Quick Airbrush Question

[ReneeCanady]

For instance, I just put a little black acrylic in a new container and it dripped out the sided of the container all over my floor. The jars they gave me are plastic and have a little thing on the bottom to turn, and it spins the paint around in the jar to mix it together. Well, right where that little spinny thing is it ALWAYS leaks all over the darn place.

[Cyberthrasher]

For instance, I just put a little black acrylic in a new container and it dripped out the sided of the container all over my floor. The jars they gave me are plastic and have a little thing on the bottom to turn, and it spins the paint around in the jar to mix it together. Well, right where that little spinny thing is it ALWAYS leaks all over the darn place.

I have their deluxe model and always get dye dripping from the spout of the small paint cup. I've wanted to find additional jars, but never had. Since you're having such great luck, glad I didn't. I have a new Paasche on the way, so I know I'll have a good setup there. Then my HF deluxe will be assigned to acrylic/resolene duty

[benlilly1]

For instance, I just put a little black acrylic in a new container and it dripped out the sided of the container all over my floor. The jars they gave me are plastic and have a little thing on the bottom to turn, and it spins the paint around in the jar to mix it together. Well, right where that little spinny thing is it ALWAYS leaks all over the darn place.

Well good luck in it not splattering on you project...that's what I worry about too. I'm always anxious when I get started so I hold my hand on the jar. I'm afraid it's going to fall off.

[David8386]

If they have a hobby lobby around I found glass jars that fit in the harbor freight air brushes okay.

David

[ReneeCanady]

Thanks for that tip David! There is one about an hour from here in my hometown. Well worth the trip! LOL Benlilly you and I both! Cyber~ let me know how the new one works out for you Eventually I will get a better one than I have, but I guess I should master even coating before I worry about getting one that I can actually do tiny lines and such with. I think the smallest line I can get with the one I have at the moment is about the size of the smiley face emotes on here. I tried taking the cap off assuming that was the part that made the lines thicker and that didn't work. I guess it's just that brush I have *shrug*....(Most likely just the operator LOL)

[Cyberthrasher]

I guess it's just that brush I have *shrug*....(Most likely just the operator LOL)

Do you have a link to which one you bought? I have the HF Deluxe model - dual action with cup and bottle. It's a Badger knock off and has been pretty good for me for $20. The one that's on the way is a Paasche VL for $58 from TCP Global's ebay store (comes with hose, 2 bottles, cup, different size tips). It's another highly recommended one. There are lots of parts easily available for it too. Springfield even carries some of them. There have also been some articles by skilled leatherworkers (I believe I read them in LC&SJ) who have been using them exclusively for decades. I figured that was good enough for me - that and Spinner's endorsement

[ReneeCanady]

This is the kit I bought http://www.harborfreight.com/1-5-hp-58-psi-compressor-and-airbrush-kit-95630.html and these are the little containers they talked me into that are just so bad! http://www.harborfreight.com/airbrush-paint-jar-with-built-in-mixer-66446.html By the way, I was stalking your Facebook page earlier......pretty nice items you have on there!

[Ryan Barto]

I just bought the Harbor Freight airbrush compressor (just the compressor, not the kit) and am using it with my old Paasche Millennium airbrush that I've had for about 3 years now. I used to use a big compressed air tank to spray acrylic paint on masks, but now I plan to use the new compressor and old airbrush for leather dye. The first tests that I've done with it are giving me really great and even results. I wanted to spray my diluted resolene through the airbrush too, but I was too worried about messing up the airbrush. I went back to Harbor Freight and picked up their Quickchange Airbrush Kit because it is external mix, so I wouldn't need to worry about deep cleaning if I really gunked it up. Here is the one I bought. This cheap little brush is really good at laying down an even spray of 50/50 resolene and it comes with 5 bottles. Just make sure you adjust the cap on top of the bottle to find the right height for the best flow of liquid.

Sorry, I have nothing to add to the original question about durability. I didn't notice a difference between the airbrushed and hand dyed ones I did, but I only messed around with them after I had applied resolene to both. I will say that I no longer have any streaks in my resolene, which is what I was most concerned about.

Edit... addition. If you try the quick change kit that I mentioned, make sure you only use acrylic or water based liquids/dyes/sealants in the bottles. I hear that some other types of paints and liquids can melt the plastic.

Edited February 17, 2013 by Ryan Barto

[tedmont]

Ryan,

What a wonderful idea. I didn't even know they had airbrushes that didn't take the liquid internally. Wow.

I hate resolene. I always have some streaking and/or brush marks. It is so nasty to work with. An air brush finish will be the cat's meow.

ted

[ReneeCanady]

Thanks Ryan! I did see that kit and was very curious as to if it would work well, now I know! I think I will pick one up for that price shoot. Then maybe I will use resolene more like I should lol. I resolene most of the time unless I am using it as blockout. I either use tandys spray resolen or sometimes even just use the Aussie Conditioner. I know that the Aussie really isn't a "finish" but it repels water, doesn't take off the dye, and it has beeswax in it so it kind of is a finish (girl thinking). I only see an issue with the Aussie being that you would probably have to apply it later to continue its purpose as to where resolene is there forever.