. I have the Iwata CS gravity feed airbrush, the one with the paint cup built on top, and I was wondering the following: if you need to spray just a small part or area, do you mix it in the cup itself or how else? And what do you use to mix it with? like stir it up.

Hi Pat well mate being a recent Iwata convert ( And I'm never going back I tell YE ! ) I hve been doing just as you suggest, I mix up smaller amounts right in the colour cup and I stir it with an old fine paint brush ( I just remove the bristles and use the ferrule ,though the plastic stirers You find in Cafe 's etc... have proven very useful on many occaisions too , Km:-)

I use the cup as well, specially good for faded painted, as the colour will not be perfectly mixed in the cup and will show a nice subtle change in colour from base as you spray it on, looking like faded paint. Or as Kenaz mentioned, mix it very well and spray out the old color before continuing.

Happy spraying
Bruce

Yeah Bruce is absolutley right its especially good for faded paint especially on anti glare strips and panels of aircraft with litteraly a few second agitation its ready to spray

A good way to mix paint in the cup is to hold a rag over the nozzle and blow air back into the cup as you would when cleaning it. Best to put the lid on the cup first.

I use the cup also, just a little different....
Since I use an eye dropper, I first put my thinner in, then figure out how much paint to add simply by counting drops. Then just suck the paint and thinners in and out of the cup a few times for a good mixture. AND it's pretty neat also, doing it gently, I haven't spilled a drop yet, or made a mess.
Oh...I use all top feeders (Iwata, Passche, Badger) at home, over a hardwood floor, so neatness does count.

Grumpy's got the technique. I do the same. I have tried covering the end and forcing air back into the mixing cup...not a good move sometimes. Depending on just how much air flows back into the cup, can mean the difference between old faithful (Been there done that) or a minor bubbling. I'd go with the eye dropper every time. Just my .02 worth. "Q"

My God, I thought I was the only one who ended up with old faithful..... That's how I started doing the eye-dropper routine...
but back then it was an old tile floor in the basement, now it's polished hardwood in an apartment, and I don't feel like buying the owners a new floor if and when I move, so neatness, and careful are doubled up, at the modelling desk.

How do you hold a rag over the end of the nozzel without damaging the tip?

Well Pat, you can gently cover up the nozzle (do not use force, else it will bend)

for me, i mix and stir my paint in a separate container and pour the mixture into my airbrush

I start by pouring in the thinner followed by the paint, then mix it well with a soft brush. Then I blow some air in the cup and mix with brush again. I do this two times. This way its ensured that paint is dilluted and mixed well.
By the way, I always start with thin color and then thicken it up till its fine. This way it won't clog up the nozzle and needle.

I use a single action Paasche and I mix my paint the same as ya'll do. when i want to get the blow back I just jab the needle into my palm though rather than a rag

I wouldn't suggest trying to cover the tip on an Iwata, the needles are extra fine, and very easily bent, and cost a lot more than a badger or passche needle. If you are using a crown cap, even more of the needle is exposed, and even more care is needed if you wish to try to cover the tip to back flush or mix using the air-pressure.