Gravity/atmospheric pressure not enough to feed paint

[Nightwish]

You can get pretty small dots with a 0.3 mm setup. I wouldn’t go any smaller using oil paints because the pigments aren’t as fine as in airbrush paint. As using solvent based paints your seals that come in contact with paint have to be solvent proof. It’s the same with metallics, pearls and primer bigger is better, a 0.2 setup will clog up on you pretty fast.

 

[NiveusCorax]

You can get pretty small dots with a 0.3 mm setup. I wouldn’t go any smaller using oil paints because the pigments aren’t as fine as in airbrush paint. As using solvent based paints your seals that come in contact with paint have to be solvent proof. It’s the same with metallics, pearls and primer bigger is better, a 0.2 setup will clog up on you pretty fast.

That is why I want to try it with a cheap no-name airbrush. If I destroy it - I will not cry over it.
Trying (and possibly failing) is not an insignificant part of the enjoyment I get from learning a new skill or mastering a new tool.

 

[Nightwish]

I personally would go back to the 0.3 mm setup and do my experimenting with it. It would be more fun than fighting to get the airbrush to spray water with a 0.2 setup. Taking those results to knowing what works and what doesn’t would be a learning curve imo. You would have some results instead of frustration

 

[NiveusCorax]

I personally would go back to the 0.3 mm setup and do my experimenting with it. It would be more fun than fighting to get the airbrush to spray water with a 0.2 setup. Taking those results to knowing what works and what doesn’t would be a learning curve imo. You would have some results instead of frustration

Definitely, I gave up on the 0.2 set I have know. After I've taken the pictures and saw what the issue - I'm not going to try and make this particular airbrush to spray with this particular 0.2 needle set. I do have couple of needle sets on the back order though. But I guess we pretty much covered all possible issues that can happen, so I'll play with those other sets (0.2, 0.3, 0.5) when I get them.

As I said, this airbrush is for doing stupid things with it. For learning "normal" painting with acrylic paints I have other airbrushes. But since those cost quite bit of $, I'm not prepared to push just any random liquid though them.

 

[tatocorvette]

Hello,

That's what I was suspecting. We can help.
There is a general misconception out there that a smaller setup is only to make smaller dots or finer lines. While that is an important factor, there is a lot more to that. The main reason for different sizes (.2, .3, .5, etc.) is to accommodate different types of paint. If you try to spray say a heavy ceramic glaze thru a 0.2 you will most likely clog the heck out of it. Same with some strong metallics and pearls. The size of the pigment particles will dictate how they behave, flow and how much space they need to flow properly.
The size of a the smallest dot or finest line you can make will also depend on other factors like paint dilution, viscosity, pressure, distance, experience, etc. Yes, a 0.5 will move a bigger volume of paint than a 0.2 and that will be a factor, but your trigger control is critical.
The original reason I asked is because usually, a pistol trigger brush doesn't have the same level of precision control as a classic top trigger or a high roller trigger. Not that it can't be done, but pistol triggers are usually trying to mimic the feel of larger spray guns.

Now, about GAS, also known around here as AAD (Airbrush Acquisition Disorder), beware we are enablers. We will convince you that you need to buy every possible airbrush ever made in the last century and a half. This is a dangerous place in that respect.

The most important thing is: HAVE FUN!

Thanks,
Ismael

 

[NiveusCorax]

Hello,

That's what I was suspecting. We can help.
There is a general misconception out there that a smaller setup is only to make smaller dots or finer lines. While that is an important factor, there is a lot more to that. The main reason for different sizes (.2, .3, .5, etc.) is to accommodate different types of paint. If you try to spray say a heavy ceramic glaze thru a 0.2 you will most likely clog the heck out of it. Same with some strong metallics and pearls. The size of the pigment particles will dictate how they behave, flow and how much space they need to flow properly.
The size of a the smallest dot or finest line you can make will also depend on other factors like paint dilution, viscosity, pressure, distance, experience, etc. Yes, a 0.5 will move a bigger volume of paint than a 0.2 and that will be a factor, but your trigger control is critical.
The original reason I asked is because usually, a pistol trigger brush doesn't have the same level of precision control as a classic top trigger or a high roller trigger. Not that it can't be done, but pistol triggers are usually trying to mimic the feel of larger spray guns.

Now, about GAS, also known around here as AAD (Airbrush Acquisition Disorder), beware we are enablers. We will convince you that you need to buy every possible airbrush ever made in the last century and a half. This is a dangerous place in that respect.

The most important thing is: HAVE FUN!

Thanks,
Ismael

That is quite a nice summary you made here. Although I'm new to airbrushing and I'm no engineer or physicist, but I do understand how particle size relates to diameter of the hole they need to travel through. However, theoretical understanding of the subject simply can't hold the handle to hands-on experience IMHO
For someone else wondering around this thread, the shape of the needle has affect on how small a dot of paint one can make. Larger dual taper needle can potentially make a smaller dot on the surface than a smaller single taper needle, because "focal point" of a dual taper needle will be just in front the needle (i.e. in the air), where's single taper needle's "focal point" is at the very tip.