Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

How do I go about using Vallejo polyurethane varnish though my airbrush? I've only used acrylic paints so far. I've got an Iwata Eclipse so I don't want to accidentally ruin it... Should I just get some cans of varnish instead?

Vallejo PU varnish thins with Vallejo Airbrush Thinner, I've sprayed the satin variety on occasion.

If you're spraying matte or satin make sure you mix it heaps, the matting agent settles at the bottom and takes some vigorous mixing to get it evenly distributed through the varnish. I don't know why but the PU varnish it really sticks to the bottom of the bottle, more so than the acrylic varnish. I usually find I have to get a long piece of sprue to use as a stirrer and stir the matting agent in, shaking doesn't work if the varnish has been sitting idle for a period of time.

I like Vallejo's PU varnish more than their acrylic, I seemed to get mixed results with Vallejo's acrylic varnishes. Though these days I don't use it all that much because I like Testors Dullcote even more (the bottle variety Dullcote, not the spray can variety).

You'll need to increase the psi a bit as well. You're trying to push something slightly thicker through the brush.

Thanks guys, how do o clean it? Any chance of clogging up the parts?

 Buttery Commissar wrote:
You'll need to increase the psi a bit as well. You're trying to push something slightly thicker through the brush.

I just thin it until it sprays nicely. Assuming it's the same one I'm thinking, Vallejo's PU varnishes aren't designed to be airbrushed, but they do airbrush nicely once thinned.

Sometimes when you raise the psi to force something too thick through, it will slowly clog the nozzle and you'll get a rougher finish, better just to thin it so it sprays nicely to begin with.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Mymearan wrote:
Thanks guys, how do o clean it? Any chance of clogging up the parts?

I just use Vallejo Airbrush Cleaner, like I do with everything else.

The thing to remember with varnish is just because it LOOKS clean, doesn't mean it is Follow your normal cleaning procedure, if anything be more rigorous even if you think you've gotten it clean follow through with your normal cleaning technique..

I've heard people at the local hobby store complain that they clogged their brush with one varnish or another, I think they just weren't vigilant enough in their cleaning or maybe used a cleaner that wasn't compatible with the varnish.

Make sure you don't empty the varnish out and then leave the brush before cleaning it properly as a thin layer of varnish inside the passages will dry quickly and be hard to remove, as soon as you empty the varnish put the cleaner in to stop the varnish residue drying. Same thing if you run out while spraying, don't let the brush sit, either put more varnish in immediately or fill it with cleaner.