Airbrush Medium

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

GOLDEN Airbrush Medium is a 100% acrylic binder system designed for modifying the GOLDEN Fluid Acrylics and other GOLDEN Acrylic products for airbrush/spray application. While designed with the Fluid Acrylics in mind, GOLDEN Airbrush Medium will also reduce the Heavy Body, Matte Heavy Body, Matte Fluids, High Loads, Iridescent/Interference and Fluorescent Acrylics for spray applications. GOLDEN Mediums and Gessoes can also be blended with Airbrush Medium for spraying purposes. This product should not be used alone, and must be mixed with other GOLDEN Acrylic paints, mediums or grounds in the recommended ratios to create a useable material. Very thick or highly textured materials thinned with GOLDEN Airbrush Medium may still be difficult to reduce for conventional spraying and alternative methods of spraying may be required.

PRODUCT APPLICATION

Mixing Directions:

Generally, mixing equal amounts (by volume) of Airbrush Medium and Fluid Acrylics will result in a useful consistency for spraying. Additional amounts of Airbrush Medium may be used if the mixture does not spray properly (Refer to the Quick Reference Chart below for more complete recommendations).

Blending Suggestions:

Gently stir or shake Airbrush Medium to insure homogeneity before blending with GOLDEN Acrylics.

For any paint system, stir the Airbrush Medium into the paint, slowly adding small amounts and thoroughly stirring before adding more. This will decrease the chance that lumps of paint will form, resulting in a smoother, more homogenous mixture (This procedure is especially important when mixing with GOLDEN Heavy Body or Matte Acrylics).

Water can also be used with the Airbrush Medium to help thin the paint, but doing so will forfeit some sprayability characteristics and may increase tip build-up in the airbrush. After adding the Airbrush Medium into a paint mixture to the equal part ratio, minor additional thinning can be done with the Airbrush Medium. However, if there is the need for thinning beyond a 1:2 (paint to Airbrush Medium) ratio, adding water thins the paint readily.

Prior to spraying, it may be necessary to strain the diluted mixture (using cheese cloth, nylon pantyhose, or #8 mesh or finer silk-screening fabric) to remove any large particulate materials and ensure homogeneity and smoothness. Mixing products with GOLDEN Airbrush Medium will generate foam. Pre-mix colors at least 5 minutes before use. This will allow time for the foam generated to dissipate before spraying. Failure to wait this time period can result in micro-foam in the paint film.

Add a Mixing Ball:

Add a mixing ball to aid in blending. In GOLDEN Airbrush Colors, a barundum (a barrel-shaped, ceramic piece used in pigment dispersion) is added to facilitate faster and more homogenous mixing. Reuse barundums from old Airbrush Acrylic bottles or use a smooth stone, marble, stainless steel nut, etc. to perform this function. This is especially valuable when storing mixtures for future use, but also does an excellent job of blending fresh mixtures as well.

Extend Paints:
Airbrush Medium also functions as an extender for applications requiring greater transparency and open time (slower drying). We generally do not recommend using the Airbrush Medium with the pre-made GOLDEN Airbrush Colors because this creates a very slow drying, potentially weaker paint film, with poor frisket performance (color sticking to frisket or masking films) until the film sufficiently dries. When frisketing is of critical importance, use GOLDEN Airbrush Transparent Extender to dilute the Airbrush Colors. Transparent Extender is recommended whenever a mixture requires additions greater than 2 parts medium to 1 part paint. This will yield a paint system that dries quickly, "friskets" well, and has excellent sprayability.

Additional Tips:

Paint on any non-oily surface. Remove oils, grease, or other contaminants before application.
Non-absorbent surfaces should be abraded for increased adhesion.
Keep tools wet during use.
Do not allow product to dry in airbrush.
Clean tools with soap and water.
Clean airbrush with water, ammonia/water, alcohol or miscellaneous household cleaners (however, consider effect of cleaner on airbrush parts, such as rings and seals).

FABRIC APPLICATION

GOLDEN Airbrush Medium blended with GOLDEN Fluid Acrylics yields an excellent fabric paint that does not require heat-setting. A blending ratio of at least 1:1 is recommended. Other GOLDEN Acrylics such as the Heavy Body Acrylics, Iridescent/Interference Colors and Fluorescent Colors can be used as well.

GOLDEN Airbrush Colors are not recommended for fabric use. However, if using these colors is desired, blend with GAC 900, a thin heat-settable medium expressly designed for fabric applications. This mixture will not perform as well as the Airbrush Medium/Fluid Acrylics mix.

For more complete information on using GOLDEN Acrylics on fabric, refer to the GOLDEN Fabric Application Information Sheet.

QUICK REFERENCE CHART
Use the table below to determine ratios of Airbrush Medium to paint for GOLDEN paint systems:

Paint Type (1 Part of Paint)	Airbrush Medium Addition
Fluid Acrylics	1 Part
Heavy Body Acrylics	7 Parts
Matte Acrylics	7 Parts
High Load Acrylics (+1 part water)	1 Part
Iridescent/Interference Acrylics	2 Parts
Fluorescent Acrylics	2 Parts
Mediums (GACs, Polymer, Matte)	1 Part
Gessoes	1 Part

*NOTE: It is highly suggested to substitute 3 or 4 parts of the Airbrush Medium addition with water, as excessive amounts of Airbrush Medium will cause very slow drying of the paint film.

Also, the above ratios are intended as starting points for use at air pressures of 40 psi or greater. A greater or lesser amount of Airbrush Medium may be required for your particular equipment and/or application, especially if lower air pressures are used.

FURTHER READING

Airbrush Transparent Extender Information Sheet
Beginning Airbrush Tips I & II
Fabric Application Information Sheet