Volcanos Rather Than Liquid Powder

When I try to paint my jig heads I have what looks like little volcanos rather than liquid. I am using a homemade paint bed but the cups are commercially made. I ordered some from Barlow’s and the rest from another mail order site. The bed is made from PVC pipe and the pump is a regular aquarium pump. The cups are the 2 inch and are a right fit in the PVC pipe. I think it is a PVC coupling. What causes the volcanos and what can I do about them so that the powder looks more like a liquid? Thanks.

GF

You can go to the pet supply section of Walmart and buy a small valve. Put it inline on your air hose. You can turn down the pressure just enough to make it better. If it’s an option then you can try a different material as your air filter on your cup unless it’s glued onto your cup.

stir the powder paint while adjusting your pressure

What LedHed said! I always atart off with my valve cut off and then open it a little at a time until it gets like I want it. Some colors seem heavier than others and many can be thinned a lot with Clear and it makes it flow so much better! Just don’t try to thin Chrome or Silver for sure and probably would try thinning Pearl, not sure my list is complete, but most colors actually need some thinning IMHO!

Skip

I use a small 12v vibrating motor on my cups,I stir powder paint first, then turn on air, when the volcanoes start I turn on the vibrator it smooths the powder out.The powder just rolls in the cup.