paint question

[Paulw]

What is the difference between spraying enamel and acrylics? I usually thin the acrylics down pretty good to keep orange peel down but I have no idea about enamel.

 

[phantom II]

The one thing that will help you a lot with Acrylics is to add a fluid retarder to the mix .That will help with the orange peel.

Enamels thin down the same but take much longer to dry . They also seem to cover better, but why would you want to go back to that ?

 

[moon puppy]

I'd take Les's suggestion and thin the enamel more thing and apply really light coats to build up. I know when I do spray enamels I tend to be too thick.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Depends on the enamels Paul. I spray Testor's Model Master and Humbrol enamels. (don't like the acrylics!) I use the Testor's thinner for enamels. I usually mix it paint to thinner 60/40 to 50/50. Seems to work well and I keep the air pressure moderate as I use a valve at the airbrush to regulate my air flow.

I also tend to spray a bit closer than some folks only a couple of inches (hey it ain't a spray can!)

Some paints like Alclad metalizers and primers are mix and spray straight from the bottle.

When I spray acrylics (usually Vallejo these days) they are thinned a lot with just plain water as I use them for weathering, light effects, and such over the enamel base colors. The water drys slower but I can also use the air from the airbrush with paint off to dry it faster as long as it isn't puddled.

 

[Paulw]

well guys I sure thank you for your input. I also asked Paul Budzik the same question in a round about way. I was looking for a better way to get a much higher gloss from a paint job I have coming up in the future. He told me to have a good smooth primer coat followed by burnishing down the surface with a t-shirt and then light color coat followed by a heavier clear coat.

 

[moon puppy]

Oh...well you don't say anything about a gloss coat, just enamel. :smack



So, whatcha got coming up?

 

[phantom II]

well guys I sure thank you for your input. I also asked Paul Budzik the same question in a round about way. I was looking for a better way to get a much higher gloss from a paint job I have coming up in the future. He told me to have a good smooth primer coat followed by burnishing down the surface with a t-shirt and then light color coat followed by a heavier clear coat.

For polishing, you might also try a coffee filter . Probably not as good as cotton though but maybe good for prior step to cotton.