Needle Size?.

[Ian M]

I understand you Can get frustrated with blockages, paint drying on the needle/nozzle.


As Steve pointed out, it's a good idea to have a cotton bud soaking in thinners appropriate to the paint. This can more often than not clean the crud from the needle to enable you to continue.


You could also be spraying at to high pressure and holding back on the paint to compensate. This will dry the paint on the needle quicker than you can say bugger!


As for help with the thinning, get hold of some clear plastic 'shot glasses'. Add some paint then add thinners and any additives then stir up until well mixed. The paint should be like milk on the side of a glass. Or you should just be able to see your fingers holding the glass though the paint on the side of the glass.


Adjust the air pressure until you can get a good flow of paint with the trigger full open. Also as said, the bigger the spray, the further away from the target you will need to be, the smaller the spray the closer you move in.


Needle size in an air-brush is more related to the medium you put through it than the size of spray you wish to make. For all but the finest detail work a 0.25 or 0.35 will be more than adequate.


Ian M

[Guest]

I understand you Can get frustrated with blockages, paint drying on the needle/nozzle.
As Steve pointed out, it's a good idea to have a cotton bud soaking in thinners appropriate to the paint. This can more often than not clean the crud from the needle to enable you to continue.


You could also be spraying at to high pressure and holding back on the paint to compensate. This will dry the paint on the needle quicker than you can say bugger!


As for help with the thinning, get hold of some clear plastic 'shot glasses'. Add some paint then add thinners and any additives then stir up until well mixed. The paint should be like milk on the side of a glass. Or you should just be able to see your fingers holding the glass though the paint on the side of the glass.


Adjust the air pressure until you can get a good flow of paint with the trigger full open. Also as said, the bigger the spray, the further away from the target you will need to be, the smaller the spray the closer you move in.


Needle size in an air-brush is more related to the medium you put through it than the size of spray you wish to make. For all but the finest detail work a 0.25 or 0.35 will be more than adequate.


Ian M

Thanks Ian, the blockages are the main problem that im having, even with thinning Tamiya & Vallejo Air paints which ive read can be used in airbrushes without thinning im still getting blockages.


When I started using the brush I was using at 35psi. pressure & gradually reduced down to 20psi. So maybe I will try uping the pressure & thin the paint a bit more & see how that goes .

[tanktrack]

If you are using acrylics then it is worth trying the Vallejo Flow Improver. Not used it yet mainly as I have it but cannot find it . But have heard good reports

l
Laurie the scale model shop does the flow improver I got some the other day and hope to use it shortly .

[Guest]

l
Laurie the scale model shop does the flow improver I got some the other day and hope to use it shortly .

Thanks Steve. When I mentioned finding it I had lost it some where in my model making area. Forgotten that it was a 200ml bottle and was looking for a 50ml . Migration of brain cells. Some days they immigrate themselves back but the migration days have the upper hand over the immigration days during the winter.


Thanks Steve.


Laurie

[Guest]

I like using the standard Iwata .35 needle size. It can do pencil thin lines and yet do large coverage. I never have had blockages with this. Go any lower, and you will have problems with blockages with paint drying and jamming at the end


John

[Guest]

Go any lower, and you will have problems with blockages with paint drying and jamming at the end
John

Been using Vallejo Aiirbrush Flow Improver through an Iwata .2 with Vallejo Model Air and it works well. I use this for detail work and had lots of problems with drying to early but with the Flow Improver it is a revelation.


Laurie

[Guest]

Been using Vallejo Aiirbrush Flow Improver through an Iwata .2 with Vallejo Model Air and it works well. I use this for detail work and had lots of problems with drying to early but with the Flow Improver it is a revelation.
Laurie

Not really used Vallejo acrylics. I have used them a few times, including their primer, but steered clear of them once they ruined my model. Different people have different choices... Anyway, I don't think Vallejo products are compatible with alcohol based acrylics.


John

[Guest]

Finally Using my New H&S Evolution with a .2 needle, & thinning the paint a bit more & using the flow improver ive managed to successfully spray the body of the escort rally car im building without any blockages ..


Plenty of runs but no blockages.. .. so now looking forward to improve my spraying skills..


John.

[Guest]

Anyway, I don't think Vallejo products are compatible with alcohol based acrylics.

Actually John Tamiya Acrylic Paints are made from water-soluble acrylic resins (Tamiya description). Vallejo flow improver works perfectly with Tamiya. Infact it integrates with Tamiya paint more easily than Vallejo.


Laurie

[Guest]

Also add that water is compatible with alcohol.


How do I know that ? Cause I saw a host of French pensioners having their lunch. They were accompanied by a number of bottles of red wine. I was surprised to see them dilute their wine about 75/25water.


Laurie

[Guest]

Also add that water is compatible with alcohol.
How do I know that ? Cause I saw a host of French pensioners having their lunch. They were accompanied by a number of bottles of red wine. I was surprised to see them dilute their wine about 75/25water.


Laurie

Nice!

[Guest]

Actually John Tamiya Acrylic Paints are made from water-soluble acrylic resins (Tamiya description). Vallejo flow improver works perfectly with Tamiya. Infact it integrates with Tamiya paint more easily than Vallejo.
Laurie

It also says that they're excellent for brush painting - 1000s of modellers would beg to disagree!

[Guest]

1000s of modellers would beg to disagree!

Patrick are you sure it is actually exactly 1000.


Laurie


PS there are 1001 who swear by it for brush painting.

[Guest]

Patrick are you sure it is actually exactly 1000.
Laurie


PS there are 1001 who swear by it for brush painting.

Nope, it's 1000s as I said! do read the post Laurie!

[Guest]

Actually John Tamiya Acrylic Paints are made from water-soluble acrylic resins (Tamiya description). Vallejo flow improver works perfectly with Tamiya. Infact it integrates with Tamiya paint more easily than Vallejo.
Laurie

Sorry Laurie, I used Revell Aqua Colour paint, & Revell Aqua Color Mix Thinners. With 2 drops of Vallejo flow improver. .


John.