Varnish in an airbrush

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**Aerethan**

So I have a bottle of Liquitex Maate Varnish, and a while back someone mentioned that you could airbrush it.

My biggest question is how does one thin it, and more importantly how do I clean my airbrush after using it?

**ScootyPuffJunior**

Don't thin it and clean your airbrush like you normally would.

**Aerethan**

ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
Don't thin it and clean your airbrush like you normally would.

what about the varnish that dries in the brush pot(gravity fed)?

Would I clean that off with IPA like I do regular dried paint?

**ScootyPuffJunior**

Aerethan wrote:
ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
Don't thin it and clean your airbrush like you normally would.

what about the varnish that dries in the brush pot(gravity fed)?

Would I clean that off with IPA like I do regular dried paint?

Nothing should really be drying inside the cup, at least where the needle is. When varnishing (and any painting really), you should pour a little in at a time, spray what you need to spray, rinse out immediately. I don't use isopropyl alcohol to clean my brushes, I use water for color changes (sometimes followed by a little bit of cleaner for stubborn colors) and Vallejo Airbrush Cleaner at the end of a painting session. When and if I get get a little paint higher up in the cup (usually from being sloppy when I pour it in or from bubbles when air backfeeds from a clogged tip), I typically don't do anything about until I do my monthly break down and ultrasonic cleaning.

**MajorTom11**

With vallejo you don't have to thin, with liquitex you do. Use whatever AB thinner you normally use, put it at about a 7/10 varnish and 3/10 thinner to start, check the viscosity in the cup, if in doubt, add a tiny bit more, then spray. Thinned varnish will still cover if it isn't overly thinned, you can just put on 2 coats if you are worried, I find though one will do it on all but the heaviest wear models.

I recommend grabbing vallejo for this, they are airbrush ready already. Liquitex is not designed for it though it is compatible.

You can clean as normal, just don't wait too long.

**Aerethan**

I use Liquitex Airbrush medium for all my thinning(even for regular painting now) so compatibility isn't an issue.

I'll give this a whirl tonight on a few test models before taking the plunge on real paintjobs.

**ScootyPuffJunior**

MajorTom11 wrote:
With vallejo you don't have to thin, with liquitex you do. Use whatever AB thinner you normally use, put it at about a 7/10 varnish and 3/10 thinner to start, check the viscosity in the cup, if in doubt, add a tiny bit more, then spray. Thinned varnish will still cover if it isn't overly thinned, you can just put on 2 coats if you are worried, I find though one will do it on all but the heaviest wear models.

I recommend grabbing vallejo for this, they are airbrush ready already. Liquitex is not designed for it though it is compatible.

You can clean as normal, just don't wait too long.

I do not thin any varnishes (Liquitex or Vallejo) in my airbrushes and have had no problems with either, even at lower pressures and tiny needles, but I guess YMMV. The Vallejo varnishes are good enough, but the Liquitex are just as good and cheaper by volume.

OP- Make sure you stir the matte varnish well. It has a tendency to settle at the bottom (especially if it has been sitting on a shelf at the store for a long time) and even the most violet shaking won't free it. I used an old, long-handled paint brush turned upside down to stir it up.

**Gunzhard**

I use Liquitex varnishes with a small amount of liquitex thinner... it works just fine, and cleans up just fine.