New Canuck

Muzzz

Muzzz

Double Actioner
Hi there, thanks for approving me...I'm new to airbrushing and to the forum, from the snowy foothills in western Canada.

I've got a Badger Patriot 105 which I'm currently running off of my Makita 2.5hp workshop compressor in my garage. It's a little chilly and the compressor is a bit loud but I'm having fun goofing around anyways. Most of my airbrushing in the last few weeks has been at around 10-15C so it's been a challenge to get the paint consistency right.

Looks like a lot of info here, I love learning so please bear with me when I come with dumb questions!

cheers
Murray
 
Welcome!

As stated, the temperature does make getting the reduction right harder. Also, keep in mind that some paint manufacturers make different reducers for different temp ranges.
 
Welcome from Australia Murray,
Keep a watch on your temps with the paints, if it looks like it’s going to be freezing outside them bring the paint inside the house,
No such thing a dumb questions, if you can’t find your question already asked then ask away, but i doubt you’ll be the first to ask ‘silly’ questions :)
 
Thanks everyone! Yes I've been wondering about a reducer for cold temps, all I could come up with is vodka. It doesn't do anything for the paint, so I drink it instead and my artwork starts to look better bahah

Good point Jack, my garage is insulated and partially heated by a little space heater, I've got a thermometer next to my workbench. It's fairly reliably 15C warmer in the garage than the outside air. Today is a mild -5C outside so I'm airbrushing in shorts and birkenstocks at a balmy +10C. I'll put all my paint into a box I can move inside if it's forecast to be real cold.

Quick question about my airbrush, the Patriot 105. I think it came with a .5mm needle, would it be worth getting the "Badger super fine conversion" needle, .35mm? Would I notice a difference at this point? I'm having trouble getting fine lines but probably more due to inexperience.
 
You can use just plain water to reduce while you’re still learning, especially if you are using an absorbent surface.
When you use a hard surface then the reducers help it to dry quicker and cure harder (will take a few days to fully cure)
Play with the amount of reducer until you get it spraying well for your climate, different colours will require different amounts of reducer, different days will change the amount of reducer, that why it’s generally recommended that you test spray on a spare surface before committing to your project.
 
Awesome, thanks for the help JackEb! I've been spraying on 60lb sketch paper, it absorbs my waterboarding like paper towel :-]
 
Hey Muzzz welcome! You can also look at 4013 as a reducer for our "colder" climates, with our winter temps 4011 can dry a lot slower then we like! You can always give me a call at the shop too... We are in Edmonton and can assist you! the shop number is 780 760 7733 .
 
I was about to tag [mention]Maple Art [/mention], so I’m glad Donna saved me the time lol. Welcome Murray, as others have said, there’s no such thing as a stupid question and never be afraid to post up pics of whatever you’re doing. Even a page of lines is always good to see and you’d be amazed how you end up with advice you didn’t even know you needed.
Welcome Buddy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thanks SiRoxx...and Donna, I already bought the Createx color set from you a couple weeks ago, will definitely support local!

OK here's another newb question for ya...what's the wisdom on posture/painting angle? I see some training videos have the substrate mounted vertically on a wall, others have it horizontally on a desk, and others have it on a tilted easel. I whacked together an easel from some wood scraps but I wonder if this setup is doing more harm than good:
 

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Muzzz said:
Thanks SiRoxx...and Donna, I already bought the Createx color set from you a couple weeks ago, will definitely support local!

OK here's another newb question for ya...what's the wisdom on posture/painting angle? I see some training videos have the substrate mounted vertically on a wall, others have it horizontally on a desk, and others have it on a tilted easel. I whacked together an easel from some wood scraps but I wonder if this setup is doing more harm than good:
Click to expand...
It’s what ever you are comfortable with, some can’t stand for long periods, some can’t sit for long periods.
Your lighting will be a bigger headache. Minimising shadows without having a glaring white light at the end of your nose is a fun exercise in frustration
 
That looks like a perfectly good easel to me. Like Jackie said, it's more about comfort. Some spend hours at a time working on a painting, so it's helpful to still be able to walk afterwards.

Also, I paint without a cap on the paint cup most of the time. Painting on an easel makes me less likely to spill paint on the work.
 
Last edited:
I usually have my work at an angle but upright,, tried it flat, no go for me. Any tilt is ok but prefer it about 60/70 deg Would stand if I had the room but sitting is easier in my space. Like everyone has said, whatever is better for you and most comfortable. everyone is different.
 
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