SmithersBaits Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Hey guys im new to TU so let me say hello first. thanks for making a great forum im 30 years old and im from new york. any ways enough with the boring stuff. i just started airbrushing crankbaits a couple months ago and im slowly working out problems and stuff anyways im stuck. im having trouble with like what i call a grainy problem. i just recorded a video and put it up on my youtube channel if ya'll could take a watch and tell me what you think please and thank you it would be a big help im lost. https://youtu.be/7A6jTUfUeCk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 I am not a painter, so I am not going to help you with this. I just wanted to say, a stroke of genius posting a video of the problem and I am sure you are going to get lots of useful help here. Welcome to TU. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) Great idea...showing it on You Tube as Vodkaman stated....I stopped after you did the gill plate in black Createx...what I see right off the bat, you are holding the gun too close at that pressure. if you have an eclipse with a .035 tip there is no need to reduce it. The first paint you used is very thin and you need to have a light touch on the trigger. From the looks of it, it appear you are shooting with too much pressure as well. Are you pulling the trigger all the way back? Don't......takes practice. If your regulator says 7psi when you were shooting it is wrong because it looked the same each time to me. For example, if your regulator say 30 before you shoot, it should go down to about 15psi once you start shooting. that is your working pressure. Let me watch the rest Just viewed the rest...can't really tell but are you pulling the trigger all the way back? I would like to see another video showing your compressor with regulator reading. Sounds like a Harbor Freights or TC Global compressor. Try shooting leaf green createx if you have without thinning. Go easy on the trigger and make sure the gun is clean. fill the cup with water. Pull out the needle and wipe any paint off. Unscrew the to nozzles and make sure there is no paint in there. They have cheap brushes for cleaning...water is only necessary if you are using water base paints Before you put the needle back in, put the nozzles back on and back wash. Put your finger over the nozzle and pull the trigger. it should bubble nicely. Spray some water and it should be a nice evenly round mist like when you first bought it. needle back in and shoot the water out. I do this between each color. Takes 30 seconds. I only need to REALLY clean my gun once every 6 months this way....works for me... Edited January 8, 2016 by Richard Prager Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmithersBaits Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 i tried a few different psi settings in the video just to show and get more into detail. when i was shooting the createx it was a bit higher because its thicker i think i went up to 20 with it or so. normally depends on which paint im using with com art ill go down to about 10 but the grainy thing is still a problem. with createx or wicked its much thinker even after reducing it ill use it around 15 to 20 depending on the thickness. thats shooting pressure not starting pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goose77 Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Hey Smithers, welcome to the site. I'm sorry you're having problems...this is frustrating at times. First, your choice of paints [and variety] is overall really good. The ComArt paints are pretty good, but more variable than Createx. The Createx paints are good paints, I like them and it seems, many prefer them over all others. The translucent paints are generally thinner and do spider on hard surfaces, even with low pressure at times. The opaque paints are harder for me to shoot, so at times I thin them...some folks don't thin Createx at all. The Wicked paints I almost always thin...I use separate bottles for tis and get them where I like them [skim milk is about right]. Your airbrush is super...it's a great tool. I assume you're cleaning it. I believe your technique looks pretty good too. It seems you're looking for clean lines, and in my experience that's not what happens. The edges of the painted area do look fuzzy...that can be an advantage. Clean lines mean masking for me. I have the same airbrush, and I can't do real sharp, fine lines. Build your colors and shades a little at a time [repeat that]. Be patient and build the work gradually. I actually believe you're doing ok. Hang in there and cheers, Ed 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmithersBaits Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 the compressor is one of those cheap ones i believe it came from tc global. cheap starting kit. everything you said about cleaning out between colors is exactly what i do im pretty anal about not mixing colors unless of course i intend to. so the brush is spotless before i start with any color. also i break it down at the end of the night and do a good cleaning with water and then with airbrush solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) It isn't about mixing the colors, it's about the paint collecting on the needle....spray some black and then pull the needle out. A dollar to a doughnut there will be paint on your needle....Hold the gun further away and don't pull the trigger all the way back. i don't know if you are doing that or not. It looks like too much pressure. The more you thin the paint the less it will adhere to the surface. Don't get frustrated or kick the dog............just yet! Also, spray the gun empty on your arm to make sure you don't have any moisture in the line.... Edited January 8, 2016 by Richard Prager 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmithersBaits Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 thank you guys for the advice i greatly appreciate it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 let us know how goes it....and the search engine above is also a great tool as well as You Tube..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 As Richard mentions, lots of very good videos out there. I watch them because I know that one day I WILL paint. Once you get comfortable with the process, put out a follow-up video, that would be really neat. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmithersBaits Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Hey guys, if you go back to my youtube channel i have up a few lure painting videos. ive done this for a little while my paints use to spray alot better thats why im confused as to why they are not working right now. go check out some videos thanks for showing interest and thanks for the help and advice i appreciate it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliders Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 Does look like shooting too much paint, also have you changed primer? Great idea to film . Trying to shoot createx colour opaque black is definitely tricky balance if your trying to get fine shading.However if you had success with it before, something else must have changed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbob Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 Just curious could a bent needle tip also be causing this problem i was having a similar problem and changed my needle and seem to help a lot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 (edited) I believe like Richard stated. You are doing fine Smithers, check your equipment for proper pressures, clean brush, and your distance compared to pressure maybe a problem also. It's a learning curve for us all as we try something different. Just make sure your info that you are getting from your regulator and gauges are correct. The rest, you will get down in time. @ jbob; A bent needle can drive you nuts. It can make all kinds of headaches, many more then I want to mention. I bought a airbrush with one (bent) when I first started. GRRRRR! Not a good way for a beginner to start off with. Remember that I have been painting for some time. Later, Dale Edited January 10, 2016 by DaleSW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmithersBaits Posted January 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 thanks guys, i took a look at the needle it seemed fine it should be anyways the airbrush is less then a month old i got it december 15th. as far as shooting to much paint i wasnt trying to regulate how much i shot because my goal was just to show the grainy effect not the regulation of the amount of paint used.. i have videos up that shows me properly painting. also i am going down right now to paint a few common patterns so hopefully everything goes well i will have my camera on so i can show more problems if i need. thanks everyone i really appreciate it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Most of us go through the same experience with airbrushing as you. You start out and find you can't shoot a fine line and wonder if it's your lack of control or just inherent problems with your paint or airbrush. Well, it's all of the above. Fine lines require good trigger control + specific airbrush settings and technique + paint thinning. And most important, plenty of practice - especially if you hope to get it right on both sides of a bait. I basically gave up trying to freehand fine lines years ago. Instead I rely on templates. They can look "too defined" if you don't also learn how to use fine shading to blend them into the overall color scheme. But they are a reliable way to get detail on a bait and they make it easy to get both sides of a bait painted the same way. Do they look as good as some of the masterpieces of freehand airbrush art you see on some of the baits here on TU? Sorry, no. But it's the best many of us ham handed painters can produce and you can still make baits to be proud of with this method. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 If you don't already have one, I'd suggest the Iwata Mac valve to put where your air line enters your brush. It is a micro air control valve. Being able to control air pressure right at the brush, so I could play around easily and not have to fool around with my regulator, made a huge difference for me in being able to play with air pressure as I paint. http://www.coastairbrush.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Iwata_Mac_Air_Controll_Valve&cat=317 This is just one place that sells them online. I'm sure there are others. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatt baits Posted January 13, 2016 Report Share Posted January 13, 2016 as far as a mac valve i would suggest grex mirco control valve you can buy at chicago air brush great people to help with prob youtube search wicked colors line control vs reduction (3 part series) and air brush nebie tips buy sean I think you are trying to run before you can walk (i did to) follow thier advice and it will be a better experience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmithersBaits Posted January 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2016 Hey Guys, First let me say thanks for all of the advice. i greatly appreciate every single one of the responses. I did end up figuring out my problem and let me say i feel suppppperrrr dumb haha. So some how some way my needle got switched out with an old bent tip needle from my previous neo cn airbrush. same size as my iwata eclipse need .35 so i didnt notice until i rebroke it down to do a very good cleaning ( as advised). i keep my old bent needles around for various reasons and i must have grabbed an old one and put it in when i had the normal one out for cleaning. so the result of not paying attention is what it comes down to.. also may i add for anyone who reads this that might have the "grainy" issuse as well ive noticed some of my paints have always been like that esp createx opaque black even after thinning. thanks for the help once again. and happy lure making and tight lines to all 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goose77 Posted January 13, 2016 Report Share Posted January 13, 2016 Good for you...must be a relief. Good luck with your work. Cheers, Ed 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted January 13, 2016 Report Share Posted January 13, 2016 Good news - thanks for reporting back, this is very helpful. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 In most cases a bent needle can be fixed. Place the end of the needle in the grooves of a pair of pliers. Clamp down, turn the needle and clamp down again. You can get any nicks out and re-polish with fine wet sandpaper. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
