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Thread: Airbrushing silicone tails

  1. #1

    Airbrushing silicone tails

    Hey question for those that airbrushed their silicone tails, but do you have to thin the silicone first with the pigments in it and which airbrushing kit would you reccommend? I'm in the middle of compiling a list of investment expenses for setting up tailmaking =)
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    I'm actually curious to know the answer as well.
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    Moderator Pod of Cali Mermaid Wesley's Avatar
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    You do have to thin it but that's all I know


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  4. #4


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    Yes, you do need to thin your silicone AFTER the pigments have been mixed in. If you thin it first, you are likely to end up with a different color than you intended on.
    There are multiple mediums you can use to thin your silicone, but some of the most prevalent include Naptha/Naphtha (or white spirits/mineral spirits) and Xylol/Xylene. Whichever you end up using, be sure to test it in small batches and use proper ventilation to keep your lungs healthy.
    As for the airbrushes themselves, look for gravity fed guns. Silicone is thick, even once thinned, and it is hard on the gun to suck the silicone into the nozzle. Let gravity do the work and save your gun the effort. Also, look for LARGE nozzled guns. Again, silicone is thick, and it will clog if you try to use a nozzle that is too small. In this instance, I suggest looking for something closer to an automobile paint gun. You can use a smaller airbrush, like you'd find at a craft store, for small detail work.

    Hope this helps.
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  5. #5


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    I have been airbrushing my tail, and using naptha to thin it (known as shellite in some countries). It really stinks even though I do my painting outside. I chose that over the xylene as xylene is much more dangerous health-wise.
    For the base coat of mine, I used a spray gun, which is like an air compressor and airbrush all in one, and much cheaper. It worked well, but you have to clean it fairly often as the silicone clogs it really fast. Once I could borrow an air compressor, I used a small craft airbrush, which is great for detail (I wouldn't do your whole tail with it, it would take forever), but clogs even faster even if you use lots of thinner. I also had the problem of the air compressor not being able to provide a low enough pressure by itself, so I had to manually turn it on and off, which was really awkward.

  6. #6


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    I noticed that some tailmakers paint their tails by hand so if thin silicone it's a problem for you this is a possible option 😊
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mermaid Kassandra View Post
    I noticed that some tailmakers paint their tails by hand so if thin silicone it's a problem for you this is a possible option 😊
    I think I'd rather deal with clogging airbush heads than hand paint xD I'd imagine the finish would be much better/smoother than with a brush =)

    Thanks for your replies guys! Guess I'll have to do some investigating on the airbush kits as i'm clueless about them X_x
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    ironically was purusing youtube looking for videos on airbrushing aaand found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqNQonhw7uM seems fairly useful and detailed and showcases a smooth-on additive product to allow you to create matte or gloss paint finishes =)
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    Also, looking a bit closer at smooth-on's 'psycho paint' as an option for airbrushing the tail. It's a clear silicone medium you use their silc-pig pigments with (or i'm guessing any other pigment like pearl-ex???)

    Has anyone used this or have you just used extra dragonskin10 thinned down? =)
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    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod PearlieMae's Avatar
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    I'm not 100% sure, but I think Psycho Paint is just thinned dragonskin. Maybe PM some tailmakers directly? A lot of them might not be around a lot, but will get a notification in their email about a private message.

  11. #11


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    Hi Lilium
    Newbie here and first post - i will introduce myself soon i promise but long story short, apparently psychopaint is just dragon skin in a smaller pot according to the mask making community i am normally speaking with, so to keep the cost down most people just use the same silicone that the item is made from. i have used novocs matt for thinning and it is a lot less toxic than most other thinners - naptha, low odour mineral spirits, lighter fluid etc - just noticed your location is in the uk and may already know of silicone suppliers other than smooth on (benam) try mouldlife and MBFG especially for pigments and silicone prices - as for airbrush i have only used it in small amounts for silicone mask making so i dont need the flow amount to cover large areas, but i would maybe go for the novocs thinner and low odour mineral spirit (turpentine substitute) for cleaning the airbrush/gun. - I also want to point out that freshly cast silicone should ideally be painted within 72 hours but the sooner the better, just in case you didn't know. Best wishes
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  12. #12


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    Sorry also i havn't noticed anyone mention matt finishes on silicone as yet (newbie), and i have heard of all sorts of powders and matting agents being used, but i do get about the net (no pun intended) quite a bit and know that a lot of silicone doll and mask makers use icing sugar (confectioners sugar) and a soft makeup brush to powder the gelled but not quite set silicone top coat to remove the gloss finish.

  13. #13


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    Cool thankyou! I have thankfully discovered benhams and they actually stock smooth-on products at the most reasonable price I can find in the UK. I have their catalogue sitting on my desk lol.

    And yeah I also keep hearing about the silicone's 'green period' in terms of a longer period than the 72 hrs but no one says how long that is xD The timeframe does worry me a tiny bit as the tails I have planned are going to be rather large and super detailed paint jobs. But I'm sure I'll figure it out =)
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    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod Coradion's Avatar
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    So I use an Iwata Hp-CS airbrush and then I forgot which compressor but it's like a $200 compressor. My airbrush and compressor unit was like $300 total I think? I don't remember, I bought it from Mermaid Kariel but it was the same price I would pay online but without having to pay shipping to Hawai'i so I was stoked.

    You can definitely paint pieces after the three day period but your paint may not stick quite as well. I've never had a problem with it though. I thin a small amount of silicone with Naptha and then add pigment, I tried hand painting and it just doesn't work how I want it to with silicone.

  15. #15


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    I also recommend Iwata, my compressor is the silver jet however I don't know if this is strong enough for silicone. I would recommend the ninja jet! Depending on how detailed you want to go the hp-cs could work great, however for larger scale application i would think something like the hp-tr2 would be good. I also love my hp-bcs but I don't know how thick the silicone would be, but bottom feed would allow for more paint.

  16. #16
    Junior Member Pod of Oceania Briahne's Avatar
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    This shows how to mix, thin and apply with airbrush. skip to around 30min mark to see airbrushing. I love this tutorial as unrelated as it may be
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPS-W6YZFb4

  17. #17


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    If it can help try to call at the place where you got your silicone and ask if there are some courses they are an investment that you'll find helpful also in the future for sure!
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    Senior Member Euro Pod Mermaid Lieke's Avatar
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    Thanks for the information, do you have any suggestions for the nozzle size? I'm looking to buy one, and it's one where different nozzle can be put on, I can choose from 0,2, 0,4 or 0,6 (one nozzle is included). Is this wide enough? Thank you so much Lorelei <3
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  19. #19


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    Quote Originally Posted by Mermaid Lagoon Lily View Post
    Thanks for the information, do you have any suggestions for the nozzle size? I'm looking to buy one, and it's one where different nozzle can be put on, I can choose from 0,2, 0,4 or 0,6 (one nozzle is included). Is this wide enough? Thank you so much Lorelei <3
    I was playing with thinned silicone earlier today on a .35 mm needle and cap and had serious clogging issues. I'm getting a .66 mm cap and needle and hoping the flow is better.

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