Iwata airbrushes

Well I don’t have that brand of airbrush but I know that not all paints will work in airbrushes because they will clog the airbrush. Golden paint makes an airbrush media that can be mixed with any acrylic paint to make it airbrush safe. Hope that helps 🙂

Oh airbrushes! Always trying to be so exclusive with their products! Airbrush paint brands are always like, OMG ouuurs is the best!!111 😀 Don’t be tricked… it’s all your personal preference, depending on how you paint, how you set your air brush up, and what you’re painting. As long as you clean your airbrush out well, especially with water based paint, it’s all good!

Using both water based and solvent based paint in the same airbrush is generally not advisable, because unless you keep the airbrush absolutely squeaky clean, the solvents in the solvent paint can loosen up crust left from the water based paint and make all sorts of clogging fun happen! That’s probably moot because most people probably just stick with water based paint at home.

Filtering just means pouring the paint through a fine sieve to remove any clumps so it doesn’t clog your airbrush (or clog it as much 😀 ). You can purchase disposable fine mesh paint filters at a hardware or paint store, or online. They are usually a paper cone with the tip of the cone made from mesh. Or you can get plastic funnel filters that last a long time.

There are tons of water based airbrush paints out there, made for hobby, taxidermy, auto painting and whatever else people do with it. Just because it’s made for one thing, doesn’t mean you can’t use it for a different application as long as the paint and the surface are agreeable. Different airbrush paints have wildly different consistencies… Some are quite thin and watery, while others are very thick and syrupy! Some paints settle out (the solids settle annoyingly at the bottom of the bottle) a lot more than others and can cause clogging, and some stay fairly mixed and evenly fluid even when they’ve been sitting on the shelf for ages. It’s always a good idea to give your paint a shake before using, regardless.

I tend to only filter my paint when the paint is quite old or settled out… 9__9 If the paint is fresh and holds solution then I don’t bother. If you’re pouring the paint into your airbrush and you see particles or blobs plopping in there, or if you smear some paint between your fingers and see some particulate, then definitely filter the paint (and clean the airbrush out before pouring the nicely filtered paint in there!). Sometimes it’s hard to see the clumps though, so if your airbrush is being a brat, it’s a good idea to filter the paint just to rule it out as an issue. When I’ve been in a pinch and had to use thinned tube acrylics or latex paint, I’ve always filtered just to be safe.

I dunno. The paint you choose to paint with is a personal choice! People will love and hate the same brand of paint for painting the exact same thing. If you like your paint, then go for it! You won’t kill your Iwata as long as you take care of it. 🙂

(wow sorry for babbling on so much! O__o)

Psst… Windstone uses this brand and I guarantee you they use different kinds of paint. XD

Just make sure to get something to clean it well afterward. I hate chemicals, but if you don’t have a sonic bath then you should use something designed to clean airbrushes. I use a brand that smells like the worst isopropyl alcohol ever. I don’t know what it’s called because the label is all in Japanese.

I use Iwata myself…an Iwata HP-C. They’re definately pimping they’re own brand of paints. I’ve put many brands and varieties of paints through my airbrush with no problem. Like Jennifer said, keeping it clean is an important issue, or it will start misbehaving, spitting, and clogging. Do you have one of the little brush sets for cleaning an airbrush yet? Here’s a link to what one looks like.

http://cgi.ebay.com/5-pc-Tattoo-Airbrush-Spray-Gun-Tip-Cleaning-Brush-Kit-/280504514265?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item414f5f36d9#ht_3535wt_1137

They dont cost much, but it’s the best $3 accessory you’ll ever buy. 😀

Oh, one side note…make sure any paint you use is smooth (edit-sorry, guess this was already covered)…..if it happens to have little lumps in it that are solid or goopy, it will clog up your airbrush in a hurry. Consistent light textured paints work much better through an airbrush than thick, uneven, or grainy textured paints. Which means metallic paints with larger metal flake bits will be harder to work with than finer grade metallics. And, putting a quick shot of cheap windex through your airbrush, followed by a bit of a water rinse in between color changes will help your spray consistency as well.

Yuh…I really need to buy a bigger tip for my airbrush…I run everything though the tip my airbrush came with!

I dont think those paints will actually hurt your airbrush, they’re just more prone to clogging and “burping” that can mar a sculpture if you’re trying for a perfect finish. Iwata airbrushes…being stainless steel, are great for using different paints because it’s a material that’s easy to clean, and hard to damage.

😀 I love experimenting with my airbrush, it’s the absolute best way to learn and develop an airbrushing style all your own. Be sure to post your first ‘finished’ experiment!