Has anyone airbrushed FolkArt Metallic paints?

[Monty]

I saw a shade at Hobby Lobby today that looked like a factory color I've been wanting, but I don't have much experience spraying acrylics. 

1) What's the best reducer for this paint?

2) What air pressure would you recommend?

3) Will I need a flow additive to prevent tip-dry?

Any other tips would be welcome, as would pics of car/truck bodies painted with FolkArt metallics.  

[bobthehobbyguy]

Check out this video. There a lots more paint information on this youtube site.

 

 

[TransAmMike]

Have not used the FolkArt but did use this with great result.  Gonna do another model with it soon.

Sorry for the huge picture.

 

[Monty]

I think I remember a car you built a couple years ago (Cutlass?) that you painted with craft paints.  I was impressed with the depth and overall appearance of the finish, and kinda surprised it was from a craft acrylic.

My post is an attempt to get some basic info so I can try this stuff with confidence.   

[bh1701]

Monty,

Here are some photos of an AMT 1/32 scale Corvette I built recently. This was the first model that I airbrushed with craft paints. The body was sprayed with Folk Art Metallic Turquoise Shimmer paint. It is not the smoothest finish, but that is all on me, not the paint. I used Window Cleaner as my thinner, and have had suggestions from others to use a custom-mixed thinner that allows the paint to flow better to achieve a smoother finish. I also rec'd advice to do a mist coat, flash it dry, do a medium coat, flash it dry, and then a final heavier coat. I expect that the results on the next model I use craft paint on will be much better. Thought you'd appreciate some pictures of a "just OK" application of metallic craft paint.

Thanks,

Bart

 

Edited November 1, 2023 by bh1701
Correct typing

[Monty]

Bart, thanks for your response and accompanying photos.  That old 'Vette turned out nice. 

I rely on Barbatos Rex's videos for info on paints and techniques.  He did at least one video on using cheap craft paints, which he reduced with windshield washer fluid.  I may do an experiment and try using Mr Color Leveling Thinner, as he has used it with enamels, lacquers and some acrylics.

The procedure you mention is more or less how he sprays acrylics, so I'll make a mental note of it.  

[bh1701]

Monty,

Here is the recipe one of the members gave me for a homemade thinner for craft paints. Please note that his last sentence mentions that DecoArt paints don't do well with this recipe.:

60% bottled or filtered or distilled water.

40% 91 IPA

For every 3 oz of this blend put 4-6 drops of Liquitex retarder. (The Liquitex retarder is their Slow Dry Retarder Fluid, not their retarder medium. The medium is not for airbrushing. I bought this retarder from an online store since neither Michael's or Hobby Lobby carry it.)

For every 3oz of that blend put in a trace amount of Dawn dish washing liquid ( Just a trace amount, not even a drop from the bottle. Use the pointy end of a wooden barbecue skewer and just get a film on the end and mix that in), this breaks surface tension in the paint mix.

This blend Works in most acrylic paints but DecoArt doesn't like the alcohol. And many craft paints come closer to spraying like solvent paints with this blend.

I have not used this formula yet, but plan on trying it with the next kit I use craft paint on.

Thanks,

Bart

[Pierre_tec]

Interesting, I heard about glycerin but haven’t about dawn!

I have try many times, doing te famous spoon test,but never achieved a nice result. I follow a great YouTuber also a fellow member called Stumpy Grumps Scale speed shop that he paint mostly craft paint with amazing results. 

[bluestringer]

I sprayed this with Apple Barrel sliver metal flake craft paint from Walmart. I thinned it with a water, alcohol, and washer fluid mix. Didn't really measure it out, but it was mostly water. Even though the flake is kinda large I thought it came out ok. 

[TransAmMike]

Yeah, that should like nice once cleared. 

[Dave G.]

On 10/31/2023 at 11:37 PM, bh1701 said:

Monty,

Here is the recipe one of the members gave me for a homemade thinner for craft paints. Please note that his last sentence mentions that DecoArt paints don't do well with this recipe.:

60% bottled or filtered or distilled water.

40% 91 IPA

For every 3 oz of this blend put 4-6 drops of Liquitex retarder. (The Liquitex retarder is their Slow Dry Retarder Fluid, not their retarder medium. The medium is not for airbrushing. I bought this retarder from an online store since neither Michael's or Hobby Lobby carry it.)

For every 3oz of that blend put in a trace amount of Dawn dish washing liquid ( Just a trace amount, not even a drop from the bottle. Use the pointy end of a wooden barbecue skewer and just get a film on the end and mix that in), this breaks surface tension in the paint mix.

This blend Works in most acrylic paints but DecoArt doesn't like the alcohol. And many craft paints come closer to spraying like solvent paints with this blend.

I have not used this formula yet, but plan on trying it with the next kit I use craft paint on.

Thanks,

Bart

Yes that's my formula. Works great with FolkArt, Apple Barrel, Anita's, And real well with Craft Smart. I have another blend for DecoArt. Works well with Createx but better with a small amount of denatured alcohol added, since Createx 4011 reducer is very close to the same formula.

Here is a Mustang with basecoat Rose Gold Silver craft paint shot with that formula. This is out of the airbrush untouched. The second photo should be the same body with Tamiya clear blue over the craft paint unpolished.

And is a 39 Ford sedan in craft paint with Tamiya clear over it un polished.

49 Ford craft paint base and a combo of Tamiya Clear red mixed with a splash of Clrear Blue, 5 coats of the clear. This is not sanded or polished either.

Edited November 2, 2023 by Dave G.

[Dave G.]

By the way those are louse cell phone photos so there are jaggies and such that aren't there on the model or not magnified like that at least. I've since upgraded the phone.

[Dave G.]

On 10/31/2023 at 11:45 PM, Pierre_tec said:

Interesting, I heard about glycerin but haven’t about dawn!

I have try many times, doing te famous spoon test,but never achieved a nice result. I follow a great YouTuber also a fellow member called Stumpy Grumps Scale speed shop that he paint mostly craft paint with amazing results. 

Glycerin works. Dish soap is quite old school but I like it. The key with any of this stuff as flow aid is don't over do it. Honestly I like the results I get with dish soap better than glycerin. But that's me, someone else might think otherwise. You can also add commercial flow aid, like Liquitex or Vallejo. Again carefully.

The biggest key in the formula in terms of additives, I make up is the Liquitex slow dry fluid retarder. That stops the tip dry with craft paints and artist acrylics. Don't mistake Liquitex retarder medium for the fluid, they are two different products.