Has anyone tried putting on the final finish to a project using an airbrush as the application tool for either water based or oil based polyurethane? If so, any recommendations on brand and model of the airbrush?
For what project?
Airbrushes are fantastic for models, small instruments, small toys, figurines etc... where very thin coats are required so details aren't obscured. An airbrush sprays an even finer coat than a typical spray bomb, so more coats are required to build a decent finish thickness, which isn't usually wanted or required where a typical airbrush is the best tool. Most airbrushes are also limited to about 2 oz. of finish per filling, further limiting the project size.
That said, if I'm choosing the airbrush to spray a clear top coat, I'm also choosing lacquer or shellac, for a fast, dust-free coat and very thin "shell". All in all, I really don't know how polyurethane varnish would spray with an airbrush. On the other hand, oil-based polyurethane is sold every minute in spray bombs, so I don't think it would be a problem if properly thinned. Water base polyurethane might be more difficult.
When we're talking top coats, even something as small as a typical electric guitar body is usually better sprayed with at least a "touch-up" gun.
Thank you for you input. My intent was to apply polyurethane as I had in the past using either a brush or wipe on poly and build up the finish with 3 or 4 coats. No matter how careful they are applied, the last coat often contains small bubbles that break as it dries leaving a less than perfectly smooth finish. What I was hoping to accomplish was to sand the last coat as I had the others, removing all the imperfections, and then applying a final thin bubble free coat that only needs to be think enough to fill in the sanding scratches of 220 or 300 grit sandpaper.
I just don't have the space to set up a large spray booth and air handler to use a traditional HVLP spray system.
Errrrrrr!!! Stop right there. You won't "fill" sanding scratches from 220 or 300 grit paper with a spray application. They will be visible after it dries. Those are pretty darned coarse grits for a spray finish. If you are going as far as to cut the previous coats down to flat with 300, then simply work back up to 1200 or 1500 and finish it off with a rubbing compound. Go from 300 to 600 to 1000 to 1500. Or better yet, start at 1000. You don't need anything near as coarse as 300 to flatten a clear coat.
Yes!
Standard polyurethane (mineral sprit based) will work with an in-expensive air brush, provided you get the largest size nozzle and use an air compressor. You must fuss with the pressure / air flow a bit and practice a lot to get it just what you want. Be aware: a significant amount of material will become airborne particulate and slowly settle on EVERYTHING, including inside your lungs if you don't ware a mask. Don't bother with the hobby shop 'can-o-air' as not enough air flow for the pressure.
Be aware that many polyurethane makers sell an aerosol can which is much easier to use, even though there is a bit more overspray. Cost is not too bad.
Water-based polyurethane has large molecules making up the finish. Thinning will not break up the long molecules. My Pasche airbrush will not transmit enough finish to the project; it is mostly the water thinner that get discharged. To get a high quality water based Lacquer to be sprayed by a very small air-brush like device, you need one of the products from
Phil
replying to CW, John Bobbitt wrote: Cosigned. The 150 Patriot is the ONE for this. My hands are literally stick sticky from doing just THAT with THIS. And she's pretty
replying to CW, John Bobbitt wrote: Cosigned. The 150 Patriot is the ONE for this. My hands are literally stick sticky from doing just THAT with THIS. And she's pretty
FINALLY...
12 years later it appears that the problem is solved.A close call.
Robert
12 years sticky fingers is a problem.
Common among teenagers
...and The Rolling Stones
DerbyDad03 wrote in news:2a5a887f-5e2d-4519-9499- snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:
How else are they going to gather moss?
"A rolling stone gathers no moss, but it gains a certain polish." - Oliver Hereford
You really ought to be going up to a very fine wire wool or super-fine abrasive when you get close to the last coats. When I'm French polishing (and you CAN use water-based polyurethane with that technique) I use unprinted news-sheet as my final abrasive - it doesn't get much finer than that. I'm not a specialist French polisher but it's quite easy to get a super-smooth glassy gloss finish (or paper-fine with matt) by wiping varnish through a cotton cloth.
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