Mixing Airbrush Paint With Reducer

[MuskyGary]

Didn't want to hijack another thread. So, when you mix your reducer and paint do you do it in the airbrush or in a separate cup? If you mix in the  airbrush do you add the reducer first or second? If I put paint in the airbrush and try to spray and it doesn't, I have to clean out the whole airbrush and start over. I think I'm better off mixing in a small jar first and pouring into the airbrush, but wanted to see how you guys do it?

[gone2long]

Well here's the deal IMO I mix in the cup reducer first paint second, why because paint is thicker than reducer and will not mix well when back flushed I do use a tooth pick often to aid in mixing as well, also if you have a pipette you can repeatedly suck it up and push it back in the cup to aid in mixing. Why not mix a batch in a bottle? because if you are using some of the high performance reducer's out there they have a pot life of around 72 hours then the batch is ruined. Of course if you have a lid for your brush then I guess you wouldn't have asked the question as that would be self explanatory.

[mark poulson]

I use small salsa cups, because I'm not good at mixing in the brush's cup.  It wastes a little paint, but I can see how thin the paint is before I add it to the brush, so I avoid clogging.

[FrogAddict]

I use small salsa cups, because I'm not good at mixing in the brush's cup.  It wastes a little paint, but I can see how thin the paint is before I add it to the brush, so I avoid clogging.

X2, I like to see how thin the paint is before I put it in the cup.