Airbrush paint

[strada]

What sort of airbrush paint do I need to paint a bike panel ?
I have tried the acrylic paint that I use to paint on canvas, ive just thinned it with water but it just started to flake off.
I did sand the panel before hand but the paint seemed very fragile

I don't want to spend a fortune on proper airbrush paint yet as im just having a go to see if I can get on with it.
I have seen a primary colour set from sm designs for around £30 5 colours and a reducer, 60mil bottles .
These are also water based.
Any suggestions

 

[cumbriasteve]

Here you go:

http://www.smdesigns.co.uk/autoair

it does say water based but perhaps there is some difference, they are advertising for car panels.

 

[steveo3002]

have you considered a mini spray gun..£10 ish on ebay

would be ideal for bike parts , and you can use pretty much any paint thats thinned a bit

 

[strada]

have you considered a mini spray gun..£10 ish on ebay

I am using an airbrush steve, just cant get the paint to stick.
I did a test piece and used a small brush and brushed some on a panel,after drying the paint was ok, I did the same but used the airbrush to give a couple of coats but it started to flake off in parts.
I have only thinned the acrylics I use to paint canvas to do this,
I am thinking of doing a picture on the panel.

 

[fixerupper]

I found with water based paint the air pressure can dry the paint before it adears to the suface, so try shutting down the air flow and giving yourself more time ... jeff...

 

[strada]

you might be on to something there Jeff, currently using 20/25 psi. Will do more experiments,lol

 

[keithski122]

I'm sure that the two airbrush artists that I've dealt with use ordinary basecoat for mural work.

 

[strada]

Thanks Keith, forgive me,as you can tell this is all new, would the base coat be a solvent ?

 

[keithski122]

I've not a huge amount of paint experience,even less with airbrush work. I've had two custom scooters painted in the past and a karmann ghia with flames painted on it.I have just painted a beetle myself with basecoat followed by 2 pack clear.
The basecoat that I used was mixed with a solvent thinners, offhand I think it might have been 50/50.It may be that with an airbrush you might need to thin it more.
It was a long time ago I had the scooters painted,I think the base colour was done first followed by clear then the murals were done next followed by more clear.I remember the artist telling me that he used an ink eraser to get the hair effect, I guess there is a lot more tricks to it.

 

[strada]

That's what ive been asked to paint ( a scooter ) well the little storage compartment,i think he called it the butty box,lol.
I painted a mk2 rally car for him on canvas with brushes and it went from there.
I allready had a airbrush,only a cheap machine mart one,so thought i would try it out.
He wanted me to do the picture with brushes but after trying the airbrush i know its going to give a better finish, no brush lines etc..its all a big learning curve and like you say plenty of tricks to it,im sticking to the bascs for now. Thanks for the info,if i manage to get it done i will post a pic.

 

[MarkG]

I do a load of airbrushing for various projects.. Always used Humbrol enamels as they are easy to use, and give a decent hard finish. Need thinning down on a 2:1 ratio (paint:thinner)

 

[strada]

Thanks mark,

I just got a couple of small tubs of these to try. The ratio you use, is that 2 parts paint and 1 thinners ?
Come to think of it,im sure the enamels I have are water based.Can I still reduce these with thinners ?

 

[strada]

Just had a look they are not humbrol but plasti kote and are water based. Will get some humbrol and give em them a try.
Thanks again.

 

[mike os]

plastic parts?