For the new folks

[Sabreghost]

Hey all, this is my first post. Firstly, i gotta say this is one of the most helpful forums i have ever joined. I am a professional musician from australia, making a good living out of it. Enough that my wife is a lady of leisure, lol. She has her hobbies though, orchids and butterflies. Music was once a hobby for me, but now i need a new one. I bought a paasche vl kit, a few tubes of el cheapo acrylic tube paint, and got some advice from the guy i bought the kit off. he said to water down the paint to the consistency of milk, which i've done. after painting a skull( complete with splatters, smears, streaks and blobs) i went online to see what was out there(apart from what i saw on u-tube). I came accross this site, and joined up, and have already found a half dozen solutions to what i am doing wrong. from the online lessons, to advice from everyone here, i can't wait to get into learning how to AB. unfortunately my wife is asleep in the next room, and i borrowed an enormous compressor from a friend(it scares the hell out of me everytime it kicks in, lol- one of the problems creating squigly lines that should be straight). As soon as i get the hang of it(and mt wife is playing outside with her orchids) i will be spending a lot of time here i think
cheers everyone!

[cotto clay]

Originally Posted by Shad

Hello all.. I just found this site two days ago and have been waiting since until now to thank each and every one of you. This is the greatest site I've ever encountereed. Last night was my first run at my AB. Where I live I couldn't find any other paint beside Createx( I know that is not what was suggested but its the only thing I could find without a credit card) Anyways... I filtered the paint(after forgetting to) having decent success finally. about one hundred dots later my brush quit on me. I cleaned it out and and the tip of the needle (using Mr. Johnsons lessons which I printed off for easy refeerence) and it still wouldn't shoot any paint, water Fine, clean out bottle Fine, paint not Fine. I'm using the VL with the needle that it came to me in( three marks). My compressor setting at 25 psi. Can anyone tell me what to do or why it stopped? I don't know what to do. I won't touch it until someone can help me sort this problem out. Thank you all once again.

Shad

It sounds like the paint bottle is the problem, the first thing to check is the little air intake hole in the top of the bottle. If thats clogged with paint it wont work so poke a needle through it. If that doesnt work, check the part that plugs into the AB for clogs and the tube that goes into the bottle.
With Createx you might have more success with spraying at around 35-40 PSI.
Good Luck

[cjwc1]

Hi, all I just found this forum. I am looking for answers to what I am doing wrong. I have a badger 175-7 model. crescendo. I can't seem to find the proper air pressure to run this and from what I have seen in videos that there is not supposed to be any paint coming out until the trigger is pulled back.... this is not the case with my airbrush.... I push the nozzle down and not pull back and I get paint flow... uuuurrrrrrhhhh!!! I am frustrated and loosing intrest... I also would like to know what the 3 different needles and tips are for ( paint flow) or speed???? if any of you can be of help i would really apppreciate it.. Thanks Carol

[don johnson]

Carol

The needle is not seated in the tip properly which is why when you push down on the trigger it sprays paint.

It could be a dirty needle, dirty fluid tip, bent needle or just not fully forward in the nozzle.

By dirty I mean such a small amount it might not seem to matter, a spec of dried paint.

This would keep the needle from seating in the nozzle correctly allowing paint to flow when it shouldn't.

Inspect it all very carefully, very carefully the problem is there it has to be clean to function properly.


This is very frustrating when you are new to airbrushing but once you have some time in, become comfortable using the airbrush it's really nothing to cause second a thought. You clean it, its sprays correctly you go on about your day.

Its most important to use a USER FRIENDLY airbrush paint when learning it will cut the frustration factory by 90% over using textile, craft paints. Golden airbrush colors, Comart, DR P H Martins are the paints you should be using.

this will help you I hope
airbrush trouble shooting


also check out this forum
http://airbrushtechnique.com/forums/f458/


Fontgeek or some other members hopefully will jump in and help you further

Its just paint, relax and have fun

welcome to airbrush technique

[redneck]

Originally Posted by cjwc1

Hi, all I just found this forum. I am looking for answers to what I am doing wrong. I have a badger 175-7 model. crescendo. I can't seem to find the proper air pressure to run this and from what I have seen in videos that there is not supposed to be any paint coming out until the trigger is pulled back.... this is not the case with my airbrush.... I push the nozzle down and not pull back and I get paint flow... uuuurrrrrrhhhh!!! I am frustrated and loosing intrest... I also would like to know what the 3 different needles and tips are for ( paint flow) or speed???? if any of you can be of help i would really apppreciate it.. Thanks Carol

the 3 needles are different sizes , the fine or NO 1 needles are for the thin paint, NO 5 or the bigger needles are for thicker paint, both tips and needles should have a number on them, if we use a fine needle with the wrong tip then it will spray paint when the air trigger are press down

[nubeeairbrusher]

Hi All,
I also am knew to ABing. I've been reading the posts starting at the beginning and am very motivated. I have had my airbrush - Paasche VL - for about a year now and bought my compressor - Black & Decker - about eight months ago. Because of my job - Graphic Designer - and other involvements I've been doing a lot of the practice lessons but haven't been able to do any pictures yet. I have some drawn that I hope I will be able to start on soon. It always seems one thing or another prevents me from being able to get my paints. Which brings me to my question. What are the best paints I should use on a motorcycle helmet? I have three that have been given to me to practice on and would like to get started on something more concrete with my acquired skills (practice lessons ). I'm hoping to be able to get the online Airbrush Artist Magazine after the Christmas crunch.
nubeeairbrusher

[don johnson]

What are the best paints I should use on a motorcycle helmet?

the new auto air - air born seems to be working pretty well for everyone