Airbrushes with silicone

[Luna Dreamtide]

I'm looking for recommendations on a good airbrush that can be used for painting tails with pigmented silicone. I've looked through other threads and tailmaking tutorials without much luck.

[Freshwater_Nim]

Same inquiry here at the moment. I have a system I'm going to try but I'd love to get some advice too. Is anyone out there who has experience and willing to share?

[Mermaid Wesley]

Last I remember someone was using a spray gun. Not a fancy airbrush. So there's lots of options. If you check out jazz's tailmaking guide she showed the kind she used.


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[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

I've used two different kinds of airbrush, both have their advantages and disadvantages. First one I got was a paint gun, which is basically the airbrush and compressor in the one unit, with the tank for the paint in the base (nice and large so you don't have to fill it often). This was good for painting large areas, but not for anything detailed. It was also very cheap, as you don't have to buy a compressor, and relatively quiet.
Second one I got was a cheap single action airbrush for the detailed parts of my tail, and borrowed my dad's compressor. However, it clogged frequently, had only a small tank for paint and you had to thin the silicone down so much to get it to go through. Also, because the compressor was a large one used for more than just airbrushes, it couldn't deliver a low enough pressure for the airbrush to work properly, so I had to manually turn the compressor on and off to get the right pressure in the tank. Compressors are also very very loud, just another thing to consider! Hope this helps!

[Dancing Fish]

I'm interested in this too...I just bought my first airbrush to experiment with, but haven't tried it with silicone yet...

[Mermaid Alea]

Jazz's Silicone Mermaid Tail Tutorial doesn't say what airbrush she uses. I will look in her tailmaking thread to try and find it. What she does say in her tailmaking tutorial is this:

Airbrush/ Paint gun- Mix a small amount of silicone by adding pigment to part b then adding part a. Thin it down with Naphtha, Toluene, or xylene. Mix not TOO much but enough that the viscosity is similar to milk. Pour into your airbrush cup, and begin stroking gently with your airbrush. Use your airbrush's directions for proper use. Apply many layers until the desired color is achieved. Pretty simple xD

Here is the tutorial topic: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?6947-Silicone-Mermaid-Tail-Turtorial

[Mermaid Wesley]

I think she said in the comments then.... I remember seeing it.


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[Dancing Fish]

Smooth on has a couple of videos under their psycho paint link showing how it works, and they are using a Badger brand gun. It looks a lot like the relatively inexpensive 350-F I got at Michaels yesterday.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/29QgZVEhETo

[Luna Dreamtide]

Thanks Kate Silverfin and Dancing Fish. Seems paint guns may be better then. Will do some more research.

[Luna Dreamtide]

Does anyone know if the silicone still needs to be thinned when using a paint gun, being that it's larger?

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

If you're talking about the style of gun I described above with the airbrush and compressor in one unit, yes, you do need to thin the silicone still. The more fluid it is, the more even the coat I found, as if it is too viscous, it spatters somewhat.

[Luna Dreamtide]

Thanks Kate Silverfin :) is there a specific product that thins silicone that SmoothOn makes or can it be thinned with other products?

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

There is a specific product, but I live in Australia and we don't get it here. Plus it is quite expensive. Instead you can thin it with xylene, toluene or naphtha (called Shellite here). I would recommend naphtha over the others, as it is less harmful to you, but definitely work with it outside only and with a respirator, as these are all very strong solvents. You should be able to get any of these from a hardware store. :)

[Luna Dreamtide]

Cool. Thanks. Aussie Mer right here too! So would a place like Bunnings have this stuff?

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Yep, just go to the paint thinners aisle :) Look for Shellite, it will come in large and small bottles, I would recommend the large 3L one. You always end up needing more than you think!
Since you'll have access to the same brands, the paint gun I got was just the cheapie Ozito brand, it works fine, and I also bought the Ozito brand airbrush, but you have to be aware that it can't handle over 80psi otherwise the hose pops off (you can just push it back on again). Each of them was about $30.

[Luna Dreamtide]

Thanks. That's very helpful to know. :D

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

No worries at all :) Glad to help!

[Luna Dreamtide]

Reviving this old thread because I was wondering if anyone could suggest what size nozzle a spray gun should have to be able to handle silicone. I recently asked an Australian Airbrush store if their spray guns would work for silicone but they thought it wouldn't. So anyone that uses and airbrush/spray gun what size is it?

[Mermaid Lieke]

I have the same question as Leina. Since my supplier doesn't have any experience with silicone. Thanks a lot

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