Sotar paint reduction

[azarel444]

Ive been playing a lot with my sotar and yesterday i went back and forth between using distilled water to reduce and using createx reducer. It seems as if it needs a whole lot more reducer than it does water to get it to flow right. With reducer it just wasnt spraying right. Trigger would pull further than needed to get paint flowing. I even let it sit for a while after mixing. I cleaned and refilled 3 times with different amounts of reducer. None performed very well. Then i went back to just distilled water and i while the paint is much thinner i barely have to pull the trigger at all and paint starts to flow perfecty. I can do tiny tiny gradients. Has anyone else has trouble thinning with reducer in their sotar?

 

[tatocorvette]

My very little experience with acrylics in the SOTAR has been with distilled water only. Still need to nail it down but so far so good. The game changer for me was straining the paint before putting in the cup.

 

[RK Ink and Focus]

From what i read, the sotar is quite critical with its paint but also createx and createx reducer cause issues with other brushes too.

 

[RK Ink and Focus]

If using distilled water works for you thats fine though, I use a mix which is 90% distilled water as a reducer.

 

[azarel444]

From what i read, the sotar is quite critical with its paint but also createx and createx reducer cause issues with other brushes too.

Im seeing that now since ive only had problems with using it. Im going to stick to distilled water.

 

[azarel444]

My very little experience with acrylics in the SOTAR has been with distilled water only. Still need to nail it down but so far so good. The game changer for me was straining the paint before putting in the cup.

Straining is something i haven't tried yet. What do you use to strain your paints?

 

[tatocorvette]

I use one of these. Cheap from the hardware store. These are used in laundry's washing machines to filter heavier sediments. They go inside the water hose. I'm sure there are finer alternatives but even this coarse, it works for me.

 

[tatocorvette]

I have seen these advertised a lot. Haven't tried them thou.

 

[Kingpin]

An old pair of the wifes tights can do the job too, just make sure she isnt wearing them at the time

 

[DaveG]

I have found that with some of the reducers, like 4011, or 4013, even though you are reducing the viscosity of the paint, it does not seem to lower the surface tension. Especially in a very dry environment. That stuff grabs the walls of the paint channel with a death grip, and even though it seems thinner than water, it ain't letting go! I think that is one of the benefits of the new 4021 - it greatly reduces surface tension allowing the paint to flow very easily.

 

[JuanRi]

I have seen these advertised a lot. Haven't tried them thou.
View attachment 90682 View attachment 90683

This tip has worked very well for me, even if you are using a small glass recipient it could be even better because you are able to see the little dry particles in the paint and rid of them easily.

 

[Drastion]

Straining is something i haven't tried yet. What do you use to strain your paints?

Straining for the Sotar is a little complicated because of the small cup size. Well not complicated just multiple steps.

These work great since you just pop them in the paint cup and the mesh is metal so it is really fine. Although the do not fit in the Altar cup.

Airbrush Paint Filter Cups (set of 2) 33-24 mm size - SprayGunner

Achieve professional results every time with U-Star's Airbrush Paint Filter Cups. Say goodbye to frustrating clogs and enjoy uninterrupted painting sessions with ease and precision.

spraygunner.com

I have a few old Floquil paint jars. So I can just pour it into the jar then into the Sotar. That or if you just left the Sotar in a holder then held the filter tilted to the side and slowly poured the paint in. You could do it that way. Just more likely to make a mess and I am clumsy enough already so I just use a separate jar and use that to dilute the paint.