Airbrushes

Candis Griggs <ccgriggs [at] earthlink__net> writes

>I am interested in purchasing an airbrush for use in paint and resin
>applications.  My primary use for it at this point would be in
>ceramics conservation, but I'd like to get a fairly versatile model
>in case other uses come up. ...
>... Also, how important is choice of compressor?

After several costly and frustrating experiences with airbrushes
(among them Conopois, De Vilbiss), about twenty years ago I came
across a Japanese airbrush, Iwata HP C, which I have sworn by ever
since. It is a dependable work-horse, untempermental but
nevertheless good for fine work, rarely clogging and easy to
dismantle for cleaning. Of course one has to handle an airbrush,
especially the fine nozzle, with some care. The strong needle,
though fine, is not extremely so and therefore does not bend easily.
The nozzle can clog if not thoroughly cleaned following spraying,
especially after using a two-component medium, but can be taken
apart and cleaned inside. It is useful to have a supply of spares
for needle and nozzle and to get it a service treatment for
accumulated dirt and lacquer remains every couple of years,
depending on the work load. I possess two airbrushes, useful in case
one gives trouble; but also using one for transparent glazing only
saves a lot of cleaning time. The Iwata has no trouble with
additional agents such as fumed silica, marble dust, graphite powder
or bronze powders, and in my experience can be used with xylene,
methyl alcohol, isopropanol and acetone.

It is useful to have an outlet for two airbrushes mounted on your
compressor (or for four if there are two of you working) and to
start straight off with airtubes long enough to deal with very large
objects. Both an oil and moisture filter are indispensable.

(Ms.) Lindsey Bogle
Ceramics conservator/restorer
Maasdijk 423
4264 AS VEEN
Netherlands




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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:51
                Distributed: Wednesday, January 23, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-15-51-005
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