Ran into another backyarder the other week, with a two-tone pastel blue log. His tidbit of useful knowledge was that he coats the foam with white paint (airbrush applied) before he does the color. I’d never heard of this before, but most of what I know I dreamed up or worked out, plus some I’ve read here over the last two-or-so years. He said it made the final product more opaque, more even… (?)
Anyone validate the white-coat-first idea?
What sorta pressure are airbrushers using?
I have a old-old Paasche single action airbrush, and a much bigger touch-up spray gun. I have difficulty getting an even, solid color. I’ve tried brushing the paint on with a bit of foam rubber, which seems to work if you lay it on thickly. But with thick paint, I don’t like the idea that the lam isn’t bonding well to the foam.
Tinted lams are another matter, but I know the issues and the required aspects of that work.
Aloha neighbor! I’ve found that a light dusting of flat ‘white base’ is helpful in evening out the paintable surface. When spraying fades, it is the best way I’ve found to get a nice even color. It’s not always neccessary when spraying solid colors. The main worry is the amount of paint on the foam texture. Too much paint will fill in the texture, leading to that crystally de-lam effect when the lamination cures. I’ve been using clear laquer as a fixative on top of my painted surfaces for years. It keeps the paint where you put it, and makes a more tapeable surface if you need. I use the small kine touch-up guns for everything. I would use an inline regulator to make the fine pressure adjustments (around the 30 psi range). A big part of painting is mixing the proper consistency of paint, ie. some colors you need to spray more thick, with more pressure to move the material. Ive found that you can get better coverage by spraying from nose to tail, and then from tail to nose, lightly overlapping cross-strokes to get a smoother coat, considering how the moving paint hits the foam. An inline water filter is another good idea. Planning really is important, you always need to figure the proper sequence of masking/unmasking, and taping and pulling the tape. Sometimes, the easiest ideas can become nightmares once you start taping off. A good blow-drier is another important piece of equiptment, as well as a fan to keep the air moving (watch out for over-spray!). Color is beautiful, and watching the color hit the white foam is always a trippy experience, for me. Aloha…RH
Howzit Honolulu, Read Rick Holts post, he’s an airbrush master. A few years back the local TV station did a piece on board building with Rick and one of the best parts was showing him doing airbrush work, As for getting uneven spray it could be your spray rig. I take very great care of mine and always clean and lube it after each use. It doesn’t take long for a spray gun to act up if not maintained correctly. Have a friend who has an expensive spary gun that he never clens, just runs water through it after use and leave water in it. Well it’s a piece of junk now and the fan spray is so uneven that in my mind it’s done for, even after I gave it some TLC and cleaned and lubed it for him. You really have to take good care of your tools. Talk to Jim or sean at Fiberglass Hi. they are both very learned about spray guns.Aloha,Kokua
Howzit Kokua?!? I’d almost forgotten about that video shoot. The funniest part, after the camera man had pestered me all day, was when after a long brush stroke, the paint stream came over the edge of the blank and gassed the guy’s camera. End of movie!!! Aloha…RH
