together and resist atomization) as well as decrease the dry time so the paint will not hit the model wet. This also means however you will need to clean your tip more often. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4028192 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LokisSword Posted May 7, 2015 Author Share Posted May 7, 2015 Hi TotalInsomnia, I was using Citadel colours, thinned with Aztek Universal Acrylic Thinner. The Isopropyl trick sounds very worthwhile, I'm finding to get a consistency that works better I'm having to go very dilute and this is creating situations where I end up with "pooling" due to the paint staying yet for too long (even when spraying lightly). This sounds like a 2 for 1, with the possibility to increase atomisation and reduce drying time - I like it. Now to order some as no-where seems to have it over the counter in the UK. As for colours - black primer, Caliban Green, Warboss Green?, Moot Green? - I believe, I'm at work so can't check the exact names. Will update once I've got some IPA to play around with. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4033525 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azariah Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I wouldn't put any citadel paints in an airbrush, they are just not fit for airbrushing, you should try Vallejo Model Air and Game Air ranges. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4044683 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bung Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 The new GW paints work with the Airbrush without any problems, the only exceptions are the metallics, they dont work well with muzzel size below 0.3 mm and the old foundation paints that didnt work out ever vor me. But the new Base and layer paints just work fine when thinned with Vallejo Airbrush thinner. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306800-airbrush-psi/#findComment-4045566 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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