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Hello everyone.

I've bought an airbrush and have a couple of questions to ask. Before asking I'll say that English is not my language so sorry if I make any mistakes. Also wanted to point out the fact that I've been watching a lot of airbrushing videos, I've learnt what I consider a lot about airbrushing but still have some questions. Here we go.

This is what I have to make things easier: http://everythingairbrush.com/airbrushing-kits-brand/value-kit-range/finespray-kits/as-186-compressor-airbrush-starter-kit.html

1 - When I spray the pressure lowers and when I stop it goes back to the previous pressure. I mean, I set it to work for example at 1.5 BAR but when I spray it lowers to 1.2 and when I stop it goes back to 1.5. About this I have two questions. Is this normal? that's the first one and the second one, if this is normal is, what's the pressure I'm actually using? 1.5? or 1.2? just to have an idea when I read something or see a video of a guy using certain pressure, to know if I have to set the guage to that pressure when releasing air or when not releasing.

2 - I have that compressor in the picture. It gets hot, really hoy at about 20-30 mins? I know it has a tank and that's always good but my question, is normal that it becomes too hot? will it turn off by itself when is too hot to avoid damages? I usually check the temperature and if is too hot I stop for a moment.

3 - I also have the cleaning pot that came in that pack and it comes with 2 filters made of what I think is cotton. Do you replace the filters very often? Do you buy new ones or make your owns? Is cotton, shouldn't be hard to make a new one. For now after my first session I washed them (they were gray) and let them dry.

4 - When I was doing my first gradient tests I started from black to light blue and in the end I used some white. Everything from vallejo (air and primer). The problem here is that at the end, when I wanted to do the final lights with white, I used the primer instead of the vallejo air color and got like some little drops, see the picture:

http://i.imgur.com/bLU7DpK.jpg

My questions are, is that normal? can I avoid that? I assumed that it was because I was using the primer and is not suitable for painting nor have too many accuracy when painting, that for that purpose I have the vallejo air range. The thing is thinking about it, doesn't look that bad if used on a darker blue to mimic some stars (remember those street artists with sprays doing stuff like that?) and I wanted to know if that's because I used the primer, if is because I used the wrong pressure, if I didn't shake the primer well enough ... but I also want to know how to achieve it again if in the future I'm looking for that effect.

Later I found that this could have been due to the pressure being too low. If I want a lower pressure to get a finer detail (let's say around 1 BAR) should I thin the paint down? I use vallejo air and don't really thin it but I might if that would improve the results. Also for now I only have access to this kind of thinner. http://www.winsornewton.com/uk/shop/oils-solvents-mediums-and-varnishes/oil-colour/oils-solvents-mediums-and-varnishes-for-artisan/artisan-water-mixable-thinner-2-53-us-fl-oz-75ml-bottle-3021729 would that work for an airbrush ?

Those are basically my questions for now

I'm very happy with the result and the fact that I couldn't use sprays for living in an apartment thus making priming hard, and boring. Now is much funnier and fast!

Thanks for your time!

I have the same compressor kit, using a Weda Wd180 airbrush.

1) Totally normal. don't worry about it too much - just adjust the pressure to something which works for you.
I always press down (which lowers the pressure) for a moment before pulling back. So the paint is flowing at a constant pressure - the lower pressure of the two.

2) Totally normal for a longer session or more prolonged session. I don't worry about it anymore.

3) I wouldn't worry about the filters in the cleaning pot. the pot is really just there to blast through water / cleaner to get the paint out of your airbrush.

4) those drops could mean you have paint that is too thick, a clogged the airbrush, or perhaps you have a dry tip (clean the tip regularly - a quick dab with a cotton bud is enough).

Keep practicing!

Thank you very much for all the answers man, I appreciate it!

I really love the airbrush, makes gradients so much smoother.

About the drops, I fixed it with a higher pressure but I think I have to thin the paint down if I want to use lower pressure to spray closer so will keep practicing

Since most of your questions were answered I will just add my little bits.

The white drops could also be that the airbrush was to far away from the model.

You could also use denatured alcohol to thin your paints. It evaporates quickly and works well.

Thank you!

It was more due to pressure or clogging issues than for being too far away as coming closer resulted in the spider legs. I will try with my current thinner as I don't have ethanol and find it a little hard to get here where I live which is surprising. I live in Limerick, Ireland.

I thin my airbrush paints with Vodka..
Readily available.
Already thinned down to 40% which is what is generally recomended.
In my kit I have a medicine bottle with a pipette filled with Vodka.
Also useful for washing minis.
Have an old Film Canister with Vodka used for that purpose.

Vodka........damm........thats hardcore.......
I read that vallejo dont mix will with alcohol though.

So, If I would like to make thinner lines and spray closer to have more detail I should lower the pressure and therefore thin the paints right?

For fine lines, thin the paint, lower the pressure and work close with very low paint flow. Don't pull back on the trigger much - if you have an action limiter - usually a knob on the back of the airbrush handle), use it. Be prepared to suffer tip dry. You may find that inks work better than emulsion paints.

Most acrylics we use are actually an emulsion - pigment suspended in medium. Inks differ in that the pigment is DISSOLVED in the medium. Much smoother for very fine work.

Thanks!! For the airbrush I use vallejo air. I need to get a thinner for sure!