Airbrush Area: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:44, 4 May 2024

the airbrush area when it was opened in April 2024

The airbrush area is located in the electronics room and contains our airbrushing related tools and machines. Not just for creating beautiful airbrush art, but also for painting 3D-printed models and other materials. Using an airbrush is easy, fun to learn – and a lot better for the environment than spray cans.

Airbrush Colors

Dedicated airbrush paints are usually water-based acrylic paints, with a milk-like consistency.

See Material:Airbrush Paint for more information and experiences!

Spray Booth and Air Extraction

Make sure you always have the spray booth's air extractor turned to on to "max Level" (Level 3) when the airbrush is in use (don't forget to use ear protection). The easiest method would be to keep the extractor running throughout your entire session, even if you take a break. That way, you don't forget to turn it on. Always keep the curtain behind you closed. Aerosols can travel for quite a long distance across the room, and we'd like to keep the other equipment free of paint. Once you've finished your session (whilst cleaning the airbrush): keep the air extractor running for a few more minutes and open the curtain and the door, to allow for additional air exchange in the room.

The spray booth we've built should be large enough to accomodate most needs, be it a A1-sized airbrush painting, or a t-shirt, shoes etc.

At the rear of the spray booth, you'll see a metal plate which can be tilted towards you, for a convenient viewing angle. For painting miniature figures / 3D-printed models etc: you'll find a turntable in one of the drawers. Also: Working with the airbrush is a lot more convenient if you lift your model up (to just below eye level). Positive side-effect: This also increases air ectraction efficiency.

Access

To use the machines in the airbrush area, you need to get an airbrush introduction.

Airbrush Exercises

Here is a PDF with some basic airbrush exercises. Download, print and attach them to the backdrop in the spray booth. (Airbrushing onto a vertical canvas is easier than placing the canvas onto a horizontal surface). Even professional airbrush artists do warm-up exercises before they start a project. File:Airbrush Practice Sheet.pdf

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-This page is work in progress. We are aiming to open the new Airbrush-Corner in Q1/2024.
+[[File:airbrush area.jpg|thumb|right|the airbrush area when it was opened in April 2024]]
+The airbrush area is located in the [[Location::Electronics Room|electronics room]] and contains our [[airbrushing]] related tools and machines. Not just for creating beautiful airbrush art, but also for painting [[3DP|3D-printed]] models and other materials. Using an airbrush is easy, fun to learn – and a lot better for the environment than [[Spray Paint|spray cans]].
-With the new airbrush corner, we're hoping to introduce a very versatile new tool. Not just for creating beautiful airbrush art, but also for painting 3D-printed models and other materials. Using an airbrush is easy, fun to learn – and a lot better for the environment than spray-cans.
+===Airbrush Colors===
+Dedicated airbrush paints are usually water-based acrylic paints, with a milk-like consistency.
+''See [[Material:Airbrush Paint]] for more information and experiences!''
-=== Airbrush Paints ===
+===Spray Booth and Air Extraction===
-Dedicated airbrush paints are usually water-based acrylic paints, with a milk-like consistency. Schmincke AERO COLOR is very high quality, and ready-to-use.
+Make sure you always have the spray booth's air extractor turned to on to "max Level" (Level 3) when the airbrush is in use (don't forget to use ear protection). The easiest method would be to keep the extractor running throughout your entire session, even if you take a break. That way, you don't forget to turn it on. Always keep the curtain behind you closed. Aerosols can travel for quite a long distance across the room, and we'd like to keep the other equipment free of paint. Once you've finished your session (whilst cleaning the airbrush): keep the air extractor running for a few more minutes and open the curtain and the door, to allow for additional air exchange in the room.
-Be careful when using cheap / no-name airbrush-paints, as you may have to dilute them. (Same of course for "non-airbrush" paints). An airbrush is a precision tool, with very fine nozzle diameters ranging between 0.2 and 0.5mm. If your paint is too thick, it '''will''' clog your nozzle within a few seconds.
+The spray booth we've built should be large enough to accomodate most needs, be it a A1-sized airbrush painting, or a t-shirt, shoes etc.
-Best case scenario: you'll have to disassemble and clean the airbrush. Worst case scenario: paint splatters on your beautiful piece of art!
+At the rear of the spray booth, you'll see a metal plate which can be tilted towards you, for a convenient viewing angle. For painting miniature figures / 3D-printed models etc: you'll find a turntable in one of the drawers. Also: Working with the airbrush is a lot more convenient if you lift your model up (to just below eye level). Positive side-effect: This also increases air ectraction efficiency.
-=== Spray Booth ===
+== Access ==
-Make sure you always have the spray booth's air extractor turned on. The spray booth should be large enough for nearly all your projects, be it a A1-sized airbrush painting, or a t-shirt, shoes etc.
+To use the machines in the airbrush area, you need to get an [[Airbrush Introduction|airbrush introduction]].
-At the rear of the spray booth, you'll see a metal plate which can be tilted towards you, for a convenient viewing angle.
+== Airbrush Exercises ==
+Here is a PDF with some basic airbrush exercises. Download, print and attach them to the backdrop in the spray booth. (Airbrushing onto a vertical canvas is easier than placing the canvas onto  a horizontal surface). Even professional airbrush artists do warm-up exercises before they start a project.
+[[File:Airbrush Practice Sheet.pdf|alt=Airbrush practice sheet|thumb|Airbrush practice sheet]]
-=== How to connect the airbrush to the compressor ===
-To connect the compressor hose to the airbrush, please use the adaptor piece. The compressor will keep its pressure even if no airbrush is connected.
-=== Compressor settings ===
+[[Category:Airbrushing]]
+[[Category:Facilities]]
-=== Cleaning the airbrush ===
-Cleaning is '''mandatory''' after every session. Even during a session, be aware that paint can dry quickly and clog the airbrush. If you interrupt your airbrush session even for as little as 5 Minutes: please remove any remaining paint AND rinse the airbrush with water and a few drops of cleaning agent, using the dedicated cleaning jar.
-At the end of the session (if no one else wants to continue using the airbrush corner): please clean the airbrush thoroughly, following these instructions: (This should take around 15 Minutes, so don't leave it too late.)
-* remove any remaining color from the compartment
-* fill the compartment with water and run it through the airbrush (Please use the rinsing jar for this, so to collect all coloured water and residue)
-* disconnect airbrush from compressor
-* disassemble the entire airbrush on a large enough and clean surface; make sure no parts fall down, particularly the needle (€15 replacement cost!) – see animated GIF below
-* clean all parts, removing ALL visible paint. Please do not use any metal brushes for cleaning.
-* reassemble the airbrush and put it back into its case – see animated GIF below
-==== Animated GIFs that show the disassembly and reassembly of our Iwata Neo CN airbrush. ====
-Airbrush disassembly (click image, then on the following page click "Show in Media Viewer")
-[[File:Airbrush-Disassembly.gif|alt=Airbrush disassembly for cleaning|frameless]]Airbrush reassembly (click image, then on the following page click "Show in Media Viewer")
-[[File:Airbrush-Assembly.gif|frameless]]
-== Airbrush-Corner Induction ==
-This is the content required for an induction to our Airbrush Corner. '''Reading this does NOT replace the mandatory session with a [[tutor]]!''' It will make it a lot quicker though ;-)
-If you need this Introduction, please reach out to the following tutors: [[User:Björn|Björn]]
-=== Health & Safety Precautions ===
-{| class="wikitable"
-|+
-!Danger
-!Description
-!Precautions
-|-
-|Aerosols
-|Airbrushing creates aerosols / vapours. Although most airbrush paints are typically water-based, you don't want to inhale those aerosols / paint particles.
-|use spray booth;
-use respirator (grade A2 P2)
-|-
-|Airbrush needle
-|Every airbrush gun has a needle inside. The needle is usually covered/protected, but will become accessible when you disassemble the airbrush for cleaning.
-|Handle with care
-|-
-|Compressor
-|compressed air is generated and released through the airbrush:
-* the airstream can cause damage
-|
-* do not point the airbrush at yourself or other people
-|-
-|Spray Booth
-|The spray booth contains an adjustable metal plate, which is attached to two hinges at the top. When reverting the metal plate to its standard vertical position, make sure your fingers don't get caught.
-|Grab the metal plate on the left/right side, NOT underneath.
-|-
-|Paint fumes
-|Paint aerosols might travel away from the airbrush corner. We want protect our beautiful 3D-Printers.
-|use spray booth;
-close the curtain behind you
-|}
-=== Practical Demonstration ===
-* show airbrush and needle functionality before connecting airbrush to compressor
-* connect airbrush to compressor
-* change compressor pressure settings
-* add paint / change paint
-* spray examples with varying needle positions (fine line / area fill etc)
-* disconnect airbrush from compressor
-* empty compressor / use valve
-* disassemble airbrush
-* clean airbrush
-* reassemble airbrush