finlander Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 What does everyone use for a psi when using watered down Createx? Was wondering because the small compressoe I just got seems a bit on the low side when wide open. I dont want to thin it to the point where the paint runs. Manual and site say max. psi is 30 but that happens when the needle is barely cracked open. I use the #3 needle on the VL. The pressure drops off rapidly when the button is held down. Maybe 17 to 18 at most. It is a single piston Polar Bear. $119. Thanks. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 I use a construction compressor that has a 3 gallon tank and pumps up to 125psi. I leave the regulator on that compressor at 80psi, and set my airbrush regulator at 35psi, so I can shoot pearls if I need to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 I usually shoot unthinned airbrush paint at around 30 psi continuous. I go down to 10-15 psi for detail work with thinned paint. I tried a 30 psi max compressor like yours when I started out. It's sitting on a shelf in the garage. I'd recommend using the finest size tip assembly on the VL. You can use it for anything related to crankbaits and it will help a bit with the pressure problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassn1 Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 My single action, siphon feed badger needs 30 -50 psi to run right. My new gravity fed dual action badger gun runs great at 10 psi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR KNOW IT ALL KIND OF Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 I shoot my paint at 45 to 60 psi...... Craftsman 33 gallon compressor 150 max... I never drop below 30 much at all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pikester Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 If you guys are spraying @ 30-40+psi how do you keep the overspray under control when doing throat splotches, side bars, back shading, etc? Do you control overspray/pressure strictly with the button on top of the gun or do you just use that pressure for the initial base colour(s) then thinning the paint & reducing the compressor pressure to 10-15psi for the detailing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR KNOW IT ALL KIND OF Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 I dont know about the other guys but I dont pull back on the trigger very far!!! most guys turn down the PSI!!! My paint splatters more when I turn it down... so I like it HIGH and really quick taps with my finger... I go through alot of tips because of the pressure I use to shot... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 pikester - I have four brushes, an old Iwata, still going (over 30 yrs), an Aztec (for rough stuff) and two cheapies from ebay, all double action gravity feed. I bought the brush pictured about 9 months ago on ebay NEW (@ ebay Australia) for A- $36 about U.S-$30 and they are still on there, it’s probably made in China, but it is my best, very adjustable and after “hotting it up” is by far the most versatile. I run it at between 20-25lb and adjust it up/down at the air screw at the tip. I have sprayed a little with thinners based enamels etc, but would expect at this price it would not have a ceramic seal, so I am not going to push it. Great for W/B and Tamiya ethanol based acrylics. For a starter, I highly recommend them. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rofish Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 Please explain something to me. Some mention a pressure of 10 psi at which shooting is possible. The pressure at sea level is 1 atm. which is equal to 14.696 psi. If you have a pressure of 10 psi in your air tank, this means that the atmospheric pressure is higher than the pressure in your tank. How can you shoot in such a situation? I don't have an airbrush, so I do not know much about such a tool, but I want to learn, to be prepared if I will ever have one. But some things seem curious to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finlander Posted February 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 After playimg with it abit more last night I believe it is usable. I can still play with the delution ratios. It is quiet and that was my reason for ordering it. I have used my VL with the red cap off to make adjustments on the flow. Did it last night too. I really would like an Iwata gravity, with that cutout for adjustments. But that is down the road. I will try different tips. Thanks for the replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassn1 Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Rofish...The pressure in my "tank" is at 125 psi. My regulater says 10 psi. It's a cheap air compresser so that gage may not be exactly right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Rofish, I won't try to wrap my brain around psi versus atmospheres:nuhuh: All I'm talking about is what the dial on my pressure regulator reads. Mine is adjustable and I use 30-45 psi for color basecoating, then drop it down to 15-20 psi when shooting details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rofish Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 After a secong thought, I think that my first way of thinking may not be right. Maybe the pressure indicator does not measure the atmospheric pressure (14.696 PSI) but what is above it. So when it indicates zero pressure, it means that it has exactly the pressure of the air outside it. Same thing happens with the pressure of the car tyres. It must be so, otherwire my brains would be unable to understand it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slobosoarous1 Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Hi guys, new here and new to tackle making. I am looking at badger airbrushes and not sure whether I should go with fine or medium for the spray...looking at their garage sale ones and their 360's are out so still not sure which one to get...Badgerairbrush.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish devil Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 hey slobo, in the local newspaper I found a 50% off coupon to AC moore and purchased the pro 150. I'm now looking for a gravity fed brush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6_feet_deep Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 After a secong thought, I think that my first way of thinking may not be right.... Rofish...the pounds per square inch (psi) of air is not determined by atmospheric pressure. It's determined by the pressure inside the tank that is holding the air. If the max amount of psi allowed is 125 then the tank will max out at 125 pounds of air per square inch inside the tank...some compressors will stop running when the max psi is reached and then turn back on when the air pressure drops below th max. Some, like mine, will continue to run but have a release valve that releases any amount of air over the max psi. The regulator that separates the air from the tank and your airbrush determines how much air is allowed to push the paint sort of like a filter...which usually drops down a psi or two when you press the trigger. Some people are more comfortable controlling their paint with their trigger only, like Rookie, and get great results like he does. Some people are more comfortable controlling their paint with the psi that is allowed to come out of the brush, like Bob, and get great results. Myself, I lean with Bob...not because I think that way is better, but just because I'm more comfortable using the air pressure regulator and the trigger. My setup: Iwata HP-CS, Industrial compressor with regulator, Createx water base, detail work at 10-12psi, layers at 25-30psi, base coats at 45psi. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 6 feet deep, I also have the Iwata, and use the air control at the end of the brush to "damp down" my airflow, instead of the regulator. Am I doing it wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6_feet_deep Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 6 feet deep,I also have the Iwata, and use the air control at the end of the brush to "damp down" my airflow, instead of the regulator. Am I doing it wrong? I don't think there is a wrong way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
