Airbrush Guts |
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Have you ever wondered what that tiny, little part might have been, just as it comes sailing out of your airbrush |
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| We don't have all the answers, but we do have some pretty good idea of what mysteries fill the internal workings of your airbrush. For the most part, it helps a beginner to simply understand how the airbrush is made to work. | ||
| There are several different types of brushes (to say the least!). The three brands which are most widely used are the "Paasche" (pronounced: pah-shay'), the Iwata, and the Badger. Even if you have another make, they are probably similar to one of the models produced by one of these companies. So, if I can't enlighten you here, try the fine folks at the factory… or you can ask the Airbrush Junky | Airbrush Links Good links to have for technical stuff |
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| Some of the Basics | ||
| About the airbrush, in general… Generally speaking, all airbrushes are airbrushes because of what they do do do do. What I mean by that is that they somehow manage to dispel compressed air while mixing it with paint in order to create a particular effect. Whew! With that said, we can now be left to ponder…why? Being an extreme airbrush junky myself, I feel equipped to answer. The answer is: because. Because there truly is no other medium with the same effects available through airbrushing. Yeah, I know oils are a blast… but airbrush breathes. |
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| Air Sources There are many types of air sources, some more interesting than others: canned air, compressors, CO2 tanks, etc. For the beginner, a compressor (although an expense) is highly desirable. For the pro, the air compressor is an old friend. Although my opinions have recently met with a bit of debate, I still stick to the manufacturer's psi recommendation of between 15 and 45 psi (no more than 25 psi for face and body painting). For most beginners, look for a compressor between 1/12th and 1/2 of a horsepower. Higher horsepowered compressors will require regulators and I always recommend moisture traps. |
Paints Paints are very variable! They depend on where, when, what, and how you are painting. In my classes, I usually recommend Createx brand acrylics. They paint most everything and have an opacity which I have yet to find anywhere else. For body painting, face painting and temporary tattoos, I recommend you use an airbrush makeup. There are several places to purchase airbrush makeup, and we recommend Steph's Trendy Tribals. Be sure to tell her we sent you! |
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| Internal mix vs External mix Confusing though it may sound, it's actually quite simple. An internal-mix brush mixes the paint and air inside of the brush, causing a finer, more controlled spray. External-mix brushes actually cyphon the paint up to the outside tip of the brush where the air blows out of the brush. The air catches the cyphoned paint at the tip of the brush and blows it onto the canvass. An internal mix brush is the most preferred for high detail jobs, while the external is typically used for jobs such as ceramic glazing, models and larger areas with no major detail. |
Single action vs Double action Yes, it sounds like another confusing airbrush term, but it's not. Single action is a brush which needs to have it's needle (or paint line width) adjusted manually, typically with a little screw of some kind or by pushing and pulling the needle at the rear of the brush. Single action can refer to either an internal or an external mix brush. Double or dual action means that the paint/air flow is adjusted by pulling back and forth on the trigger button. Dual action is usually only referring to an internal mix brushes. |
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| Airbrush Guts, inside-out Below, you will find links to graphical breakdowns of some of the airbrushes. Just to give you an idea of what that irritating little part is and where it goes!
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