airbrushing finish

[frontpost]

Dixie is great to deal with. A single action brush might be better to start with.

[kevinhopkins]

Hi...Holster looks really good! I think pretty much everyone that tries an airbrush for the first time says the same thing.... We just don't really realize how easy they are! Sure saves on the dye too!

Kevin Hopkins

[brinyar]

MDL- Thanks, and welcome to the forum. I have been using a 6hp, 30 gallon Craftsman air compressor to power the air brush. It is a little overkill to use it, but I had it beforehand and didn't want to spend too much to get started.... I have also filled a 12 gallon portable air tank and had enough air/air pressure to do the finish on 4 holsters. The H series has worked great for both dye and finish applications.

kevinhopkins- It was definitely easier to use than I thought, I thought the acrylic finish would gum it up occasionally but it hasn't been a problem. It is also very easy to clean. Some sort of spray booth would be nice to have, though.

[Tac]

Brinyar... VERY nice job on the holsters! I love using the airbrush for my lighter colored dyes. It makes the finished color so much more even than a dunk or a dauber. I have not tried it to apply a finish coat.

As for a "spray booth".... I use a decent sized cardboard box with the top cut off, laid on it's side...... Keeps the dye in the box and not all over my garage/shop. Cheap to .

Please keep posting pics of your work... they are inspiring.

-Tac

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

Here's a spray booth idea for you that a buddy of mine gave me:

Find an old window fan (the box fan that fits in a window).

Buy a furnace/air conditioner filter the size of the fan.

Build a table with a frame that the fan fits in laying on its side, with plywood walls on top of it on three sides that basically make a box with an open side (on top of the fan). Make a slot for the filter to slide over the fan, and put expanded metal or wire mesh or whatever you want above the filter that allows air to flow but doesn't let whatever you are spraying make contact with the filter itself.

The fan is pointed down so it makes a down draft when it's turned on, meaning whenever you spray in the booth the over spray is sucked down into the filter, which gets periodically replaced.

VOILA! You have a spray booth. Add pegs or wires to the wall that allow you to hang your work to spray it if you want, and whatever other custom modifications you need to suit your purposes.

[brinyar]

Thanks for the ideas on spray booths. I have been reading up on homemade spray booths and will keep those plans in mind.

[MDL]

I have been using a 6hp, 30 gallon Craftsman air compressor to power the air brush. It is a little overkill to use it, but I had it beforehand and didn't want to spend too much to get started....

I have a similar compressor and thought it was over kill as well. In the spirit of saving money, I spent some time yesterday getting it "airbrush ready". I upgraded the air pressure gauges and added a better drier. Did you have any trouble finding the fittings to reduce down from 1/4" fittings on the compressor to the air brush, which I'm guessing is 1/8"?

[Bronson]

Do you also airbrush the finish into the inside of the holster? Does it do a good job of getting all the way down inside or do you need to use a brush to get to the very bottom.

Thanks,

Bronson

[brinyar]

The supplied air brush hose has a 1/4 fitting on the compressor side so it is easy to hook up to any air compressor.

You will probably have to dip or brush the finish on the inside to get good coverage. I have not tried to just spray the inside, though.

[Shorts]

I spray the inside pretty good. Just open up the needle tip and fire away. I spray in from the top and the bottom to catch the different angles.