Airbrushes and Paints

[mikey88]

I have another question to all you great taxidermist out there ;D lol that sounds a little cheesy, but anyway does anyone know what would be the best starting out airbrush. I have heard many names and paascha (not sure how to spell to it), Iwata, and Aztek come to mind. Also, what is a good paint airbrush paint. Thanks Alot to everyone. *Mikey*

[deer4ager]

You really need a dual action air brush.Dual action means Push down on the trigger and you get air flow = action 1. Action 2 is, you pull back on the trigger to start the paint flow. The farther you pull back the more paint you get. Badger 150 is a real good 1st airbrush. It has a set screw on the trigger, sort of a cruise control. The all take a lot of getting used to. The more you use it the better you get. Just keep it clean.

I recomend Water based paint for 2 reasons. One being safety, the other being easy clean up. With water based paint if you don't like what you just did, Boom wipe it off with windex. The final finish or gloss coat will lock it in.

[fishslayer13]

We use the Aztec double action airbrushes I think there a 4708. Some people don't like them but Ive never had any problem with them in 4 years now. I like the removable plastic tips.

We have changed all our paint in the last year. We have tried them all. Ive ran polytranspar paint sense the first week it was on the market in the 80s. we then went to there water base paint when it first came out. Used it up until about 5 years ago we started having problems with it. Ended up on water based wildlife colors for a couple of years but didn't like the cleaner you had to use. :)If any of you haven't tried it --buy a couple of sample bottles of Vandykes natures gallery water base paint. This is the best water base Ive ever used. Its cheap and they have names on the colors that are relevant to wildlife. Its been on the market for a year or so now. Give it a try.

[mrdux]

I would highly recommend you start out by saving a few more bucks and get an Iwata Eclipse double action. I have other brands that are gathering dust. I use an Eclipse or HP-B for base color or wide coverage and a Custom Micron for detail.

I've tried several different paints but have settled on this; I buy Polytranspar WA paints then take an empty clear bottle and add roughly 40% paint, 40% rubbing alcohol (70 or 90%) and 20% retarder. I find this stops a bunch of clogging tip problems and gives me great detail work on fish or anything else.

[legacywtdesign]

I will tell you something, as I am just starting out myself. I bought a double-action paache thinking that the double action would be easier and more convenient-I'm sure that it is. HOWEVER, even after I practiced with it, I just couldnt get it to fly right with my mount painting. Luckily my taxidermist buddy had given me his old single action paache which I promptly bolted to my airhose and painted away. My second mount was even easier to paint. I am not tring to say that double actions aren't good, I will use it as I get accustomed to airbrushing on a mount (deer), but for just beginning, I had better luck with the singl'e action. Less things to have to try to control on a dime when you've already got so much going on.

:)also, don't try to mix regular LifeTone paint with a LifeTone HydroMist *oops* they don't mix well

[I once was thirtyeightspread]

if you do it right you don't need any paint look at Rasmussens he don't use nothing