If you're anything like me, getting into airbrushing was a huge milestone for my hobby journey. Practiced use allowed me to achieve stunning results with custom colours and more control over my painting methods than ever before. It makes techniques like pre-shading, weathering, highlighting and layering easier than ever before - but there is more to the hobby than just the act of airbrushing.
It is a great method for achieving stunning custom painting results. However, it's crucial to approach airbrushing responsibly and safely, especially considering the potentially hazardous chemicals involved in spraying certain paints.
Here we will break down the types of paints common to the hobby and how to maintain safety while spraying.
Types of Paint
- This paint is non-toxic and produces no VOCs (Volatile Organic Chemicals) but does produce particulates. We recommend an N95 face mask while spraying.
- If sprayed via an airbrush, you will have to guard against particulates. The filter in your spray booth should be sufficient (so long as it's changed out regularly) but you can also make a baffle box, like we saw during the workshop.
- It thins and cleans up with regular water. You can airbrush with water as a thinner (though sometimes with mixed results depending on multiple municipal factors) but water is not sufficient to clean your airbrush after painting with acrylics. You will have to use a water-based acrylic cleaner.
- More and more people are using water-based acrylic paints
- It dries very fast, so take care not to squeeze out more than you need or overfill your colour cup!
- This paint is toxic and produces VOCs as well as particulates. A dual cartridge respirator is required for use, as well as constant airflow from your spray booth to the outdoors.
- A popular and reliable choice for hobbyists.
- Durable and vivid paint that uses alcohol as a carrier, thus will require 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol to thin and clean (or Tamiya’s X20A thinner). Using other thinners can create a sticky gum that is hard to remove when cleaning your airbrush.
- Can be airbrushed or hand-painted for very smooth results.
- This paint is toxic and produces VOCs as well as particulates. A dual cartridge respirator is required for use, as well as constant airflow from your spray booth to the outdoors.
- Enamel paint requires a dedicated enamel thinner to thin and clean up.
- For a very long time, enamel paint was pretty much all you could get, so lots of people recognize the little square Testors bottles.
- Enamel is similar to oil-based paint, but performs differently enough to categorize it separately.
- Testors
- Tamiya Enamels
- Humbrol (no longer available in Canada)
- This paint is toxic and produces VOCs as well as particulates. A dual cartridge respirator is required for use, as well as constant airflow from your spray booth to the outdoors.
- Lacquer thinner is required to thin this paint.
- Lacquer paint is the strongest, most durable solvent-based paint.
- Because the solvent is stronger than the others, they tend to not affect it as much, making it possible to use multiple different types of paint on top of it.
- Very difficult to use if brushing by hand due to the strength of the solvent (it will reactivate the paint layer underneath - and too much thinner can melt plastic).
Some lacquer paint lines are:
Ventilation & Respiration
Working with paints and thinners that contain toxic elements requires the right knowledge and protective equipment. BC Hobbies is here to guide you towards safe airbrushing practices. Below, we'll discuss essential safety materials and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure your well-being while using an airbrush.
- Select the Appropriate Respirator
- It's crucial to understand solvent-based airbrush paints and thinners can release harmful fumes and particles into the air. Moving those away from you & anyone you share a space with should be a priority.
- If you are strictly using water-based paints, ventilation is not much of a concern. The more immediate concern with water-based paint is filtration, but more on that later.
- Water-based paints do not produce fumes, but do produce particulates so the use of an N95 facemask should be sufficient.
- Solvent-based paints (Alcohol, enamel, and lacquer-based) have varying levels of toxicity, but inhalation poses risks regardless. They should all be treated with the same level of precaution and require usage of a dual-cartridge respirator while spraying.
- Airbrushes atomize paint into minuscule particles, which, if not properly safeguarded with PPE, can be inhaled and potentially harm your health.
- Always prioritize safety, especially if you share your workspace with others or have pets.
- An important respirator tip: your respirator filters are always filtering! Even when you are not breathing through them. Consider it best practice to seal your respirator in a plastic bag when not in use to avoid having to change filters as often.
- Emphasize Ventilation:
- Adequate ventilation is a fundamental aspect of safe airbrushing.
- Alongside wearing the right PPE, ventilation helps remove fumes and particulates from your workspace.
- Consider using a spray booth, a dedicated space designed to capture and redirect fumes away from you and your surroundings.
- BC Hobbies offers a self-contained spray booth by Paasche, a reputable North American airbrush brand, featuring:
- An integrated rear-mounted 110CFM fan.
- A retractable power cable.
- A fiber fabric paint filter, with replacement filters available.
- Clouded plastic sides for light diffusion, foldable if desired.
- A rotating painting base.
- There are some basic guidelines for making your own safe spray booth below.
- Ventilation & Solvent-based paints
- Use a hose to vent fumes and particulates from your solvent-based paints outside. If you cannot vent fumes directly outside, then we strongly discourage spraying with solvent-based paints with consideration to your health.
- Take care when spraying that you spray towards your spray booth's fan. If you notice a lot of clouding in the air around your spray booth, wait a few moments for the spray booth to suck up the excess before continuing.
- An air purifier is a good thing to have as well, though to avoid having to change filters constantly, you may wish to turn the air purifier on after you're finished painting rather than leaving it on the whole time.
- Ventilation & Water-based paints
- Since the water-based paints we carry do not produce VOCs, your main point of concern is filtering out the particulates that are sprayed into the air.
- If you do not have a window to vent your spray booth out of via the dryer hose, then you can make a baffle box and still continue to airbrush indoors.
- Take the ventilation end of the dryer hose and insert it into a cardboard box. Just cut the rough diameter of the hose out first and seal the connection with tape. Inside the box, you can have baffles or filters to catch excess particulates that the spray booth misses. However, your spray booth filter and fan should be sufficient for catching all particulates.
- We recommend using an air purifier during or after spraying to help scrub the air of wayward particulates.
Make your Own Spray Booth
If you want to make your own spray booth, then more power to you! Just follow the guidelines below For DIY spray booths:
- Most ergonomic fan placement is at the top or the back of your spray booth.
- Attach the back of the fan to a tightly fitted dryer hose that leads out a window. You can use a C-clamp for this.
- Use a good filter to reduce the speed at which you clog your fan. This does not prevent clogs, and it is a good idea to periodically clean out your fan to ensure your booth is working at peak capacity at all times. You can extend the life of your filter ONCE by washing it (if it is made of washable material), but eventually you will need to replace it. We do not recommend continued use of a filter via washing.
- Ensure your fan will move at least 100 cubic feet per minute. Bathroom and kitchen fans are good for this, but sometimes very large. Visit a hardware store or look online for an exhaust fan.
- Spray directly at the filtered fan while painting. If your filter is clean, this will ensure the maximum flow of fumes away from you.
The Quick Version
Hey. We get it. While this is definitely something you'll want to pay attention to if you're looking to get into airbrushing, maybe you just need a quick refresher course. In that case, below are a few important things to consider before airbrushing. Be sure to ask yourself the following:
Where will I be putting my spray booth?
- Place your spray booth somewhere near a window. If you do not have access to outside ventilation, we strongly discourage painting with solvent-based paints.
- You can toss the end of your hose out that window to vent harmful vapors and particulates away from you.
Do I have a way to ventilate my spray booth?
- Ventilation is key to avoid inhaling harmful fumes on solvent-based paints like Tamiya Acrylics, Tamiya & Testors Enamels, and all lacquer-based paints.
- Using a fitted duct from the back of your spray booth fan out a window is a good way to stay safe.
- Using a baffle box or filter inside of a box is a good way to vent particulates, but only if you are strictly using water-based paints.
Do I have the proper Personal Protective Equipment?
- A dual cartridge respirator - to prevent fumes and particulates from getting into your lungs (or an N95 face mask if you are strictly using water-based paints).
- Safety gloves - to keep your hands clean.
- Safety goggles - to prevent fumes, particulates or splash back from an overfilled colour cup from getting in your eyes.
What precautions have I taken to ensure the safety of my family & pets who share a home with me?
- Anyone not wearing a respirator in the immediate vicinity is at risk of inhaling fumes and particulates. This means anyone in the room with you must be wearing the same PPE as you and should abide by the same rules.
Have I cleaned my filter, fan and spray booth lately?
- Dust and paint particles will clog your spray booth fan and prevent it from working at peak capacity. Clean it accordingly to mitigate health risks.
Where'd I put my gloves?
- Disposable Nitrile gloves are perfect for use with airbrushing. Other materials sometimes react with paint or thinning agents and can melt.
We hope this guide is helpful as you plan out your airbrushing setup! Reach out to info@bchobbies.com if you have questions, or give us a call any time at 250-383-0051.
At BC Hobbies, we're committed to ensuring your safety while airbrushing. Explore our selection of safety materials and PPE to equip yourself with the knowledge and gear needed for a secure and enjoyable airbrushing experience.