discussion Airbrush newbie

[Lightbulb]

Hi everyone
I’m fairly new to airbrushing but seem to have a continuous problem with paint drying, not only on the needle but in the actual cup!
I have a h & s evolution 2 in one.
I tend to use Vallejo model air which I thin 2 to one but have problems with both tip drying and paint drying and sticking to the sides of the cup
I have watched so many vids on the subject and have tried doing various things to stop the problem with little success
I do wonder if the location where I use the airbrush is having an impact as it’s in a shed which until I rock up is unheated and at times goes down to low single figures Celsius. When I’m working I’ve a diesel get which does make the area comfortable
Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Tim Marlow]

Try a drop or two of flow improver in the mix bud. I don’t get on well with spraying acrylics either (far prefer spraying Tamiya), but have found flow improver helps when I use acrylic.

 

[John]

I've never known it drying in the cup, as Tim said flow improver will help with the drying on the tip, what PSI are you spraying at?

 

[Jim R]

Flow improver and retarder can be useful. There is no single dilution ratio. Each of your paints may well need a different amount of thinner to get to an air brushing consistency. Are you thinning with water or a specific thinner? If you have the 0.2 nozzle in your H&S airbrush that won't be helpful when spraying acrylics.

 

[Lightbulb]

Thanks for the replies
I use Vallejo thinners and spray at 20 psi
I will try some retarder but does that have an impact on the finish on the model

 

[Steven000]

...I will try some retarder but does that have an impact on the finish on the model

Too much retarder can delay the evaporation of the water in the paint, so the paint might stay wet for a long time and be fragile.
I use more flow improver as stated above, I would recommend to use only a tiny amount of retarder.

 

[flyjoe180]

I find acrylics very fussy. Drying in th cup is a new one. Do you mix in a separate cup before pouring it into the airbrush? If you mix inside the airbrush cup you may not get full mixing of the thinner and paint, not to mention you can scratch the cup.

 

[yak face]

As mentioned try a drop or two of flow improver . Like yourself I spray in a cold outside building , heated up with a halogen heater - I dont think this would cause drying in the cup , unless your diesel heater is getting the temperature really high ! Are you putting the lid on the airbrush ? Maybe this might help prevent the paint from drying in the cup ?
The only time I ever get paint drying on the walls of the cup is when I use Stynlrez primer , but thats a different kettle of fish to normal acrylics anyway .

 

[Lightbulb]

Thanks again for all of your help. I don’t put the lid on the cup so will try that

 

[LeytonO]

I use a mix that I saw a while back on Youtube.
Its 7 parts flow improver, 3 parts thinner and 1 part retarder, all Vallejo products.
Then mix at 6 parts paint to 4 parts of the above mix, works a treat with Color Air also their primers and clear coats.
For the thicker primers such as the Black you can go 50/50 mix also use that ratio at a low psi.
I can spray them for ages at around 18-20 psi using a 0.3 or 0.2 needle without any tip drying.

Usually make the mix in empty 15ml bottles and keep a few ready for my next painting session.
Also use these bottles for the paint plus mix, need to be shaken well so a SS ball always helps.

If using the thick Model Color range you need to use more of the mix in relation to the paint.
I rarely do this, but would suggest something like 6:4 or 7:3 mix to paint ratio