Airbrushing Varnishes

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This topic has 6 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 3 months ago by panzerkaput.

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June 17, 2021 at 11:30 pm #1656905

panzerkaput
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I am on a wonderful and slow journey of airbrushing and I really only use my airbrush at the prime my figures and terrain with. But I am thinking that maybe I could varnish my figures with an airbrush, so I am asking a couple of questions here.

Firstly, is using an airbrush to varnish miniatures and terrain any good with an airbrush? I am guessing that you will then to gloss and matt varnishes as normal in a couple or so coats.

Secondly, if it is good to varnish your miniatures this way then what are the best varnishes to get?

Thirdly, do these varnished need to be thinned to be used through an airbrush? It be the same way that you want thin paint normally with thinner/flow improver or is it another way to use them?

Thanks

June 18, 2021 at 5:45 am #1656953

sundancer
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I’m leaving a dot here for the answers. Sadly I can’t provide any answers from experience but I’d like to learn the secrets as well.

Judging from what other people do on the youtubes I think varnish with an airbrush is a thing? maybe…

June 18, 2021 at 7:14 am #1656954

panzerkaput
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For me I am still learning and I have send the the youtube guys and each one of them is a little helpful.

June 18, 2021 at 8:52 am #1657027

warcolours
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Absolutely yes. Since I have an airbrush I have not spent a penny anymore on rattlecans either for priming or varnishing. The results are much better and the cost largely inferior. Plus you can varnish inside and do not have to worry about frosting anymore. You can also use varnish more often as a save point to seal the work done so far before attempting a trickier stage or for other purposes, like adding decals (after a gloss varnish) or using oil pin washes (gloss or satin varnish) and finishing everything with a matt varnish. My go to varnishes are Vallejo Polyurethane Varnishes. Consider that a 200ml bottle comes around 20ish euro and has lasted me a couple of years. I paint in average 3 to 5k miniatures per year. You can do the math…

June 18, 2021 at 8:57 am #1657028

seldon9
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I use Vallejo gloss varnish through my airbrush. I thin it with Vallejo’s thinner first. It’s hard to give ratios ‘cos I just judge by eye when I think it’s thinned enough. Maybe around 50/50. Couple of coats does the job. I’ve not tried any other varnishes through my airbrush so I can’t compare.

I had quite a few occasions where my airbrush would clog quickly. I found mixing the varnish and thinner outside the airbrush helped. Not sure what was getting in when I mixed in the cup. I think mixing outside the airbrush cup is generally a good habit to get into but particularly with gloss varnish.

I rinse my brush through with warm, soapy water each time I empty the cup and when I’ve finished.

I’ve not tried matt varnish through the airbrush. I’m not clear on the preparation needed to avoid frosting.

I prefer to airbrush gloss ‘cos I thought I was losing details when I brushed on gloss. I’d find small gaps in my drybrushing or edge highlighting. Airbrushing gloss is a gentler way to apply protection in my opinion.

June 18, 2021 at 9:09 am #1657035

warcolours
443xp

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Yes, of course you need to thin the varnish, I use both thinner and flow improver and have never had a problem with clogging. Mixing the varnish, or any other colour, outside the cup is a very good general rule: often the paint can have small bits of congealed paint that can go into the cup inadvertently and clog the airbrush. If you mix the paint or varnish outside the cup it is easy to spot and remove these.
There is no special preparation needed to avoid frosting when airbrushing matt varnish: the fact is that you apply the varnish at a much lower pressure and at the same temperature of the room you are painting in and this is all that is needed to take care of the issue.

June 18, 2021 at 4:01 pm #1657122

panzerkaput
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Cheers guys for the advise
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