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i'm making preparations to airbrush on a vinyl "run-thru" screen for a football team. i'm planning to airbrush directly onto the vinyl screen using createx auto air paint. i will not be doing any plotting, weeding, or transferring. i'm mainly concerned with how the paint will hold up after being folded & unfolded or even rolled up & unrolled repeatedly for storage. Will the paint job hold up on its own or should i use some additives of some sort? Will the createx auto air paint even work for this? I've never before attempted a project such as this so all advice(good or bad) is welcomed. Oh yeah, this board was given high accolades by rich the people painter who referred me to this site.
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Thad- I know nothing about Createx, (cause its water based, and I HATE water based through my airbrush), but, whenever I paint on vinyl that I'm not sure about, I use Waterborne primer. It gooes on clear, dries in about 30 minutes, then paint like normal. I purchase this stuff at my better than average paint supplier, so call around.
Oh- You better sign your thread, I would'nt want you to be labeled a troublemaker. HA
------------------ Steve Barba is the proud owner, president, & sole employee of Sturgis Sign Works. "B0LT" on the chat room thing. 209 Oak Drive Sturgis SD 57785 sturgissign@aol.com 605-720-7667
Posts: 768 | From: Sturgis South Dakota | Registered: Nov 1998
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Thanks for the reply. I just happened to read Mayor Shortreed's comment to Kram (in his post about starting a sign business)about signatures and have immediately began working on a signature!! Thanks again for your advice.
------------------ Thad Smith Slocomb, Alabama thadthad@hotmail.com meager airbrush hobbyist
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Thad, I have excellent results with Createx Auto Air on vinyl. You must however use the bond all and catalyst that Createx has for the Auto Air Paints. Once you have airbrushed your graphics, you then use a heat gun, low setting or a hair dryer, to set the paint. The heat activates the catalyst for the bond all. While it may not be nessasary, I back it all up with either Createx Clear Coat, Frog Juice. I've also had good luck with and Automotive Clear Coat sold in spray cans at Auto Zone. Don't take chances with your health and always wear a resperator even with the water born stuff. I've got some sport banners and some Race Car Trailors with this kind of Vinyl graphics on them thats been in use for a couple of years and their still going strong. Good Luck! Robin Good Luck!
For the same cost as the Createx paints (roughly $1 per ounce) you can get screenprinting inks formulated for vinyl and you will KNOW it's gonna work because that's what it's designed for.
I use Createx as well and have had good luck on vinyls, but after using the vinyl screen inks I think I am sold on that stuff. I dont even have to clearcoat over it because it sprays out glossy and you cant even feel it on the vinyl surface.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Jimmy, Yes, it is a screen that the football team will run thru as they charge onto the field. However, it consists of several pieces of vinyl that are attached to each other with velcro so that it will come apart easily and can be reused.that's the alleged plan anyways!
Robin Sharrard, When you use bond all and catalyst do you have your own preferences for the number of drops to add to the paint or do you strictly follow the directions that are printed on the bottles themselves?
Mike Pipes, Where might i be able to buy the screenprinting inks that you recommended?
Big Thanks to all of you that gave me some input. This will be the biggest project that i've ever signed on to do and it will also provide the most exposure for my airbrushing abilities. It might perhaps even lift my status as a "meager airbrush hobbyist" up a few notches! thanks again.
------------------ Thad Smith Slocomb, Alabama thadthad@hotmail.com meager airbrush hobbyist
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I've been using Nazdar brand inks lately because it's what I can get easily here and they've been really great so far.
You can get inks directly from Nazdar at www.nazdar.com They just opened up online ordering on their website. You can also get Nazdar from Dick Blick Art Supplies. They have locations all over the US plus they have online ordering, www.dickblick.com
You might be able to find a local shop that has vinyl inks onhand so you get small quantities, since the quarts are between $20-$30 each, depending on color. I've been going to a local decal printer with 3/4 oz glass airbrush jars and getting small amounts plus I have samples from Nazdar.
I have Nazdar's 9700 series and their GV series. I get 2X the material with the 9700 after it's thinned, and 4X the material from GV after thinning.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Thad, I pretty much stay with the recommended drops. It's worked for me for along time! I also do sreen printing, both water based and sulvent based on just about anything that will take a print. I've put every thing through my airbrushes from screen printing inks to hand mixed artists acrylics. They all have their place and they all have ther quirks. Ya just gotta experiment and decide what's right for you. I just prefer the conveniance of the Createx line, although I prefer Golden Liquids for textile work. I must admit I'm just starting to get used to airbrushing with 1-shot. If your in a situation were you have a need for a large quantity, then it's certainly worth the effort to get the screen inks and thin them down. You mite even get a start-up mixing kit, scale, and pantone book which would give you a very wide color range. Again, check with the screen ink manufactures and adapt what they have to offer for your own particular needs. Either way, never stop experimenting and developing. Robin
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Like Mike said, the vinyl screen inks will take the abuse of packing and re-packing. We put a radio station logo on the chest of a 40' inflatable dinosaur ... that things been getting packed (stuffed) into a 3'sq. bag every weekend to go to festivals etc. for a few years print still looks great (hand painted one year - printed when they changed logos - all vinyl inks)
To run through the airbrush I would recommend thining with the "retarder" rather than the "thinner" ... stays a little "wetter" through the brush
------------------ Designing... it's like an itch in the brain... an itch you can't scratch, that if you can figure out how to scratch it, it just itchs more
I do in fact use the retarder, not the thinner, for the inks.
Tuesday I spent most of the day running my airbrush kicking out vinyl graphics using screen inks and didnt stop once to clean a clogged gun. I have a bit of thinner as well but at the end of the day the ink is still wet inside the gun and all I need is a touch of denatured alcohol to wipe down the needle and barrel. I don't know why but I prefer denatured alcohol to the thinner, maybe it just stinks less.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Thank you all for your replies. your information has been VERY helpful and i appreciate it. I see that there is a section for posting pictures and whenever i get this project completed i'll be sure to let you guys see it. One more question, could anyone recommend where i might find some clip art or line drawings(preferably color) of a panther?
------------------ Thad Smith Slocomb, Alabama thadthad@hotmail.com meager airbrush hobbyist
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The vinyl inks would definately be the way to go on this one. One thing they failed to mention though is the smell! It's horrible, plan on doing it in a WELL ventilated space, close up the cans immediately after you are through with them. Keep a seperate trash can handy and dump all waste from the project AND any rags you use in it and get it outside quickly. One misplaced rag will have your shop stinkin' for a week. Great stuff but peeeeeeeeeuuuuuuuuuu what a stink
------------------ George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@ionictech.com
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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Rich, this board has been nothing but beneficial. thanks to their suggestions and your advice i feel that i'm ready to start painting. in fact, the vinyl screen will be ordered today.
George, thanks for the heads-up on the smell factor. Normally, i do all of my painting in my own house and i sure wouldn't want to stink it up with those inks! For this job though, i will be painting in either the school's gym or under a covered carport due to its size. I'm still glad you warned me though.
------------------ Thad Smith Slocomb, Alabama thadthad@hotmail.com meager airbrush hobbyist
I've been using Nazdar's GV series and 9600 series, and while the GV smell is less pleasant than the 9600, the 9600 is WAY stronger than the GV.
The 9600 stunk up the whole garage for the whole day, the GV didnt leave any real noticeable odor at all, at least nothing very offensive... unless I was desensitized thanks to the 9600.. hehe.
Wear a respirator if you spray it though.. nast stuff either way.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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hey.....guys....the importance of proper ventilation cannot be harped on enough....although water based seems harmless it isn't.....and one-shot, house of color, or any ink that contains MEK (METHYL ETHYL KETONE) is quite toxic......get a msd if not sure for the way bad stuff.....got friend with emphysema....only 34......don't take chances....been airbrushing 15 years.....used lots of nasty stuff....
------------------ "I may be going to hell in a bucket, but at least I'm enjoying the ride"
John Zant Sign of the Times Lafayette, Louisiana signmojo@bellsouth.net 337-233-9824
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