question for all you airbrush users

[appleseed]

i've been using my airbrush for a while now but never paid attention to the pressure that i shoot at.

i've recently been told that for airbrushing lacquers, lower psi settings should be used as it allows the lacquer to level on the model surface. is this true? what psi do you folks shoot at for lacquers?

thanks in advance!

a.

[chrismcgee]

try around 12psi for things such as alclad, move it up to 15psi if its not spraying enough

[935k3]

Laquers tend to dry very quickkly so low setting(about 15PSI) is good. Tamiy Acrylics, especially flats spray better at about 25PSI I don't use enamels so I don,t know about them. Lower settings ar generally better for glossy finishes but you don't want to go to low.

[appleseed]

thanks!

i think this should solve the problem of eggshell-like texture i've been experiencing.

thanks again!

a.

[Ragnarok043]

actually you dont have to lower the PSI, to get around this you can add some retarder to the paint. i added it to my Tamiya acrylics and i get much finer atomization now with no spitting.

[weaponCIVIC]

lol,retarder? what is that?

[Ragnarok043]

Originally posted by weaponCIVIC
lol,retarder? what is that?

retarder is a paint additive thats used to retard the paint from drying to fast. its for such application when the paint dries to fast leaving a grainy finish or when the paint dries to fast clogging the airbrush tip.

[Martbee]

Sorry, I never used any retarder but I know it exist... but don't even think it can be added to acrylics like Tamiya paint. I tought it was for automotive lacquer only and the you have to use hardener too... what a mess. So I can't help you with this stuff, like I said, never used any but...

For Tamiya, I shoot from 9 PSI to near 40 PSI !! Yeah, it depend on what you what to do and how dillued is your paint... depend on the airbrush you're using too, Iwata can be used with very few pressure and Badger 350 is on the high pressure side... you can sandblast with this babe.

[Ragnarok043]

they make retarder for types of paint, i use Createx acrylic retarder for my Tamiya acrylics. i find that paint builds up much faster on the tip when im painting fine details and spraying at low pressure.

[Martbee]

Well, like I said, I work often at 9 psi and no build-up on the needle tip. Nozzel if free too.

Now that I think of it, I already used Createx... on motorcycle helmet and yes, I used hardener but don't remember if I used retarder (maybe). It's been a long time so... And yes, it was acrylics, but I never doubt you but I'm not using it with Tamiya.

I'll try to get the pressure down again to see if I can go any lower. I'm using a Badger 360 Universal (top feed) so it can go very low.