What paints for airbrush.

[BassinWill301]

I recently got an airbrush, and I am confused about what paints to get.  I have read up on Createx and Wildlife paints and they seem like good choices.  What do you guys recommend?

[.dsaavedra.]

get craft store acrylic paints and thin them with windex, not water, water will bead up the paint, windex doesn't. windex also doesn't change the color of the paint.

[BassinWill301]

Yeah thats what I have been doing for the past week, but its annoying when the airbrush spits with cheaper paint.  

[madbass]

Createx and Wildlife are good choices, but also check out Golden brand airbrush paints. If you want to practice with craft paint that's ok, but it is not as good as airbrush paint. Also, whatever paint you decide to use on your baits, do not thin it with water or windex. It degrades the integrity of the paint. Use an airbrush "medium" such as Golden airbrush medium. Golden and Createx are sold by Merriartist. I've found their prices and customer service to be very good.

[BassinWill301]

Sweet thanks for the reply,  is there anything else I can use for a medium instead of Golden Airbrush Medium.

[madbass]

Liquitex also makes it. I have only used the Golden. Just do a Google search for airbrush mediums.

[whittler]

Createx, Wildlife and Auto-Air are all quality acrylic paints, don't think you could go wrong with any of those. Save your self some trouble and like a couple others have mentioned get the proper medium for paint reduction. While your in the learning process it will not make much difference but as skills improve you will want a quality paint job and the kitchen type solvents are going to come back to haunt you.

You did not mention the size of the nozzle on your brush, the .2 mm is great for detail with proper paints and air pressure but a nozzle that small is darn near impossible to shoot pearl or metalics. The.3mm is a good all around size and in a good brush will shoot pearls and metalics and the .5mm is great for primers and base coats. There is more to consider than just paint brand. Practice with different pressures and thinning, you will find that there is a lot of varation just between some colors of the same brand of paint so again practice.

One last thing " a short pencil is better than a long memory".

[BassinWill301]

I have a single action badger airbrush and it came with three different tips.  The box said they are "small medium and large" so i do not know the measurements of them.  But I guess those will work with the different variations in paint.  Thanks for the replies.

[cootertom]

Buy the good stuff. You get what you pay for! Cheap paint is never the same, spits, sputters and is a headache. Just my 2 cents but only mine.

[The_Natural]

I've had my airbrush for over 6 months now.  I did the cheap acrylic paint thinned with windex for a while.  It works, but it clogs your brush faster and just doesn't atomize like the higher quality paints with smaller pigments.  I invested in createx and it made me a better painter.  

[boatnik13]

I suggest www.smithpaints.com

They make airbrush paints at a good price and better price by the vol.

No mixing paints. They also customize colors. They are out of Harrisburg, Pa.  I think they are far better than Createx and much like Wildlife. This might be the same maker for Wildlife paints. Specializing in taxidermy airbrush paints.

[BassinWill301]

Yeah I am probably going to get some Wildlife paints, because the spits from the cheap paint are getting annoying.  Thanks for the help guys.

[whittler]

Boatnik13, you are correct Smith paint makes Wildlife Paints.

[boatnik13]

Any talk about the air pressure.  Low air vol. will spit paint. I for one keep it at a constant 30 psi . Never relate to the pressureized can type that they sell cause its not a constant messure and can cause spitting . I believe its better to be constant then going from 90 psi down to 15 psi on the same lure.