Airbrush Basics: I Made Every Mistake So You Don't Have To

10% off your total order! Enter COUPON CODE: ninjon

AMAZON LINKS: materials I use, no extra cost to you and they give me a bit of money as a kickback (anything you buy while starting with these links, actually!):

My Airbrush: Iwata HP-CS:

Cheap Airbrush (Master Airbrush):

My Airbrush Compressor:

Airbrush Thinner:

Flow-Aid:

Interdental Cleaners:

FW Ink Starter Set:

Makeup Wedges

Cheap Synthetic Miniature Paint Brushes

Tattoo Squirt Bottles

Brush Cleaning Tank

Vortex Mixer

Wall Mounted Paint Racks (Nail Polish Rack)

SONG: "Hadouken" by Lupus Nocte

[Dj_PushStart]

"Baptize him in my mists" = instant like. Another winner Jon, thanks for this knowledge bomb.

[kofmanmi]

Awesome video. Some additional tips:

1. If you keep the cap on the airbrush cup, it will keep the paint inside from starting to dry, adding additional protection from clogs and will make cleaning a lot simpler.
2. When applying paint in bursts, keep the air on by continuously depressing the trigger, this will help with tip-dry.
3. Lubricating the needle will also help immensely with clogs.

[stephenvaden]

I really like that you show how the topic at hand fits into a painting project. Not just, "Here's some airbrush info", but "here's how to use the information to actually paint a model". Thanks!

[seldomfollows]

I live like a 20min drive from Michigan Toy Soldier, and it's so cool see them get a shout out on this channel. They totally deserve it, too. Best hobby shop I've ever set foot in.

[tombombadil]

All Hail Spray Mordius! Lord of the Primer and the 9 Hellscapes of Miniature Painting, Master of the Crispiest Blends, and Devourer of All Things Mini.

[earthad]

I've heard a lot of people say Iso is bad for the rubber gaskets and backflow to mix is also bad and will degrade them. Marco Frisani, for instance, claims this. A lot of scale model painters do too. Thoughts?

[duerf]

I use a water flosser to clean my airbrush. It's probably the fastest and the most stress free method throughout my 10 years of airbrushing.

[BarokaiRein]

After trying out a pistol grip airbrush I'm probably never gonna touch a regular one again. I don't care if regular double actions have supposedly better air to paint control than double action pistol grips, I'm far better at using the pistol grip and it doesn't cause my joints pain.

[grubywudda]

My woman bought me an airbrush and I'm taking it for a ride today! Awesome tips, short and sweet! Thanks Jon!

[marauder]

There are 4 brushes that every painter should have;
The Trusty Brush, for daily use
The Crusty Brush, for abusive use
The Crystal Brush, for eternal aspiration
The Airbrush, cause I can't say what I will do if I have to paint another Space Marine by hand.

[adamg]

thank you for the tip regarding bubbling. I've been using a brush to mix it in the pot so this will save me cleaning effort

[Bannerninja]

most essential piece of advice I have seen was an airbrush illustrator who said “first and last thing out of your airbrush should be air - press that button down to let air through before and after switching to paint - cuts down on the airbrush having paint stuck in it and blocking the needle”

Great stuff here Jon - lots of good advice and i will definately try out that thinner/flow mix

[notnubilous]

*children enters into room*
"Daddy what are you doing?"

"HAIL SPRAY MODIUS!"

"Mom, Dad is doing the thing again."

[IrishinTN-zw]

Just wanted to say THANK YOU! I am a returning modeler and basically an FNG! At 67. Looking for guidance. I love how you do not speak down, A lot of what you speak of goes over my head but the cleaning tips I need to focus on. I bought my first airbrush kit (and tossed two POS air guns) and some paint. I am almost afraid to kick it on. I am more into the Battletech minis and 1:48 scale Pacific US aircraft.

[chuppathngy]

2 things I'll get up early for and stay up, one is watching Ninjon's videos, and the other is making fun of Scott in the comments section of one of his.
Another knockout, love it buddy!! 👌👌👌

[kmylo]

Hello, I am from Colombia and I am about to start this beautiful world of painting. I have searched for many tutorials and videos, and in this video, I found everything explained in a simple way, from mixing thinner and flow improver, which almost no one else mentions. This is something that would help a novice like me a lot to avoid clogs. I can only say thank you for this video.

[MichaelB-izuk]

Well presented Jon. As for the color change cleaning I dump and wipe the pot, back bubble with thinner or solution, and jet the port at the bottom in and out with a pipette or eye dropper. Repeat until it sprays clear on a paper towel. I rarely have much to clean at disassembly. But I like that water flosser idea the previous gent mentioned.

[Spiraticus]

This is the exact kind of video I need as a learning newbie to airbrushing! From my experience, I’ve found that there’s not that much in the way of fundamental instruction but you touch on that in this video with stuff like the tinting. What I’d really like to see is a video describing and showing these fundamental techniques in detail because the one issue I have with lots of videos, even from other otherwise great channels, is that they’re either oriented to people with zero clue about airbrushing or they talk with the assumption already know how to do certain techniques with crumbs of information for those in between like me.

[Jauphrey]

Even as a commission painter, these videos are worth their weight in gold, Jon. You're such a talented educator on top of being a wonderful painter. You're teaching me about things I feel like I've mastered years ago; really humbling and I just wanted to say thanks for inadvertently keeping me motivated to improve!

[jameswillis]

Great video. Just got back into the hobby after a 30+ year hiatus and always enjoy these videos. This one was especially helpful as I’m thinking of dusting off the old airbrush and giving it a go. Thank you, Lord Ninjon!