Frodo Report post Posted January 4 Not to buy a cheap airbrush I bought a 35 dollar airbrush rig and thought I had really done something!!! That’s what your leather looks after your cheap airbrush pukes in the middle of your project Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DieselTech Report post Posted January 4 14 minutes ago, Frodo said: Not to buy a cheap airbrush I bought a 35 dollar airbrush rig and thought I had really done something!!! That’s what your leather looks after your cheap airbrush pukes in the middle of your project Well that sucks Frodo! Can you dip dye it black to save the project. Or maybe dark brown? I recently just order 1 of them cordless airbrushes. Lol might be a $90 boat anchor for all I know. I'll keep you posted or start another thread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted January 4 ewwwwww! expensive ones will do that too. if its a double action air brush start with air only then slowly pull back on the trigger to atomize the Dye. Plus if it sets a minute between sprays shoot it at some paper towel first to get rid of the blobs before shooting at your leather. i also start a little off project and sweep my airbrush across the whole piece covering half the previous spray pattern every time . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frodo Report post Posted January 4 Diesel tech. Yes I could submerge tbe the leather but the color would not be what I wanted what you see is a 50/50 mix of mahogany and light brown when used with a air brush it gives you a really nice tan The more you put on the more you see the mahogany Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DieselTech Report post Posted January 4 51 minutes ago, Frodo said: Diesel tech. Yes I could submerge tbe the leather but the color would not be what I wanted what you see is a 50/50 mix of mahogany and light brown when used with a air brush it gives you a really nice tan The more you put on the more you see the mahogany Thanks for the dye tip. I just ordered some light brown & some mahogany pro dye. I'll try your color combo out. It sounds like it will be sharp looking. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dikman Report post Posted January 4 What Chuck said, I doubt if it's the actual airbrush that's problem, even the "cheap" ones these days are pretty good. I have several () and quality-wise they're fine. Diesel, I also bought one of those cordless ones just 'cos I didn't have one. No problems with the airbrush. I read several reviews on modelling websites first and in general they were happy with them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DieselTech Report post Posted January 4 29 minutes ago, dikman said: What Chuck said, I doubt if it's the actual airbrush that's problem, even the "cheap" ones these days are pretty good. I have several () and quality-wise they're fine. Diesel, I also bought one of those cordless ones just 'cos I didn't have one. No problems with the airbrush. I read several reviews on modelling websites first and in general they were happy with them. Thanks i appreciate the info. I have not got to dye leather with a airbrush, soo it could get interesting. Lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DwightT Report post Posted January 4 When I first tried to use mine it was doing that too. It had been sitting out in the garage for the last 15 years or so after my wife's first husband passed away, and who knows how well it had been taken care of before that. I did a little searching around the internet and found a couple sites that said it could be a problem with the needle. I took it apart and discovered that the needle was slightly bent right at the tip. I took some 2000 grit sandpaper and pulled the needle through it a few times, and now it seems to be working just fine. Now I just have problems with keeping my hands steady enough to control it. Dunno if that will help, but you might give it a try. /dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bladegrinder Report post Posted January 5 When I first got one I completely took it apart after using it and clean it, but more often then not it was frustrating getting it back together. now I just run denatured alcohol thru it, a lot, and ALL thru it, everywhere I can get it . And I always shoot some cardboard before putting it to real use to make sure the air pressure is about right. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLSleather Report post Posted January 5 may not be the brush. do you have a moisture trap in the line? sometimes compressors condense moisture, and that's what makes em "puke" (plus the condensed water doesn't mix with the alcohol dye) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frodo Report post Posted January 5 4 hours ago, dikman said: What Chuck said, I doubt if it's the actual airbrush that's problem, even the "cheap" ones these days are pretty good. I have several () and quality-wise they're fine. Diesel, I also bought one of those cordless ones just 'cos I didn't have one. No problems with the airbrush. I read several reviews on modelling websites first and in general they were happy with them. you are prolly correct!!! the error was operator error but I am going to blame the equipment Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frodo Report post Posted January 5 27 minutes ago, JLSleather said: may not be the brush. do you have a moisture trap in the line? sometimes compressors condense moisture, and that's what makes em "puke" (plus the condensed water doesn't mix with the alcohol dye) No I do not, here is the unit. It is very basic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frodo Report post Posted January 5 Here it is disassembled Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hags Report post Posted January 5 I have 2 now. A siphon and a gravity fed. Both inexpensive, and both doing alright. I use a moisture trap and always spray before I get to the project. I'm new to this but really like the shading I get. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kgg Report post Posted January 5 1 hour ago, Frodo said: No I do not, here is the unit. It is very basic Just a thought, It may not be the airbrush but the pump not being able to keep up with the demand. I would try hooking it up to a small, 2 US gallon, air compressor rather then the aquarium style pump. kgg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dikman Report post Posted January 5 Looks like a pretty generic airbrush, Frodo, no reason it shouldn't work ok for what you want. The compressor will be the limiting factor, those little ones are pretty basic, the biggest potential issues are they tend to pulse the air out (no tank) and are difficult to regulate the air pressure. As kgg suggested a bigger compressor would be better, and with a tank even better still. I've noticed they often pop up on ebay/facebook marketplace, you might find one pretty cheap from someone who used it for modelmaking. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frodo Report post Posted January 5 10 hours ago, dikman said: Looks like a pretty generic airbrush, Frodo, no reason it shouldn't work ok for what you want. The compressor will be the limiting factor, those little ones are pretty basic, the biggest potential issues are they tend to pulse the air out (no tank) and are difficult to regulate the air pressure. As kgg suggested a bigger compressor would be better, and with a tank even better still. I've noticed they often pop up on ebay/facebook marketplace, you might find one pretty cheap from someone who used it for modelmaking. I think I will add a tank Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoogMeister Report post Posted January 5 Been using a Badger airbrush and compressor (no tank) for models for maybe 30 years, no problems. Got a Harbor Freight airbrush to use for leather, so no potential of cross-contamination with paint thinner and alcohol used to clean them. I use 91% Isopropyl alcohol for cleaning out leather dye, and hot water for finishes such as Resolene (which I thin 50/50 with water). Always disassemble and soak the tool after running alcohol or water through it to clear out the residual. Have not had a problem in the 3 years or so that I've been doing that. Use a HF compressor that has air pressure adjustment (no tank). Haven't touched the pressure adjustment since I made the initial adjustment. I always test the flow to make sure it's what I want before spraying leather. Wipe the tip of the airbrush with a piece of tissue after you've set the airbrush down for even a few seconds, then test spray. No moisture trap, but where I live humidity is not an issue - we start complaining if it gets to 20%. I DO have one on the rig I use for models, as I used to live in a very humid environment. The only times my HF airbrush has puked on something were from the cup, which has no lid. I chalk that up to operator error. I suggest practice on something like cereal box cardboard . A bit of dye will buy a lot of learning. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLSleather Report post Posted January 8 I use a pancake style compressor from BOSTITCH.. came with pneumatic nail guns from MENARDS of all places. Set regulator between 20 and 40 depending on the look you're after, and GO! Comes with a regulator, but I did add an in line moisture trap, and I drain the tank every so often Never any problems Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
327fed Report post Posted January 9 (edited) I had 2 Harbor Freight air brushes. Upgraded to their tiniest paint gun. 4 oz tank maybe. Lots more adjustment and smoother. $30 or $40 seems like. So much better for dye, but I’ m used to paint guns anyway. Can twist tip to spray pattern vertical or horizontal. There are little disposable water filters, look like a tennis ball, to thread on where the gun meets the quick coupler. The gun has a metal cap with a vent in the top. Stick tape on the vent or it will drip. https://www.harborfreight.com/adjustable-detail-spray-gun-92126.html Well it’s $12.99 now. And hot purple. Edited January 9 by 327fed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
