Airbrushes/Paint guns for silicone tails

[Luna Dreamtide]

Lots of people seem to use airbrushes or paint spray guns for painting with thinned pigmented silicone.
I was just wondering as I hadn't seen it mentioned, what you can use to clean out the airbrush once you've finished painting so silicone isn't left curing inside?
Any advice in this area would be appreciated. :)

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

You use the same stuff that you use to thin the silicone down, so you don't have to worry about buying something new :) Just wash out the paint jar/container with it, and then put a bit in the bottom for the airbrush/paint gun to take up. Just keep putting the solvent through until it runs clear. Just remember to be careful with the solvent you use, as they all have some really bad effects if you don't wear the proper equipment!

[Luna Dreamtide]

You use the same stuff that you use to thin the silicone down, so you don't have to worry about buying something new :) Just wash out the paint jar/container with it, and then put a bit in the bottom for the airbrush/paint gun to take up. Just keep putting the solvent through until it runs clear. Just remember to be careful with the solvent you use, as they all have some really bad effects if you don't wear the proper equipment!
Awesome. Thanks Kate!
Comsidering how many of my questions you've answered it seems I should just ask you directly! :D

On this topic, does thinned silicone cure slower? Or would I still need to add a cute retardant for painting?

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Well if the question hasn't been asked before, then it provides a good record for other people in the future :) That being said, feel free to pm questions if you like!
It actually cures faster. Much much faster! You need to be quite quick with whatever you do, otherwise it starts setting up. Adding more solvent will thin it out and make it more runny again, but there is only so much of that you can do.

[Luna Dreamtide]

Ok thanks. That's really helpful. I'm going to be using PlatSil silicone, which I thinking doesn't have a very long working time. So I'll definitely grab some retardant too to help slow it down. What silicone do you have access to in your state?

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Yeah, definitely check the working time. Also make sure that the retardant doesn't adversely affect the properties of the silicone, I think some of them reduce the stretchiness. I have dragonskin silicone, there is a place here that can get it for you. Super expensive, but it is really good. There are actually a few places that can get it for you, I know of two in Adelaide. Always worth asking people if they can get it! Also, with the exchange rate at the moment, it's actually cheaper to import it yourself through a shipping service if you don't mind waiting slightly longer.

[Luna Dreamtide]

Yeah, definitely check the working time. Also make sure that the retardant doesn't adversely affect the properties of the silicone, I think some of them reduce the stretchiness. I have dragonskin silicone, there is a place here that can get it for you. Super expensive, but it is really good. There are actually a few places that can get it for you, I know of two in Adelaide. Always worth asking people if they can get it! Also, with the exchange rate at the moment, it's actually cheaper to import it yourself through a shipping service if you don't mind waiting slightly longer.
Oh wow is it really. I was originally going to do that but decided it'd be easier just to buy a brand I have access to.
Maybe I should consider doing that though.

[Mermaid Anahita]

Hello! I have a question in this category!
Do I need any special pigment or is there a type I should NOT use?
I have an airbrush already,
And honestly I have no idea what to mix in what ratio to paint my tail.
Can I get an "explain like I'm 5"?

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

There are special pigments for silicone (SilPig) that are guaranteed not to prevent it curing, but they are all matte and have few colours. What most people use is Pearl Ex, which is a powder pigment, and these are known not to affect the cure. You can use other pigments, but they may contain things like ultramarine, sulphur and some tin compounds which will prevent the silicone curing. Best thing to do is test whatever you choose to use!
As for a ratio, that bit is hard. You will have to do several thin coats anyway, because you need to use a lot of thinner to get the silicone runny enough to go through an airbrush. Unfortunately that's a case of experimentation, as it really depends on the individual airbrush. Hope this helps!

[Luna Dreamtide]

There are special pigments for silicone (SilPig) that are guaranteed not to prevent it curing, but they are all matte and have few colours. What most people use is Pearl Ex, which is a powder pigment, and these are known not to affect the cure. You can use other pigments, but they may contain things like ultramarine, sulphur and some tin compounds which will prevent the silicone curing. Best thing to do is test whatever you choose to use!
As for a ratio, that bit is hard. You will have to do several thin coats anyway, because you need to use a lot of thinner to get the silicone runny enough to go through an airbrush. Unfortunately that's a case of experimentation, as it really depends on the individual airbrush. Hope this helps!
What size airbrush or paint gun do you use?

[Mermaid Anahita]

My first hope it always to buy something locally before ordering, the local Michaels was out of Pear Ex but they had alcohol pigments.
Like concentrated pigments in an alcohol base in little bottles.
Would this be compatible with the silicone?

[Lotus the Mermaid]

My first hope it always to buy something locally before ordering, the local Michaels was out of Pear Ex but they had alcohol pigments.
Like concentrated pigments in an alcohol base in little bottles.
Would this be compatible with the silicone?

It's always be best to go with powder to be safe. If you can't find Pearl Ex at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or another craft store, I would either order them online or go with a loose pigment eye shadow. :)

[Mermaid Anahita]

It's always be best to go with powder to be safe. If you can't find Pearl Ex at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or another craft store, I would either order them online or go with a loose pigment eye shadow. :)

I found a pearl ex variety pack at michaels, but I'm mad that I can't get them individually, I would be fine if there was black in the variety....

I would really love to know if the alcohol inks would work. The brand is ranger and I already have a fair ammount of them.

Can't paint til I get more silicone anyway so I have some time to figure out exactly what I'm going to do.

Eyeshadow would work? I'm almost wondering if that would be more expensive, but I do already have quite a few loose ones.

[PearlieMae]

Order them online at blick.com

Some eyeshadows will work, but some will cause cure inhibition. You have to test EVERYTHING.

Alcohol inks might work, but the silicone can encapsulate the liquid, causing your silicone to stay gummy, and is likely to get pigment bleeding onto other stuff.

[Lotus the Mermaid]

Yeah, the eyeshadow I used was vegan from Etsy, so that probably helped. :)

[PearlieMae]

Maybe, but that's not always a guarantee. The base of the eyeshadow could contain oils or aloe vera, and that can inhibit curing.

You just have to test EVERYTHING and do as much research as possible.

[Mermaid Wesley]

^that^ I tested out some liquid foundation and found that it worked, but only my brand in my color is definitely safe, you know? Sulfer is a nice yellow pigment that is skin safe and inhibits curing, and it's in some makeup. It never hurts to mix like an ounce of silicone with your pigment to see what happens. Plus then you get little discs of silicone from the test that you get to throw at your family and friends so win win


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[xaccer2]

игро (http://audiobookkeeper.ru/book/1114)

[xaccer2]

17.6 (http://cottagenet.ru)

[xaccer2]

Bett (http://eyesvisions.com)

[xaccer2]

Соде (http://factoringfee.ru/t/1241885)

[xaccer2]

Иллю (http://filmzones.ru/t/1067672)

[xaccer2]

Андр (http://gadwall.ru/t/1208768)