hi guys. quick question for anyone out there who airbrushes tamiya paints.. I just got done doing a base coat with tamiya acrylic paints.. color was OD.. upon running cleaner thru My AB. I noticed alot of lil grungy stuff in the bottum of the cup.. (mind you there are times I'm a bit lazy on the cleaning job of AB and cup) but this cup was brand new an never been used.. any ideas as to why there was this grungy stuff in the bottum of the cup ??? also while ABing none of it seemd to show up on the kit... also is there anyway to make a strainer for the paints ??? I'm useing an Aztec AB btw.. not sure which model it is its the single/double action combo deal they have.. great AB

anyways

thanks bunch


Chris

Chris,
What thinner did you use? Did you make sure the paint was thoroughly mixed?
I'm gradually switching over to Tamiya acrylics and I haven't had that problem, but I also haven't tried them in my Testors (Aztec) AB

If the paint has been sitting around or a while, wasn't mixed well, or was used for another airbrush job, thinned, and put back into the container, that could cause the clumps in the bottom of the cup.

ahh ok .. that could be part of My problem then I've always put it back in the jar.. never had a problem with my enamels though with doing that.. guess I should be a tad more careful. lol

thanks a bunch Ron and Jeff.

Ron so far the few times I've used the tamiya paints I've been very happy with them.. I normaly use them as a base coat an then let it dry a couple days then use enamels over them.. an the aztec seems to just drink them up an spray cleanly.. this was the first time I'd seen the sediments at the bottum of the cup..... kinda spooked Me ,but now that you guys gave Me a couple pointers as to what the problem might have been I narrowed it down.. again thank you both for yer input..


Chris

Mixing the right amount of paint for airbrushing is a skill it takes a while to master. If you mix too much, you cannot put it back in the container. It ruins the mixture of the paint you have. I have been using my AB for many years, and still mix too much. I waste so much paint that way.

Patrick

I too had this problem with Tamiya acrylics but it turned out to be me being lazy and not mixing the paint properly. I have only resently changed over to humbrol enamels as in the Queensland heat I was having a lot of trouble with the acrylics drying almost as they left the airbrush. this is the only reason I have for changing.

I live in a country without too much hot days, but that's also my experience.... It dries too fast. I use acrylics for spraying, but only when I have to. I prefer enamels.

I use Tamiya paints almost exclusivly and have found that they do not last as long as others (I like the smaller size they came out with). They will tend to 'gungk' up after a while and No amount of stirring will un-gungk it.
As far as pouring back unused paint. If mixed I never do it. If I thin with water (which I do a lot) I do pour it back. I would add that I use the color cup almost exclusivly and the amount I pour back is usually only a few drops.