Why Your Airbrush Paint Won’t Spray Right (Reduction Test)

If your airbrush isn’t spraying the way you expect—clogging, splattering, or losing control—paint reduction is usually part of the problem. In this video, I test different paint reduction ratios at a fixed air pressure using an Iwata Eclipse HP-CS and an Iwata Micron CM-C Plus to show how reduction actually affects spray behavior. This isn’t theory—you’ll see the differences in real time. What this demonstrates: How different reduction ratios change spray pattern and control What happens when paint is under-reduced vs over-reduced Why the same air pressure behaves differently depending on reduction Where a practical “all-around” range starts to make sense Important: These tests are done at a fixed air pressure to isolate how reduction alone affects performance. Real-world results will vary depending on your setup, paint line, and application. Createx Technical Data Sheets https://creatextech.com/ Createx Wicked Blue https://amzn.to/33YBRlY Createx 4011 Reducer https://amzn.to/30wRBuo 10cc Syringes (without needle) https://amzn.to/2FpvzBQ Iwata HP-CS Eclipse https://amzn.to/31Up4ym Iwata CM-C+ https://amzn.to/3kEuc2a E-Z Mix 4 Ounce Cups https://amzn.to/2Fteze5 Medicine Cups https://amzn.to/3477kCu 2 Ounce Cups & Lids https://amzn.to/33Z2Kq7 Stir Sticks https://amzn.to/2DSDK9k Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the products mentioned in my videos. I use what works for me. Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. 00:00 Why Paint Reduction Matters 00:50 Test Setup (Air Pressure & Equipment) 03:01 10% Reduction Test 06:10 15% Reduction Test 07:47 20% Reduction Test 09:28 25% Reduction Test 10:50 30% Reduction Test 11:46 35% Reduction Test 12:57 40% Reduction Test 14:21 45% Reduction Test 15:08 50% Reduction Test 15:53 What the Tests Show 16:46 Troubleshooting Decisions 19:46 Measuring vs Estimating Your Mix 21:23 Best All-Around Reduction Range Reduction Ratios: 5% per volume = 19 (parts paint): 1 (part reducer) 10% per volume = 9 (parts paint): 1 (part reducer) 15% per volume = 17 (parts paint): 3 (parts reducer) 20% per volume = 4 (parts paint): 1 (part reducer) 25% per volume = 5 (parts paint): 1 (part reducer) 30% per volume = 7 (parts paint): 3 (parts reducer) 35% per volume = 13 (parts paint): 7 (parts reducer) 40% per volume = 3 (parts paint): 2 (parts reducer) 45% per volume = 11 (parts paint): 9 (parts reducer) 50% per volume = 1 (part paint): 1 (part reducer) #airbrush #airbrushtips #airbrushproblem #paintreduction #airbrushtechnique #createxcolorsco