I need advice before i buy :)

J

Jasmine

Guest
OK, I'm getting ready to order a few things and like always I feel like I'm in over my head. I currently am using the rubber hose that came with my Iwata compressor and I'd like to upgrade to a braided hose so I can stop tangling up and cursing at it! Do I have to stick with the Iwata brand or can I get a hose from another brand? I am also ordering paint and I am pretty well decided on the Dru Blair Wicked Detail set because I like the color selection, but I am open to suggestions. Currently I only have some Com Art paint and have been reducing with a water/glycerin mix which has lead to some frustration and a bent needle (embarrassing story, lol). So I appreciate any advice and input before I order. Also, I'm ordering from Chicago Airbrush Supply, unless anyone has any insider tips for better deals ;) And of course, thank you, I think you are all rock stars.
 
First thing on my shopping list will be a Grex quick coupling. This will help with the tangling problem. Braided hoses are just rubber hoses that has been wrapped. I personally do not like them and use a the thinner straight shot and cobra coil hoses. But I work in my house so there is no wear and tear on the hose. But no, you do not need an Iwata one, only one that has 1/8" fittings. Paint wise I think your choice is fine. If you're going towards fine art, you can look at the Illustration range.
 
I prefer the braided hose, so I guess it's horses for courses there. :) With regards to the paint, what type of painting are you wanting to do? I personally love the Wicked paints, as they are so versatile and can be used on virtually every surface which I like, plus the detail colours pop really nicely for automotive use. However as they are so versatile, IMO they are not specifically good for any one type of painting if you understand what I mean. I use mine for bikes, and have used it on hats, shoes, leather as well as fine art (well what I pass off as fine art lol). But if I was going to specialise in that only, then I would probably go for the illustration line. But again it's personal preference, many love com-art for fine art as well as E'Tac.

If you do decide to use Wicked then you will need to get the wicked reducer, it really is the best thing to use, and reducing with water doesn't work well as it contains a teeny amount of solvent.

Before you buy anything though, what exactly is the problem you are having with the Com-art? Maybe someone who uses it can help you out and you may not have to change at all. Also what brush, nozzle size etc.
 
Im using wicked now bit only because im painting on helmets and such, if i were continuing on paper id still use my com art, i never use glycerin with com art anymore, but i do use a flow aide and water mix as my reducer for it,

I like braided hoses too, and a quick connect is nice, one day ill get one with a mac valve i keep forgetting to order one,

Wicked will be thicker and you will have to reduce it with their reducer, so buy a quart with that kit,
 
I prefer the braided hose, so I guess it's horses for courses there. :) With regards to the paint, what type of painting are you wanting to do? I personally love the Wicked paints, as they are so versatile and can be used on virtually every surface which I like, plus the detail colours pop really nicely for automotive use. However as they are so versatile, IMO they are not specifically good for any one type of painting if you understand what I mean. I use mine for bikes, and have used it on hats, shoes, leather as well as fine art (well what I pass off as fine art lol). But if I was going to specialise in that only, then I would probably go for the illustration line. But again it's personal preference, many love com-art for fine art as well as E'Tac.

If you do decide to use Wicked then you will need to get the wicked reducer, it really is the best thing to use, and reducing with water doesn't work well as it contains a teeny amount of solvent.

Before you buy anything though, what exactly is the problem you are having with the Com-art? Maybe someone who uses it can help you out and you may not have to change at all. Also what brush, nozzle size etc.

I am planning to paint anything that I can get my hands on so the versatility of the wicked detail line is what is so attractive about it to me. I do plan to get a big bottle of reducer as I understand that I will most likely use more of it than the paint. The com-art is ok. The problems I'm having are self induced, I don't have a proper reducer so I'm getting a ton of tip dry. When I ordered my ab I ordered a small paint set to get me started and I went with the first thing that I found for cheap. This was before I found you guys and learned anything, lol.
 
I am planning to paint anything that I can get my hands on so the versatility of the wicked detail line is what is so attractive about it to me. I do plan to get a big bottle of reducer as I understand that I will most likely use more of it than the paint. The com-art is ok. The problems I'm having are self induced, I don't have a proper reducer so I'm getting a ton of tip dry. When I ordered my ab I ordered a small paint set to get me started and I went with the first thing that I found for cheap. This was before I found you guys and learned anything, lol.
Well i get very very little tip dry with com art, a lot more with wicked but mainly white. I do like wicked to some extent, however dtill coming to grips with it, it sure dries faster o. A hard surface which is nice,
 
Well i get very very little tip dry with com art, a lot more with wicked but mainly white. I do like wicked to some extent, however dtill coming to grips with it, it sure dries faster o. A hard surface which is nice,

for some reason I get the worst tip dry with the green! It is so weird. I am sure it is mostly my fault since I'm not using the right stuff for reducer.
 
harbor freight has GREAT braided hoses for 6 bucks with the adapter needed for most compressors Iwata hoses might be just a bit thinner but that is splitting hairs You will enjoy your paint choice
 
harbor freight has GREAT braided hoses for 6 bucks with the adapter needed for most compressors Iwata hoses might be just a bit thinner but that is splitting hairs You will enjoy your paint choice
Thats where mine came from
 
Some people don't get on well with wicked, but we all have our favourites. I love it. My worst colour is the wicked opaque black, I love the opaque white which is always seems to be an issue:) Once you get your ratios of air/reducer and paint dialled in, tip dry is minimal though as I say I find black worse. It's definately worth spending the time to experiment and find that sweet spot. I thought I had good flow for a while, and then a slight adjustment one day and things were even better. When it lays down it should look satin smooth, without even a hint of a speckle. Wicked's colours are very vibrant, the pigment is fine, but there is a lot of it, so I always filter, and then over reduce, and do more layers. This gives better control anyway and more subtle blends.

Might be worth trying a proper reducer with your com art too though as you have it already
 
When you get your 4012 reducer for the wicked set try some of that on the com-art and see if that helps. Ive been using that now instead of reducing with glyc/water mix and it seems much better. When I add the 4012 to the com-art I let it sit for about 10 min. to allow it to mind-meld so to speak :).
 
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