Xtracrylics Gloss Varnish - awful or is it just me?

[Guest]

I've used this product twice now and on each occassion it has, to use the vernacular, gunked my airbrush up big style. I have been told it can be airbrushed neat or thinned to 5-10% with water The first occassion I used it, I did it neat and nothing came out and it needed to be spring cleaned to get anything flowing again. Today having thinned it, I actually got some out but at a very low pressure. I was spraying at about 20 psi and have a 0.3 needle. I cleaned it out afterwards with water, (two or three flushes) and a couple of AB cleaner to be sure. Later this evening I used the AB again and found the flow was zero to minimal. I thought the paint I was using might be too thick but when I wiped the nozzle I noticed a what looked to be a thin piece of paper or cotton. It turned out to be a small piece of leftover varnish. I normally use the Xtracrylics matt varnish with 10% water and it flows fine with good results and normal cleaning. So what's up with the gloss? Is it me and I'm using it wrongly or has anyone else had problems with it. Its now languising in a dark cupboard till this is resolved!

Keith

[Guest]

Nope? Must be just me then.

Keith

[Guest]

Never tried the stuff so can't help :roller4:

[Guest]

Hi Keith hate unanswered questions so Googled & low & behold what came up.

http://www.scale-models.co.uk/painting/10001-xtracrylics-varnish-clearcoat.html

The font of all model forums. World expertise.

Laurie

[Guest]

Thanks for your replies. I cant understand why the matt goes n so well and the gloss just causes problems. I might try brushing it, hairy stick version, and see how that goes. Failing that, I'll have to try summat else.

Keith

[Guest]

Varnish it appears can be a problem with any manufacturer.

I had problem with Vallejo, the only one I have used, when I was using a .2 nozzle. Kept blocking all the time. Now use a .4 and not an hour ago for two five minute sessions & not had any problems.

I just wonder Keith if your nozzle (not your personal one) is clogged. This varnish is the very devil & gums up everything in sight.

After a session I chuck the nozzle, as part of a complete air brush clean, into a small container of airbrush cleaner. Then rinse then put to my lips & blow thro. & you can see water spurt out if it is clean. If not use a reamer very gently to get rid of residue in the nozzle. On completion sight thro the nozzle on a white surface & you can see if it is free & clean.

Another answer may be part of a bad batch which I had with Vallejo Gloss Varnish. The water based resin had divided from the rest in globlets & formed a mini kibbutz in the nozzle.

Laurie

[Guest]

When I first rekindled my modelling and got my first AB, I was always getting the thing clogged up. I got a bit more thorough, thanks to the videos available and I've never had the problem since. It gets a sonic cleaning regularly and a good deep cleaning every other week, more if necessary.I'm building a US Navy F4U Corsair at the moment and gave it an undercoat and sprayed it with Klear. I then polished the Klear really will and put a gloss blue over it, Kleareed it again and buffed it into a really good shine. I cant do that for everything but its sad when I get a better gloss by that method than I can with varnish. I've googled the varnish as you suggested Laurie and it looks like I'm an exception to this products results. Maybe it is a bad batch. I got it a local fair so I can hardly take it back! I've test brushed a spare piece to see how that goes but unless it produces a great finish I'll move onto something else.

Keith