Airbrush blank interior?

Have used aerosol paint and it's messy. Also painted the inside with a cheap craft brush, too. Thinking air brushing might be better with less mess plus an even coat of paint. Anyone do this?

I have not tried that but it is an interesting thought. I just use long cotton swabs.

Paint cans work well. Not sure where you are getting a mess. You lightly spray one side and flip over. May have to give 2 coats. You do not want a thick coating. let it drip on some paper but sit it up on a block or something so the paint drips out and does not collect at the edge. Could not be any simplier. Air brush now you have to clean it every time and probably have to thin the paint because they do not like thick paints. Wear gloves if you do not want to get on hands. Put some paper under wherever you are spraying. I have been doing this for years. Just my opinion.

In my experience ... the skills required to master air-brushing are no less than the skills to master aerosol paint cans. Expect the same uneven coats and drips and runs until you've spent a while practising the techniques.

And as @jttheclockman says, you'll have to disassemble and clean the airbrush after every session.

Tried cotton swabs but not happy with uneven coats. Got thin spots and had to coat twice. Craft brush did good. Negative on air brush is doing different colors of blanks. In the past, used aerosol can with white for a few blanks. Did six blanks with pink acrylic paint for Breast Cancer Awareness for next month. Just an inquiry to see what others are doing. Basically doing what John said. Thanks.

I'm another using the spray paint. I try to match the main blank color so the pen has a consistent shade between the thin and thicker areas of the finished turned blank. I found just using white or black makes the thinner turned area lighter or darker in color, where the paint can dominate over the transparency of the blank. I spray in one end, rotating the black so the walls get paint and then I blow through it to pick the extra out the back side. Then I flip it over and do the same to make sure I get everything coated. I do this over the shop garbage can so I dont make a mess on the table. I also spray the tube for the "just in case" factor that if the side walls of the hole get a scratch as I insert the brass tube. Never had a problem with brass showing. … yet.

give it a shot and report back. may cover better with a thinner coat without changing the diameter ofthe hole.

John, do I understand that you have multiple colors of spray paint? I have a large selection of about three dozen acrylic craft paints. As for spray cans...black and white which affect the blank colors after turning.

Woodchipper said:

John, do I understand that you have multiple colors of spray paint? I have a large selection of about three dozen acrylic craft paints. As for spray cans...black and white which affect the blank colors after turning.

Click to expand...

Yep, I have all of the primary colors. Nothing too dark or light in shades, just the basic colors. Has worked well for me over the years.