I don't have any experience with airbrushes, but I had plenty with industrial spray guns at a summer job in my college years. The same holds true: clean early, clean easy! You don't want that paint drying inside it, let alone curing, before you try to clean it out.
I was given the suggestion years ago and it has served me well. When done painting run some glass cleaner through the brush right through the paint cup, then rinse thoroughly with clear water. Many years of this with an ANCIENT Paasche and my Badger brush has worked well for me.
I've only used it a few times for testing, and I am cleaning it too! I have a lot to learn about airbrushing, a lot. And a bunch of practice is needed for sure. But I really like it. So far!
Just make sure the glass cleaner is liquid (like Windex), not foam or worse, wax! Newspapers work surprisingly well on glass, but not airbrushes!
humm glass cleaner huh .i must try this out. ive just used hot water and soap. Not that i paint that much with air brush. air brush to me seemed like more work than its worth (time costuming taking it apart cleaning everything then dry then reassemble ) but ill try that just to test it out. Thanks
@sidney Just received my 3D printed items you sent me. Have to take it all out of the box later. Thank You so much! I'll take more pictures later when I unpack it. First glance I am super excited. Maybe I can try the airbrush on some things? Kind of scared too Need to practice more first.
The thing I like about using an airbrush is that you have more choices in what k8nds of paint you can use. Brush paints sometimes risk leaving brush marks, and spray paints have so many VOCs (they stink) that you can't use them indoors. But an airbrush can be used with craft paints and other water-based paints that don't stink up the house. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
Sidney, I'm no expert, but it seams to me that spraying is easier to achieve a uniform, thin, covering coat on surfaces that does not obscure the underlying texture/details as much as a brush might. A lot has to do with the relative skill of the painter with their chosen tools (e.g. bristle or air brush), but all else held equal, cleaning hard surfaced items (like an airbrush) is easier than cleaning bristle brushes. There is certainly skill involved in using either, and in skilled hands either can do a fabulous job. Also, keep in mind that full disassembly and detailed cleaning of an airbrush is seldom required between changes of paint/color, etc. but only at the end of painting for the day. Gravity feed airbrushes (with the paint cup on top) seem to be easier to clean than siphon feed airbrushes (with the bottle below the airbrush body), and the former's paint cups provide plenty of capacity for scale model trains and structures. Okay, maybe not Garden scale! This is all what I've read, and I have very little experience specifically with airbrushes, only spray guns in industrial applications. Compared to cleaning paint brushes, I'd MUCH rather clean the hard surfaces (internal and external) of a spray gun or airbrush, even including cleaning out the very long paint hoses we used!
I've watched videos of painting miniatures where the painter mixes and blends colors (esp highlights) right in the cup of a good gravity-feed airbrush.
Speaking of great finishes that can only be achieved with thin paint I bought this pair of Micro Trains repeater cars. I wondered if they would have the vents in the sides and they do ....... these vents are sooooooooo fine that only spray paint could be used or they'd be hidden. I have yet to attach the roof top vents and exhaust pipe which means drilling a hole and filing 2 flats on the roof.
That looks like quite a few FVM locos, which are my personal favorites…does Jordan want to make another friend? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Niece moved to the country as I call it. Found a little hole in the wall hobby shop. Buy 2 get one FREE for Vallejo paint. All 3 for $5.49 including tax, thought it was a good deal. Also thought I was buying airbrush cleaner but bought some kind of Flow stuff. Any idea what it is? Mainly bought them so I don't have to use the colors in the Kit I bought! I thought it was a good deal, but don't really know much about airbrush paints yet Going back there next week to buy more! Or planning on it. Colors are Black Green & Yellow! The hobby shop is mainly War Gaming, and Airsoft!
I don't know what either one of you is talking about Thanks EDIT! I still got Likes though, so not everyone noticed it Or ignored the typo?
HA !!! MK quoted it so its there for all eternity ^^^^^^ in2tech said: ↑ Buy 2 get one FREE for Vallejo paint. All 3 for $549.00 including tax, thought it was a good deal.
Dang, the Quote got me forever, bad @MK ! And to make things worse here comes @mtntrainman quoting it again I don't stand a chance!
