Hi New here, so please bear with me, as I’m sure my questions have probably been answered before. I am looking for a good quality airbrush. I am spraying a few different finishes, mainly on firearms. Some of these are a two part, epoxy finish, some are single part, requiring heat (kitchen oven) to cure. Both types can be thinned. I was using a Badger 350, and tried all 3 tips (fine, medium, heavy), but could not get a good spray pattern. tried adjusting my air pressure from 15 to 35psi. By the way, these finishes are made to be used with an airbrush, or an hvlp spray gun. I get the results I want when using the hvlp gun, but would rather use an airbrush. Can someone give me some pointers on which brand, and type of airbrush to get? I’m not looking for the cheapest … I know, when it comes to tools, you get what you pay for. Thanks
You should be able to get a good pattern from the 350 if the paint is thinned appropriately. I doubt whether you will do any better with a different airbrush. For thicker paints, the heavy tip and a pressure of 35 to 45psi are your best bet. Even then, the paint should have milk like consistency. You might want to see if the paint manufacturer has any advice for airbrush use.
An internal mix airbrush will produce a finer spray, but is fussier about thinning.
Don
I agree completely with Don, the 350 is easily capable of doing the work properly, it all comes down to the thinning of the paint. Your HVLP gun is meant to spray in a more industrial application, laying down much thicker volume and higher pressure. The paint passages are of much larger dimensions. A different airbrush may well not provide any appreciable change in performance.
Example: I’ve sprayed with large spray guns and later the HVLP models, have used enamels, lacquers and polyurethanes. Always shot at 30-40 psi, thinning was done to the requirements of “the eye.” The paint manufacturers gave a recommended thinning ratio and psi, I made adjustments from there, depending on the object being painted, temperature, etc. When I ran that paint through the airbrush and it was properly thinned, I was able to spray at my customary pressure of 15- 20 psi, when doing hobby work.
Using an airbrush to spray that same paint on very small objects, required thinning MUCH more than when using the larger guns. I have used the Badger 350 and other airbrushes, I think for your intended use the 350 will do as well as any other. Try thinning to Don’s recommendation of “like milk,” after thinning place a drop on a vertical surface and see how it flows. If needed do the same with a drop of milk, then you’ll see what consistency you’re looking for. I’ll bet you’ll be surprised at how much you have to thin the paint for airbrushing.
Give a try at a really thinned batch before buying more equipment, a different brush will likely not do any better, but will lighten your wallet. Best of luck, I hope this will help you get it sorted.
Patrick
Thanks for the information. Will try again, using your tips.
Thanks again
Greg