Do I Really Need An Airbrush For Dying Leather With Acrylic Dye?

[DavidL]

http://www.amazon.com/Iwata-Medea-Eclipse-Action-ECL-2000/dp/B000R3C3SM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410374926&sr=8-2&keywords=iwata+eclipse

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush®-Portable-Airbrush-Painting/dp/B00BMUH8L6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410374998&sr=8-2&keywords=spray+booth

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007U92MU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A111T5BUDCP21Y

http://www.amazon.com/Iwata-Campbell-HP-TH-Airbrush-import/dp/B004DUHUKG/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1410375158&sr=1-1&keywords=iwata+th

they should all have the same size ends, i know paasche has different ends. the compressors all have the same ends as far as i know.

[HC009]

You are a very kind person - thank you very much for those links. I checked out your shop - do you make leather goods?

[HC009]

Sorry, I forgot to also ask - how to dilute the acrylic - I was going to use methylated spirits or isopropyl alcohol - have tested both with the paint but cannot work out which one is better. What do you think?

[DavidL]

water works fine for acrylics, some use isopropyl (if its spirit based). If you can't tell the difference there probably isn't a reason to use isopropyl. Check with airbrushing forums as they have many professionals who have done a lot of work with acrylics.

Food for thought. I think theres an additive that you can add to the paint and with heat you can fully set the paint so that it is similar to dyed leather, where it is permanently fixed. I know plastisol inks used for screen printing is heated and something in the paint melts to fully cure and lock in the paint.

Im unsure if there is a additive like that, I would have to do more research. Angelus by its self can hold up well, but I'm planning to make garments that have patches of leather that are machine washable. On leather that won't be washed it may be overkill if angelus can last years under heavy abuse.

Edit: The additive is called low cure additive heated at under 300 degrees.

Edited September 10, 2014 by DavidL

[DavidL]

You are a very kind person - thank you very much for those links. I checked out your shop - do you make leather goods?

I made a few items just to get an idea of how etsy works. But I haven't officially started my business yet, as I'm still learning, prototyping, and trying to get funds and especially trying to understand the accounting side of business. I do intend to start a website and sell my goods sometime i the next two years.

[HC009]

Hi David thank you for your reply. That's interesting what you are saying about an additive. If there was such a thing that would be great. I like the sound of your patches of leather idea / setting up an business on Etsy in the future it sounds weird. Weird = good. I am also thinking about starting a shop on Etsy UK in the future making bondage harnesses. You can do really well on there. That's where Zana Bayne the leather / bondage / accessories designer started selling her stuff and look at her now - she's a fully fledged backed fashion label! I will check out your shop in the future as it sounds interesting and will let you know when I have some things made to sell also.

[RavenAus]

For me the airbrush is invaluable. I can get a perfect finish within half the time, to the colour saturation I want. I can do fades and stencils I couldn't dream of with a sponge brush. Cleaning the airbrush takes less time than cleaning my brushes did too!

My airbrush kit was AU$120 with mini compressor and dual action airbrush. It's not a fancy name but it does everything they do and unless you're going to be doing bike bibs to rival Orange County bikes then it'll do just fine.

[Gump]

For painting large areas, I have tossed the airbrush and went with a touch up spray gun for most of my spray dye work. It has a 4 oz pot and was only $35. I found that the airbrush plugged up and spit out drops, leaving bad spots on my work, also much harder to clean than the larger touch up gun. The touch up gun is also fully adjustable as to volume and spray pattern. Gump

[HC009]

Touch up spray gun? That sounds like another great idea. thanks.

Edited September 11, 2014 by heavenlychoirs

[HC009]

So your touch up spray gun worked with acrylic paint and a cheap air compressor or what was your set up Gump? because I have just been reading an article that says you need a very powerful machine costing £1000 at least to spray acrylic paints.

Edited September 11, 2014 by heavenlychoirs