Airbrush Area: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 13:13, 18 April 2025

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.

Access

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

Airbrush cleaning

Cleaning at the end of your session

Regardless how short or long the airbrush has been used. Properly cleaning the airbrush every time you finish using it is essential to keeping the airbrush working well and avoiding costly problems. Simply rinsing the airbrush with water or cleaning agent is not sufficient. The entire airbrush needs to be disassembled as demonstrated during the airbrush introduction.

Here's why thorough cleaning matters (in short: not cleaning = expensive)

Dried paint will clog the airbrush: Even a small amount of leftover paint can dry inside the nozzle, needle, or internal passages. Once that happens, it creates blockages that restrict airflow. In some cases, the airbrush may stop working entirely until it's deep-cleaned — or parts replaced. The nozzle and its o-ring are the most sensitive parts and may get damaged during deep-cleaning. (Cost: €20-30; the o-rings are not available on their own).
Skipping cleaning might feel faster in the moment, but fixing a clogged or damaged airbrush takes much longer. It can take hours trying to troubleshoot issues, disassemble tiny parts, or order replacements. 10-20 minutes of proper cleaning after every use saves a lot of frustration.

An airbrush is a precision tool — please treat it like one. Cleaning it properly every single time ensures it works when you (or others) need it.

Cleaning during your session:

between changing colours: simply rinse the airbrush with a little bit of water or cleaning agent (window cleaner)
if you pause your session (even if it's just for a few minutes)
- make sure the ink compartment is empty
- submerge the airbrush in water (yfor example a glass jar filled with water, placed inside one of the cutouts on the right hand side of the airbrush booth)

Airbrush Colors

Only water-based, dedicated airbrush paints are allowed to be used with our airbrushes.

If you'd like to use anything else than water-based, dedicated airbrush paints (for example solvent- or oil-based colours), you're free to bring your own personal airbrush and connect it to our compressor.

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.

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

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Incomplete}}
+[[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]].
-This page is work in progress. We are aiming to open the new airbrush area in February this year.
+== Access ==
+To use the machines in the airbrush area, you need to get an [[Airbrush Introduction|airbrush introduction]].
-The airbrush area is located in the [[Location::Electronics Room|electronics room]] and contains our [[airbrush]] 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]].
+== Airbrush cleaning ==
-===Airbrush Colors===
+===== '''Cleaning at the end of your session''' =====
-Dedicated airbrush paints are usually water-based acrylic paints, with a milk-like consistency.
+Regardless how short or long the airbrush has been used. Properly cleaning the airbrush every time you finish using it is essential to keeping the airbrush working well and avoiding costly problems. Simply rinsing the airbrush with water or cleaning agent is not sufficient. The entire airbrush needs to be disassembled as demonstrated during the [[Airbrush Introduction|airbrush introduction]].
-''See [[Material:Airbrush Paint]] for more information and experiences!''
-===Spray Booth and Air Extraction===
+Here's why thorough cleaning matters (in short: not cleaning = expensive)
-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.
+* Dried paint '''will''' clog the airbrush: Even a small amount of leftover paint can dry inside the nozzle, needle, or internal passages. Once that happens, it creates blockages that restrict airflow. In some cases, the airbrush may stop working entirely until it's '''deep-cleaned''' — or '''parts replaced'''. The nozzle and its o-ring are the most sensitive parts and may get damaged during deep-cleaning. (Cost: '''€20-30'''; the o-rings are not available on their own).
+* Skipping cleaning might feel faster in the moment, but fixing a clogged or damaged airbrush takes '''much''' longer. It can take hours trying to troubleshoot issues, disassemble tiny parts, or order replacements. 10-20 minutes of proper cleaning after every use saves a lot of frustration.
-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.
+An airbrush is a precision tool — please treat it like one. Cleaning it properly '''every single time''' ensures it works when you (or others) need it.
-===How to connect the airbrush to the compressor===
+===== '''Cleaning during your session:''' =====
-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===
+* between changing colours: simply rinse the airbrush with a little bit of water or cleaning agent (window cleaner)
+* if you pause your session (even if it's just for a few minutes)
+** make sure the ink compartment is empty
+** submerge the airbrush in water (yfor example a glass jar filled with water, placed inside one of the cutouts on the right hand side of the airbrush booth)
-===Cleaning the airbrush===
+===Airbrush Colors===
-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.
+Only water-based, dedicated airbrush paints are allowed to be used with our airbrushes.
-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.)
+If you'd like to use anything else than water-based, dedicated airbrush paints (for example solvent- or oil-based colours), you're free to bring your own personal airbrush and connect it to our compressor.
-*remove any remaining color from the compartment
+''See [[Material:Airbrush Paint]] for more information and experiences!''
-*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.====
+===Spray Booth and Air Extraction===
-Airbrush disassembly (click image, then on the following page click "open in Media Viewer")
+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.
-[[File:Airbrush-Disassembly.gif|alt=Airbrush disassembly for cleaning|frameless]]
+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.
-Airbrush reassembly (click image, then on the following page click "open in Media Viewer")
+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.
-[[File:Airbrush-Assembly.gif|frameless]]
+== 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.
-== Access ==
+[[File:Airbrush Practice Sheet.pdf|alt=Airbrush practice sheet|thumb|Airbrush practice sheet]]
-To use the airbrush area, you need to get an [[Airbrush Introduction|airbrush introduction]].
+[[Category:Airbrushing]]
 [[Category:Facilities]]