Airbrush help

[kennyjapan]

hi guys, ive been given a really nice airbrush for Christmas a Badger 175-7, to be precise. Im planning to get a cheaply one from my dad at some point so i can practice as i don't want to ruin the Badger by using it without having some practice. But looking at it carefully i realise i have absolutely no idea how to use it other than cable from gas or compressor goes in slot shown and paint goes in other slot shown. pulling the trigger allows more or less paint and you need to thin the paint down and also wash it religiously so it doesn't clog up.

Is there anyone who can give me a full explanation of how everything works, you know, all the technical stuff and all that, any tips etc.

cheers
kenny

[BG. Foster]

i used to spray cars so might be able to help but obviously cars are on a different scale and paints are different

[AshotNINJA]

the first airbrush i got was a badger and i learnt everything i needed to know about it from the instruction booklet.

later on in life i was taught by an aviation artist who gave me some excellent pointers.

always thouroughly clean the brush after and before use... run water (or thinner if using solvent model paint) through the airbrush for 30 seconds to make sure the thing isnt blocked before you start... and after you have finished, repeat the process untill the water that sprays out is perfectly clear.

when thinning the paint down, its best if its the consistency of milk... so everso slightly thicker than water

when spraying flat surfaces always keep the brush moving... never settle on one place or this can cause build ups running down the surface... you dont want that...

always spray from at least 6 inches away when doing flat surfaces or you can get the same result..

try to pre-emt your move ments, airbrushes are difficult to master and knowing what you think you need to do before you do it helps greatly... if need be have a practice peice of paper to practice on before you start to test the thickness of your spray.

wear a mask and preferbly do it outside or in a well vetilated area that is shilded from the wind if your using solvent based paint... acrylic citadel paint is pretty safe to sprat indoors without the above requirements, just make sure the area is away from precious things like tv's etc... lol

thats all for now... i may think of other stuff though

[kennyjapan]

Thanks guys, thats a real help =) all i need now i guess is a cheapy airbrush i can throw around to practise with