Do "normal" auto paints need to be reduced for airbrush work?

[jtfx6552]

I'm going to be spraying some PPG single stage. Will it need to be reduced?

I have some spots where I might want ti spray some spi epoxy, would that need to be reduced? How much?

 

[RenewAP]

Reduce each product per TDS, I've done very little air brushing, but I remember having to reduce more then normal for soft edge blends.

 

[Mitch]

I've reduced the 2k epoxy by 50% to use in a touch up gun with a 1.0 tip and it works, but T&E seemed 30% still sprayed well and gave better coverage per pass, as expected. I also turned the feed down enough to still allow 2-3 light coats to reduce the risk of running.

 

[MJM]

I used my airbrush last week. I sprayed metallic base which was mixed "ready to spray" from my local jobber. I wasn't sure I'd it would spray well without any more reducer but, it laid out just fine. I could lay it on heavy or very light using the airbrush trigger for fluid flow.

 

[elwood]

I don't like the "ready to spray " mix because it takes the flexibility I may need out of the equation. What ratio it was mixed, temp range, did the reducer have an activator as part of the formula for it. Etc. I talked friend into using Wanda. When he discovered it was already reduced he felt cheated and never bought anything else from that store.

 

[MJM]

I don't like the "ready to spray " mix because it takes the flexibility I may need out of the equation. What ratio it was mixed, temp range, did the reducer have an activator as part of the formula for it. Etc. I talked friend into using Wanda. When he discovered it was already reduced he felt cheated and never bought anything else from that store.

Valid point. I went with medium reducer in the ready to spray metallic Limco paint. The temps where mid 70's out here for two weeks. I added medium activator, once ounce per sprayable quart.

I didn't want to challenge my local jobber seeing as he gave me the metallic paint and clear for free. He took a liking to the project build.

 

[dhutton01]

Valid point. I went with medium reducer in the ready to spray metallic Limco paint. The temps where mid 70's out here for two weeks. I added medium activator, once ounce per sprayable quart.

I didn't want to challenge my local jobber seeing as he gave me the metallic paint and clear for free. He took a liking to the project build.

Keep in mind that metallics lay out better with slow or very slow reducer. The better the quality reducer the better the result. SPI reducer can’t be beat for metallics imho.

Don

 

[Jim C]

typically through an airbrush you may need to reduce slightly more. if i am spraying clear though an airbrush it does spray much better with a small amt of reducer added. this is one of those questions that will vary though depending on the paint itself and the tip size on the airbrush. some small tip airbrushes will certainly need base or ss to be reduced quite a bit, others not so much.

 

[MJM]

Keep in mind that metallics lay out better with slow or very slow reducer. The better the quality reducer the better the result. SPI reducer can’t be beat for metallics imho.

Don

I'll use that information the next time I spray metallic.

Thank you,