I'm never quite sure how far to push my needle into the brush noozle? Right to the end (or when it stops moving) or a little before the end? I look at videos and it seems to be varible.
With my Paasche, I always push the needle very gently forward, until it seats in the tip.
If you're using overly thick paint, it might be useful to not completely seat it, although thinning the paint might be a better choice.
Wayne
doctorwayneWith my Paasche, I always push the needle very gently forward, until it seats in the tip.
If the needle is seated in the tip, how does anything come out?
maxmanIf the needle is seated in the tip, how does anything come out?
It depends on the type of airbrush.
If it is a single action brush, i.e. the trigger only goes up and down, you start with the needle fully seated and then you have to manually back the needle out using the adjustment knob at the back of the brush until the proper amount of paint is coming out. How far the needle needs to be pulled out depends on how thick the paint is, how much air pressure you are using and how much paint you want to put down.
If you are using a dual action air brush, i.e. one where you push the trigger down to get air flow and then pull the trigger back to get paint, the needle is fully seated to start and then it moves back as you pull the trigger back. How far you pull the trigger back determines how much paint comes out.
If you are just starting out with airbrushing, I suggest using a single action brush in the beginning. Dual action brushes require a bit more practise to use consistently.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Okay, that clears that up. I have a Badger 200 so I know how that works. It wasn’t clear to me from the initial post as to what type airbrush the question related to.
With my dual action Paasche, when you want the paint to come out, all that's needed is to pull back and press the trigger. When you let go of it, both the paint and the air pressure stop.
MarkTO should test the airbrush on a piece of paper or cardboard before shooting his model. It's not a bad idea to buy something cheap at a train show and practice on it before painting your new Big Boy.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy MarkTO should test the airbrush on a piece of paper or cardboard before shooting his model. It's not a bad idea to buy something cheap at a train show and practice on it before painting your new Big Boy.
I agree...I was talked into buying an airbrush, but had some worries about learning to use it, so it sat unused for some time.Eventually, on a do-nothing-day, I decided to look though the manual which came with the airbrush, and saw that the suggested beginning steps were pretty basic. The first attempt was to create a dot of paint, as small as could be made, and after only a few blobs and spatters, I was doing surprisingly well, so went on to the second suggested task, which was to join the little dots with a line of paint as thin as possible.Based on my reasonably well-done dots, it turned-out that I could do rather thin lines, too, but also many that were almost as straight as if they had been done using a ruler. Apparently, I had very steady hands at that time.
Those two exercises gave me enough confidence to embrace use of the airbrush, and while my hands and eyes may not be as sharp and steady as in those earlier days, I can still do pretty decent paint work.
doctorwaynewhile my hands and eyes may not be as sharp and steady as in those earlier days, I can still do pretty decent paint work.
I have that t-shirt.
The people that do multi-thousand dollar airbrush paint jobs have skills far far above what is needed for model railroading. If people think that's what is needed to weather a car or paint a building, they are misinformed. Just try it.
many thanks for all your comments!
I have a single-action and I always test my adjustment on a piece of masonite before use on the model. I find that the adjustment will depend on the type of paint, color, thickness and what I intend to do. Sometimes, I only need to spray a small area, so I will adjust the nozzle and pressure accordingly.
Simon