Hard time with holding A.B. comfortably

M

Mr. Magoo

Guest
This is as basic as it gets, getting a comfortable hand hold on the tool.

Mostly I want to work flat on a table but my problem is the air hose and connectors are 4" long so that I have to use one hand to lift the hose to avoid it from steering the brush. That leaves me without a second hand for additional guidance and steadying. A quick solution would be to eliminate the quick connect which is over an inch long, BUT I switch brushes too often so that's not an ideal solution.

The other problem is that I work with long lines a lot so I need second hand guidance most of the time. Free handing with just one hand doesn't work for me. I'm wondering how others deal with these issues. I'm in a wheelchair so standing up isn't a solution for me but I know that many of you work sitting, so how do you deal with that pesky air hose? (Note: my Sotar A.B. air connector is much farther forward than most so that its positioning causes more interference. My new Iwata brush is supposed to arrive today so perhaps this is a problem that will resolve itself.).
 
That hose can be a pain in the.....I wrap the hose around my hand and wrist but it dont eliminate all of the probs for me as a lot of my work is on the back of trucks and the dam hose will when im not paying attention rub against the surface:cry::cry::eek:lollol
 
yup i have the same quick connect and a secondary water trap which makes for a huge amount of fuss under the airbrush. i have found that over time and practicing daggers and different strokes i have got use to it and can paint quite steady one handed but it took some prectice.
you could try angling you work. propping it at an angle should better for your neck and back too, i can't imagine its nice to be leaning over work all day long too. i know you have mentioned you are in a wheel chair so im not sure how good my sugestions will be. i'm not sure what you paint surface wise but an easel should hold most items at a nice angle for you and fit nicely around your wheel chair.. also you can get drawing tables that allow you to alter the angle from flat to almost 90 degrees and has handy storage for your equipment. they probably have a wider base for your wheel chair to fit under too. hopefully this is of some help. i hate leaning over work so prop my work at an angle as much as i can.
 
Due to trapped nerves I sit a lot of the time and a table top easel makes life soo much easier, saves the neck too
 
Thank you for all your responses. My Eclipse arrived today and problem is solved due to a different brush configuration, the hose is much less intrusive.
 
Due to trapped nerves I sit a lot of the time and a table top easel makes life soo much easier, saves the neck too

Do you rest your hand(s) on anything? I have an expensive camera tripod (adjustable 20 different ways) unused and pushed aside on the table because I can't get comfortable holding my hands out, unsupported.
 
Probably mentioned above but personally just let the airhose hang over my wrist...This means your wrist aso helps support some of the weight but yer perhaps reducing your fittings or finding a better connection idea..IE A 4 point manifold and each airbrush has its own perm attached hose is another alternative to quick change over ability and simply put the clunky attachments atthe other end of the hose..The manifold could sit close to where you need easily enough, perhaps on the desk in front of you and this way you could shorten your hose a bit which may stop it getting tangled, I like a light hose and my fav gun being a badger I find the 5mm so much better personally than the iwata style braided hoses..I find the braids after a while cause issues and the hose simply feels heavier so prefer badger hoses myself and these can easily be adapted to iwata or other brand guns with a reducing bush that Badger sell for a few bucks and is only about 10 mm high so you dont even really know its there...Some like that counterbalance, some don't and often have used guns with a heavier fitting and it really does change your paint style until you get used to it again...If the gun feels comfortable in hand without all the fittings then fixing that isnt an issue, if it feels uncomfortable in hand full stop then perhaps a different brand airbrush may suit better..Good Luck :)
 
Do you rest your hand(s) on anything? I have an expensive camera tripod (adjustable 20 different ways) unused and pushed aside on the table because I can't get comfortable holding my hands out, unsupported.
I have the easel a little further back from the edge and lean my elbow on the table if I'm doing detail work, but other than that like the others I wrap the hose around my arm to help support the hose.
 
The Eclipse has an all-around better feel to it for me with the hose attachment point being further back. As a detail brush I 'spose it makes sense to have it more toward the tip -- so long as yet nott using a quick connect. However, I am still dealing with the issue of having to clean it over a sink to really get it clean. Can you describe for me what method you are using to clean it at your work station> Are you using one of those cleaning ports or jars? Doesn't one go thru a lot of paper towels? Now that the good stuff is getting close to two bucks a roll, the cost is adding up. (I use about one roll per day in my other work). Bounty.

How about spraying cleaner into waste basket full of wadded up paper?
 
I use a folded up sheet of paper towel taped to my table and use it when changing colors or end of work cleaning. I also have a cleaning jar I've had for years. The folded sheet is what I use the most. 2 or 3 sheets a session is the most I will use. WalMart cheapest brand. Haven't had a problem with painting using this method. I also use q-tips wet to clean the tip and nozzle. I just twist it with the fingers after wetting with water or alcohol. Haven't bent a needle tip yet since I am not applying any side force. Just twisting it in the nozzle.

Richard
 
You need an old tea towel..A painting rag basically..Why use paper towel when you can just make someone wash the linen towel for ya or as I do just throw the old one out after a month or two and steal another from the wifes draw Hehehe.....Thats what I spray into if inside..Outside or in the shed just blast it out pointing away from the work..Most people clean too much anyway..you should be able to get thru a job or a days painting without needing to breakdown and clean the gun....if you bought the right gun :)..Honestly the best thing for you sounds like a siphon..Have multiple colors already mixed up and a jar of clean water..to change color simply pull off the old color, add your water color cup and blast spray it, then add your new color and start painting again...You may find the siphon more comfortable in your grip as the jar provides a good spot to hold that gun with an extra hand if needed..and when it comes to cleaning in between colors its a much faster option than a gravity.But of course perhaps considered lower on the detail gun list, but practice fixes that ;)....Best of Luck..:)
 
You need an old tea towel..A painting rag basically..Why use paper towel when you can just make someone wash the linen towel for ya or as I do just throw the old one out after a month or two and steal another from the wifes draw Hehehe.....Thats what I spray into if inside..Outside or in the shed just blast it out pointing away from the work..Most people clean too much anyway..you should be able to get thru a job or a days painting without needing to breakdown and clean the gun....if you bought the right gun :)..Honestly the best thing for you sounds like a siphon..Have multiple colors already mixed up and a jar of clean water..to change color simply pull off the old color, add your water color cup and blast spray it, then add your new color and start painting again...You may find the siphon more comfortable in your grip as the jar provides a good spot to hold that gun with an extra hand if needed..and when it comes to cleaning in between colors its a much faster option than a gravity.But of course perhaps considered lower on the detail gun list, but practice fixes that ;)....Best of Luck..:)

I use cheapo face washers as paint rags , they're a little more absorbent than tea towels and bin 'em when they can stand vertical on their own :) I've got a siphon (Eclipse) and I get massive cramps, its just not comfortable at all. I'll persevere with it, I may just be holding my tongue wrong !
 
I like a light hose and my fav gun being a badger I find the 5mm so much better personally than the iwata style braided hoses..I find the braids after a while cause issues and the hose simply feels heavier so prefer badger hoses myself and these can easily be adapted to iwata or other brand guns with a reducing bush that Badger sell for a few bucks and is only about 10 mm high so you dont even really know its there...


Iwata makes hoses like this too. I have both the Iwata and Badger versions, and aside from the fittings they are almost identical (the actual hose appears to be the same material and diameter). Since like you I preffer things light, I feel that it's best to get whichever one has fittings that match ones brush brand, so as to eliminate the extra weight/length from an adapter.

I 100% agree that they are much, much better than braided hoses. So light they almost aren't there.

OT:

My main SOTAR is a side feed, so the distance between the air valve and the tip is super short. Since the SOTAR is already very light, and has a pen-like body diameter, I just use the lightweight Badger hose attached directly (no quick connects, filters, etc.) and grip it more or less exactly like a pen (*not* like the grip in the vid AndreZA linked: that's... not a pen grip at all). Since the front is so short, I can just extend my ring finger and pinky forward to touch the work surface while I'm spraying, both to control distancing, and to provide support similar to what the heel of the hand provides when drawing with a pencil. Total result is that spraying with this brush is ergonomically very close to drawing with a pen.

I also wrap the hose around my forearm, both to keep out out of the way, and to act as a lanyard in case I drop the brush. With a stack of fittings plus a heavy and (relatively) stiff braided hose this would only be a marginal improvement, but with the lightweight hose directly connected it's a large one.

Coming from a pencil drawing background, this is great for me, as it means I don't have to re-train my hand and arm muscle memory. I can draw with the airbrush nearly like I can draw with a pen right off the bat.

Can't really do that with the Eclipse or the regular SOTAR though. With those I still use a pen-grip, and brook no hardware cruft between brush and hose, but I don't get the same natural dextarity as with the side-feed SOTAR.
 
However, I am still dealing with the issue of having to clean it over a sink to really get it clean. Can you describe for me what method you are using to clean it at your work station> Are you using one of those cleaning ports or jars? Doesn't one go thru a lot of paper towels? Now that the good stuff is getting close to two bucks a roll, the cost is adding up. (I use about one roll per day in my other work). Bounty.

How about spraying cleaner into waste basket full of wadded up paper?

5G bucket filled half way with water works for me submerge brush and blow back, then full spray submerged. Alternating that, then into a AB pot(or a plastic bottle with an AB nozzle hole + few tiny covered vent holes and some rags inside to catch spray) tattoo water bottle of clean water spray through followed by AB cleaner and swab/cotton cloth from my box-o-rags i got at home improvement store. The bucket of water really helps i found, spraying underwater keeps any mist from floating all over and lets you use the cutaway handles easily.
 
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