Airbrushes

[Rawhide]

To avoid hijacking another thread I started this one.

I just bought an airbrush, a badger 150-5, and I have a small 3/4 gallon tank with, piston type compressor. I'm looking for some basic instructions and suggestions from all the airbrushers out there.

Thanks.

[CitizenKate]

Congratulations, Marlon! I use my airbrush for lots of different applications. What kind of spraying are you interested in doing?

Kate

[Rawhide]

Congratulations, Marlon! I use my airbrush for lots of different applications. What kind of spraying are you interested in doing?

Kate

I'd like to do overall dyeing (solid color for large pieces), blended (shaded eges) I guess this would be called shadowing, Not sure of the terminology. Nothing really fancy, but I thing this will help to get more even coverage and not saturate the leather with dye.

[CitizenKate]

Great, spraying a wash down is about the easiest thing to do with an airbrush. But to get used to the dual-action control, try this:

After hooking up the brush and turning up the air pressure (I usually use around 20-25lbs. for spraying larger areas), hold the brush in front of a piece of scrap leather and press the trigger straight down. If the brush is adjusted correctly, no dye should come out, just air. Notice that the harder you press the trigger down, the more air comes out. You can adjust for more or less air as you spray.

Trigger is neutral.

Trigger is down; very small movement; only air coming out.

Now, with the trigger pressed down (and air coming out), slowly pull back on the trigger. You'll see a little stream of dye come out that gradually widens as the trigger move back.

Trigger is back; air and dye comes out (assuming there is any dye in the cup).

Now, try moving the airbrush across the scrap piece, and starting and stopping the dye stream as it moves across. You should get a line that starts very thin, becomes thick in the middle, then thins down to nothing at the end.

Try this a few times, and that will help you get the hang of how the brush works. The more control you get, the smoother, straighter, and more even you should be able to make the lines. (You can tell I'm a little rusty, since I've been doing mostly hand brushing in the last year.)

To do a solid wash, hold the tip about 4" from the work, use a fairly wide stream (I open mine up all the way), and spray in light, slightly overlapping passes. Use multiple passes over an area; apply the dye in amounts the leather can absorb right away. Otherwise, you'll get dripping.

Working across one "row" in a circular motion. Notice the 90 deg. angle of the brush to the work.

The next row slightly overlaps the previous.

How it looks after one pass. The color is very light (this is black dye I'm working with here), and a little uneven. Not to worry, the following passes will even it all out.

I like to turn my work with each pass.

Just finishing the final pass. It's quite dark now, and nice and even.

One other thing: I hope you are using a respirator when you spray, especially if you're using any spirit-based dyes.

I've added some photos of some of this stuff... more soon...

Kate

[UKRay]

Maybe I should post some photos of some of this stuff... more soon...

Kate

I'd appreciate that too, Kate. Pictures do make it easier!

[Rawhide]

I use a charcoal type filter that looks like a surgeons mask, but not the type that looks like a gas mask. Should I get one of those? Also, pictures would probably do a world of good!!

Thanks for the suggestion. Also, what about ventilation? How do you vent your spraying activities, especially when it's cold? I have a large room (closed in garage that's about 400 sq. ft) but other than opening a window or two....

[CitizenKate]

The photos have been added to my previous post.

Kate

[sodapop]

marlon one thing that helps me when i spray...i got a large round shop floor type fan...i put the fan in the window on hurricane level (high) blowing towards outside...with another window or door slightly open...it creates a nice vacuum and works surprisingly well...

darryl

Edited December 30, 2008 by sodapop

[CitizenKate]

I use a charcoal type filter that looks like a surgeons mask, but not the type that looks like a gas mask. Should I get one of those? Also, pictures would probably do a world of good!!

You need a respirator that will filter organic vapors, such as this one:

The particle filters will not protect you from solvent vapors. It's not as much of a concern with water-based dyes, but I don't want to breath anything but clean air, so I use the respirator even with them.

Also, what about ventilation? How do you vent your spraying activities, especially when it's cold? I have a large room (closed in garage that's about 400 sq. ft) but other than opening a window or two....

When I can, I open a window or door and get the fan blowing towards my work area. In the winter, I just crack the door open and turn up the fan a little higher. The ideal thing would be to get a bench-top spray booth (something like this), which is what I plan to do, eventually. Then I can keep the door shut and throw away the respirator.

Kate

[CitizenKate]

marlon one thing that helps me when i spray...i got a large round shop floor type fan...i put the fan in the window on hurricane level (high) blowing towards outside...with another window or door slightly open...it creates a nice vacuum and works surprisingly well...

That works a lot better than what I have to do. Just wish I had a window next to my bench.

Kate