P.s.i???

[Guest]

I don't do fancy detailed work and I have always set my compressor at 35-40 psi but I have read a lot lately and im starting to think that's to high! What do you guys set yours at?

[rickoshea52]

20-25 for paint and 10-12 for pigment fixer.

[colin m]

Around the 20 mark, maybe even lower for a really thin paint mix.

[stona]

35-40 psi for everything (various brands of enamel paint) except Alclad which seems to go on better at a lower pressure.


Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

There's no set level for PSI, it's whatever you're happy with. The usual rule of thumb however is the thinner the paint, the lower the pressure - especially if you're working close to the model.


Paint types matter too - most acrylic users seem to prefer 20 PSI or even much less. As an enamel user, I range from 35 - 10 PSI. I find the higher pressure aids atomization, leaving a smoother finish

[Guest]

99% of the time its either Revell or Tamiya acrylics

[Guest]

99% of the time its either Revell or Tamiya acrylics

Dunno about Revell, but in my experience Tamiya acrylics like to go down quite wet, so keep the airbrush no more than 6" from the model & at least 20PSI

[stona]

I've never understood the argument for dropping the pressure for close up or detailed work. My airbrush, with my paints, works best at around 35 psi (on the not particularly accurate regulator gauge) no matter what I'm doing. That includes fine squiggly lines and mottle so often seen on Luftwaffe subjects.


If I had a quid for every time I've seen advice to lower pressure and up the thinning for applying Luftwaffe mottle I could afford one of those HK 1/32 Do 335s I covet I spray mine in exactly the same way I spray everything else. There is definitely a tendency in the model making community generally, not just here, to over think and over complicate airbrushing.


Cheers


Steve

[john i am]

Personally All acrylics 20-25 psi


Alclads 12 psi and a gentle trigger finger. Hope this helps.

[Guest]

Between 12 and 20 psi for most types of paint work.


scott

[Guest]

I have to agree Steve! The pressure regulator on my compressor hardly gets used! Up to maximum for flushing & 30-35 PSI for most things.


I've only ever gone down to really low pressure during my limited experience with Vallejo paints. For some reason they seem to like under 15 PSI

[Robert1968]

I agree with Scot I use 3 main types of paint Revell Aqua Tamiya acrylics and Vallejo range of paints. Mainly I use around 18- 20psi for my models at varying closeness with light coats each time. sometimes I turn the pressure up to 35 when cleaning the A/b to make sure I get it clean Paint mixes are with all their thinner types Revell to Revell Tamiya to Tamiya as I notice that each thinners work differently with each paint so that's something to consider when spraying. Tamiya seems nice to spray as does Revell and Vallejo. I've never sprayed enamels so I cannot venture advice on this.


Cleaning the A/b and keeping the nib clean I find is vital ( I always have a thimble of the thinner I'm mixing with handy and cotton buds to clean the nib ( things I've learned off other people and sites. Hope this of some help


Kind regards


Robert

[yak face]

35 to 40 for me , turning the pressure down and thinning the paint highly would only cause runs and spidering in my hands !! As steve says there is no right or wrong way , just whatever works best for you , cheers tony

[stona]

turning the pressure down and thinning the paint highly would only cause runs and spidering in my hands !!

In anyone's hands Tony. If you over thin the paint you'll dilute it to the point where you end up with something that's not really paint but might still be good for a wash! One of the reasons I spray at a higher pressure is that this works for me with the paint thinned enough to spray but not so much that the sort of thing you describe will happen.I can usually cover a grey primer with one coat of paint. I've just done precisely that with some White Ensign/Sovereign RLM 02 in my current project.


Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

Steve, I might have missed it, but what kind of paint do you use?