enamel paint airbrush

[johnpd]

Hi all, quick question! I am in the process of buying an airbrush and all the paints that I have got are enamel. Are they OK to use in an airbrush with enamel thinner?

[Paul]

Hi all, quick question! I am in the process of buying an airbrush and all the paints that I have got are enamel. Are they OK to use in an airbrush with enamel thinner?

They are yeah, but there a bit of a pig to spray and clean compared to acrylics

[johnpd]

Thank Paul. So is it best to do a 60/40 thinner to paint?

[Paul]

Thank Paul. So is it best to do a 60/40 thinner to paint?

If I'm honest I can't remember been 4 years since I last used enamels, try for a milk like consistency

[johnpd]

Will do cheers

[Neils]

Any airbrush with Teflon seals will do. Iwata Neo, H&S ultra etc. Use 50/50 thinners to paint(I used to use humbrol thinner) and cellulose thinners to clean the brush.

Spray outdoors or in a garage with the door open

I still have about a hundred quids worth of enamel paint, but bit the bullet and moved to acrylic because they dry faster(enamels take several hours), smell a lot less and seem to be a lot more versatile. Keep the enamels and use them for small details such as buttons, switches and the like.

[johnpd]

That's brilliant thank you.

[mick]

you can use cellouse thinners to thin the enamel paint, cuts the drying time in half 50/50 mix

[johnpd]

Cheers mate.

[HistoryRider]

Careful of the gloss enamels, they require more thinning that semi-gloss or flat enamels. I forgot once and paint job looked absolute crap. As everyone stated so far, I try to start out at least 50/50 but no less than 60/40 and thin it further depending on the spray quality. I can't wait to try acrylics again though! Good luck with the enamels, I'm in the same boat with a badger airbrush with teflon seals (as also stated above). I'm in the market myself for a second airbrush....these guys are talking me into an Iwata or H&S...

[sheppy]

I use artists turpentine for airbrushing humbrol enamels had no probs so far. and they dry fairly quick apart from gloss or metalics . and don't seem to chip off as easy as acrilics.

[graham22]

Used Enamels years ago using white spirit as thinner but since i returned to the hobby i've used just acrylics
less smell, easy to clean, enviromentally safer and healthier on the lungs (still use a mask and extractor if available though) and the added advantage is you can washout with water if you cock it up
like any atomised liquid be careful as can be hazardous to you health

[johnpd]

I'm gonna have to start getting the acrylics as I go I think. For now just got to use enamels. Thanks for the advice pal