Airbrush paints?

Question

Can you run ordinary paint from a craft store through an air brush gun or do you need to buy the real deal airbrush paints?

Answer 1

You can use regular acrylic paints but ideally they should be thinned with a special Airbrush Medium. This medium reduces the viscosity and retards the drying of regular acrylics so the airbrush doesn't clog.

Thinning acrylics with water only can actually make the paint dry faster (you don't want that!) plus it will decrease the adhesion of the paint to the painting surface.

Retarder on its own helps but doesn't work as well. Most makers of acrylic paints & mediums make a version of airbrush medium, though in larger quantities it may be cheaper to use airbrush acrylics than to dilute regular paint with medium.

Answer 2

i always buy real air brush paint
regular piant can clog it ive found