If you have a simple painting project to do, the single-action airbrush may be the
most appropriate tool to use. It works well for painting models, fishing lures,
mechanical parts, toys, taxidermy and finishing for other small craft projects. The
trigger controls a single action---the air flow. The paint volume is controlled by a
knob that is usually located on the tail of the airbrush barrel. This knob adjusts the
position of a needle inside the tip of the airbrush.
Instructions
1. Connect the airbrush to an air source. This can be an electric air compressor, a tank of compressed carbon dioxide, a small aerosol can of propellant or even a car
tire inner tube with special fittings.
2. Choose a paint that is appropriate for the surface that you are spraying it on. Make
sure the paint is thin enough to prevent clogging the airbrush and load the color
into the airbrush paint cup.
3. Put on your face mask. Adjust the paint volume knob and test the setting on some
scrap material by holding the airbrush perpendicular to the surface to be painted and
pressing the trigger down to get full air flow. The spray pattern becomes smaller or
larger as you move the airbrush closer or further from the surface. Readjust the
paint knob to get the desired paint volume flowing from the airbrush tip.
4. Apply paint to your project surface. Hold the airbrush perpendicular to the project surface and start moving just before you press the trigger. Complete the stroke at a consistent distance from the surface and keep moving as you let up on the trigger.
