Bit Frustrated - Need Advice on Keeping Clean

[Quaos]

Hey everyone,
I'm currently working on a MG Z'Gok; it's my first model I've modded, removed seam lines and painted with an airbrush. I started on it last summer and picked it up again last week as I don't have time for modeling during the school year.

Last summer and again today, I'm having a hell of a time not wasting my paint.
It takes a bit to get my airbrush primed (bought the package from Harbor Freight) not sure why. Also, the paint always spills out from the lid/container joint when I'm painting leading to very messy fingers, dripping paint and wasted $.
Are there better jars that you recommend for storing and painting? How do you neatly change colors for airbrushing? Is there a good way to keep the paint thoroughly mixed while brushing without it separating from the Isopropyl?

Thanks in advance guys. I'm very good with a spray can and feel like that would be easier at this point but I know the cans are even more expensive and I already have the airbrush so I really want to make this work.

Q

[Kane82]

Well there's some key bits missing that you might need to fill people in on -

First, are you talking about a gravity feed airbrush or a bottom feed/attach?  I'm assuming bottom as you mentioned jars. 

Also, it almost sounds like you're storing mixed paint/iso when you say "is there a way to keep it well mixed".

Personally, I use a gravity feed (top feed) air brush, but I've had experience with bottom feeds and it sounds to me like your either not using the correct lid, or its not inserted into the brush well enough.  That would be the only way I could imagine paint leaking out unless you're not keeping the brush level when you're painting.  Are you spraying at an angle or something?  That could be another cause (albeit an obvious one).

As for cleaning/changing colors - FF has a great tutorial on airbrushing, you should reference that for sure.

http://www.fichtenfoo.com/images/tips/airbrushtutorial.html

Personally, I tend to "single color" as much as possible.  In other words, I'll do as many plates/parts/panels of one color as I can at one time.  Then I clean the brush out thoroughly with ISO and Water then move on to the next color.  However, again, FF mentions all this in his tutorial as well, so you're first step should be to check that out.

[Quaos]

Yea sorry about that, it is a siphon fed airbrush.
I do keep the paint already mixed in storage jars. Should I only do the thinning when I'm going to paint and use it all up at that time?
When ready to paint I take off the storage cap and put on the cap for brushing (with the tubing/hose). The problem just seems to be that the jar could use an o-ring of some sort, something better than the cardboard that the jar comes with-

I have looked through FF's tutorial and it was helpful but I meant to mention that when I take the jar away from the airbrush, paint drips out because the joint is simply metal on metal. Does this happen to everyone and just a simple fact?

Thanks!

[Zircor]

Yea sorry about that, it is a siphon fed airbrush.
I do keep the paint already mixed in storage jars. Should I only do the thinning when I'm going to paint and use it all up at that time?
When ready to paint I take off the storage cap and put on the cap for brushing (with the tubing/hose). The problem just seems to be that the jar could use an o-ring of some sort, something better than the cardboard that the jar comes with-

I have looked through FF's tutorial and it was helpful but I meant to mention that when I take the jar away from the airbrush, paint drips out because the joint is simply metal on metal. Does this happen to everyone and just a simple fact?

Thanks!

I haven't had any problems storing thinned paint in the jars for my Badger airbrush (some of them sat for 6-8 months so far and still seem to spray good).  Of course, they'll need mixing to be usable again, as all the paint separated from the thinner, but that's what my handy-dandy mixer is for 

And yes, with siphon-fed brushes, the paint leaking is one of the drawbacks that you'll just have to figure something that works for you to minimize.  I tend to try to only mix up what i need (which kinda defeats the purpose of having the jars, I'll admit).  If I have a tiny bit left over, I'll find something to do with it; if it's a lot, then usually will just use a paper towel to try and minimize the paint getting all over me.

I recently bought a gravity-fed Iwata HP-C+ and I have to say it's eliminated almost all of the paint-wasting problems I had with my Badger 175.  It tends to be very efficient with spraying of the paint, don't have the mess when changing paints, etc.  The paint finish is also VERY nice compared to the Badger (the Badger tended to leave textures in the paint finish).