body paint/airbrush/ airbrush paint questions

before anyone points me to the faq, i have already looked, but it does not answere my question fully.

im am a complete health freek. i am trying for my a-levels at the moment trying to get to university, the last thing i need is brain damage from aerosols. now, i am aware of the respirators, but i just want to be absolutely sure. so iv decided to get an airbrush. so can someone tell me;
can i paint the body with an airbrush?
what paint do i use? (obviously acrylic would be the healther choise, but i have my boubts it will work)
can i spray laquer with the airbrush, or is an aerosol the only way to go?
is there a primer, or laquer that i can buy for the airbrush?

and if you can give me any other tips of anykind that would be great.

oh, and to save money i might be using the spare tire method for the air supply. has anyone else tried this? how were the results?

thanx:flash:

well if you're gonna spray do it outside and you should be fine. Usually you can spray anything through an airbrush but it just has to be thinned out. The tire idea will give enough pressure to work, but barely. One time I was spraying one of my RC car bodyes and I told my friend to pump the bycicle pump because I had my air brush hooked on to it, he felt stupid but it worked.:smoker:

As far as health oriented goes:

1.) Buy a double cartridge respirator, these cost $15-25 depending on where you go. Make sure the respirator says it's made for paint use, or that it can filter organic solvents.

2.) Buy some protective eyewear, goggles or safety glasses, to protect your eyes.

3.) If you spray indoors, buy a spray booth that has a good CFM rating. I'd say at least 200 CFM should do it for airbrush use.

4.) Don't get any lacquer thinner or paints on your hands, if you do wash it off immediately. Wear medical gloves if you have to.

If you follow the above steps you can use lacquer paints without any trouble to your health. :)

Woah!! I was waaaayy off on that one!

Originally posted by daggerlee
As far as health oriented goes:

1.) Buy a double cartridge respirator, these cost $15-25 depending on where you go. Make sure the respirator says it's made for paint use, or that it can filter organic solvents.

2.) Buy some protective eyewear, goggles or safety glasses, to protect your eyes.

3.) If you spray indoors, buy a spray booth that has a good CFM rating. I'd say at least 200 CFM should do it for airbrush use.

4.) Don't get any lacquer thinner or paints on your hands, if you do wash it off immediately. Wear medical gloves if you have to.

If you follow the above steps you can use lacquer paints without any trouble to your health. :)

thanx or the advise...i could do it out side, but the neigbours are very close. they might not appreciate the paint fumes too much either



so do i need all that stuff if im airbrushing with acrylic, for the interior for example...

and is there a lacquer that can go over acrylic? or am i hoping for too much:(

sorry im asking so many questions...iv never painted a car before

First off, check the FAQ. It should provide a LOT of answers to your questions. See, the model acrylic paints aren't as dangerous to your health as lacquer paints, since they use rubbing alcohol and other less dangerous solvents. But the effects of paint particles on one's health is not well documented at all. So it's best to play it safe. :)

Originally posted by daggerlee
First off, check the FAQ. It should provide a LOT of answers to your questions. See, the model acrylic paints aren't as dangerous to your health as lacquer paints, since they use rubbing alcohol and other less dangerous solvents. But the effects of paint particles on one's health is not well documented at all. So it's best to play it safe. :)

iv looked, it dosent...it was more of a paint compatability problem. which the faq didnt answer

thanx for your help :flash:

Originally posted by simdel1


iv looked, it dosent...it was more of a paint compatability problem. which the faq didnt answer

thanx for your help :flash:

I actually wrote a small treatise on paint which you should find in the FAQ. Basically it works as "LEA" as in acrylics over enamels over lacquers, but not the other way around. Hope this answers your question. :)

Originally posted by daggerlee


I actually wrote a small treatise on paint which you should find in the FAQ. Basically it works as "LEA" as in acrylics over enamels over lacquers, but not the other way around. Hope this answers your question. :)

oh, ok....:confused:

ill have another look

edit: found it, thanx....ill read through it and ask anything that isnt explained, but im sure it will be

edit 2: you lied when you said it was small!!!. i think that has explained everything. i think i will try acrylic (for the neigbours sake) but ill put a coat of clarcoat over it to polish...thanx again

actually if you use airbrush the paints for these airbrush do not smell at all. No need to worry about the fume unless you are using can propellant. otherwise you only have to worry about the fine paint particles coming from the brush. Arcrylic works fine on the models you can use any paint you want as long as you thin it and after each color clean the brush before using the next color. A gravity feed is nice if you doing a lot of paint changes. Bottle feed is nice for large areas. I have both then you will go into the needle size on fine or not fine details also dual action or single action so many choices.

I also have a question, and I'll post it in here seeing as this thread is already up and running.

Instead of using the little hobby compressors, would it be ok to use the larger, noiser light industrial compressors? Would the pressure be too great? Noise levels wouldn't be a problem for me, and these larger compressors here are alot cheaper than the mini hobby compressors (for some reason :)). I'm thinking of buying an airbrush this afternoon, and until I get a compressor, I might try the tyre method too.

Those bigger compressors work just fine. Make sure you have a regulator for adjustment of pressure. A moisture filter is good to have too.

Hmm, Have you heard those bigger compressors ? Even if i were alone that noise would drive me insane. Also make sure they aren't gas powered or else :(

Go to walmart and buy a $79 air compressor. It comes iwth a 2 gallon tank, regulator, and a hose.

I have a Badger Crescendo, Double action. I seriously never use the air regulator on it. Save money and just get a single action with constant air.

Yeah for cars, single action is adequate. But since I like to use more advanced techniques with airbrushes than spraying wide strokes, I bought a double action Badger 155 Anthem.

I agree, industrial compressors are too noisy. I actually have one in the garage but I use an air tank made out of an old a/c freon tank for my airbrush. I use the compressor to load up my tank and then use the tank with the airbrush for quiet operation in the house.

Regarding health issues, I use DuPont automotive paints to paint my bodies. To be sure I use a dual-cartridge respirator and use surgical gloves on my hands. I have tried many paints to use in the scale car bodies but I have to say that automotive paints are absolutely the best! But be very careful, these paints can be very toxic if the proper measures are not enforced. Make sure you use a respirator and have plenty of ventilation.

Originally posted by Mainomega
Hmm, Have you heard those bigger compressors ? Even if i were alone that noise would drive me insane. Also make sure they aren't gas powered or else :(

Go to walmart and buy a $79 air compressor. It comes iwth a 2 gallon tank, regulator, and a hose.

I have a Badger Crescendo, Double action. I seriously never use the air regulator on it. Save money and just get a single action with constant air.

I work around bigger compressors, and the noise doesn't bother me at all, and there's always earmuffs ;).

Only problem with living in NZ is there is no Wal-Mart, and no where that I've found, that sells the smaller, quiet compressors, except the Tamiya Airbrush/Compressor combo for $425!!!

My other idea/alternative that I had was to get one of those mini 12V compressors, used for car emergencies, and plug that into a 24V (mains) converter, total price would be like $40-50 USD. Only I'm not sure how well that would work, or the lifespan of it either.