Anyone know about airbrush setups?

[MadPlumbarian]

Well just like the subject says, I'm looking into airbrush. Ive never used them before, I'm starting to get back into modeling and need to paint them, before I used to have a garage and just use a can of spray paint, well, ain't got it any more so I'm limited, and I really don't want to have one of these compressors running, so is there some other type of setup that can be done in small places? I've seen one of the units that use a basic spray paint can to use as a source of push, but you got to keep buying cans every time, do they make anything else, like a small pump? Kinda like a garden sprayer? Any info on anything to do with airbrushing would be greatly appreciated, thanks JR

[kirk13]

JR,you won't like what I have to say...

You need an airbrush compressor!

Back in the day,I had a large resevoir,which I filled with a tire compressor. I've tried disposable propellant cans,and they are no good! They tend to cause condensation in the air supply tube,and don't deliver constant air pressure.

In the UK, Revell make an airbrush specific compressor for under £100,with a built in resevoir and fairly low noise levels.

I gave up airbrushes in favour of Tamiya aerosol cans,and craft masking

Oh yeah,the other thing is you'll need some form of extractor fan to get rid of the fumes and overspray.

[Grant Lamontagne]

For an airbrush I'd stick to Badger or Paasch.  Those are kind of the dominant brands, and if you need parts later on they are your best bet as every hobby shop in the world sells one or the other... or more commonly both.  Badger is more likely the better choice as they are a lot more affordable and there are more options.  Paasch is more like a professional grade while Badger is perfectly good for most people.

The compressor is important, but they can be a bit pricey.  You can buy and use propellent cans in the meantime, but they are limited to short term use unless you have a moisture trap.  Even so there's a variety in the pressure they can put out depending on how long you spray for at a time, the temperature in the room and how much propellant is in them.

I have a Cyclone II compressor that I use mostly, but you can just as easily use a regular air compressor rather than an airbrush specific tool.  This is good if you already have a compressor for air tools and so on.  You might need to buy a few fittings to change the size to fit your airbrush line, but it could be cheaper than buying a new compressor if you already have one.

You might also want to look into a spray booth.  You can buy one ready made, but if you have the skill to build a model kit you are probably more than capable of building your own spray booth too.

Def

[MadPlumbarian]

We'll this isn't looking to good for a cheap hobby, oh and Kirk, why would I want a fume extractor if this is for stress relief? lol, I might have to look into just hand painting.. JR

[kirk13]

JR,beer works out cheaper,and doesn't screw up your synuses...trust me on this one! I'd terrible hay fever type reactions for years!

[MadPlumbarian]

JR,beer works out cheaper,and doesn't screw up your synuses...trust me on this one! I'd terrible hay fever type reactions for years!

Beer? Yuck, I only like it for cooking. JR

[ducttapetech]

Did I just read beer and yuck together? What the hell!!!
Lmao! ;D

that's us mobile

[dmanuel]

I use a Paasch system and love it. Compressor is super quiet, you can easily hold a conversation while it is running.

[MadPlumbarian]

Hey, what about one of those little airbrush compressors they use at the nail salon? Not that I've been near them, but they keep popping up on all the searching I've been doing. That's kinda all I need no? Mini compressor and a airbrush(something to hold paint and shoot)?? I'm not going to be doing anything big, when I used to do it before I painted the parts individually then put it together, this way when you turned the model over it was like real, black frame, red under coat, silver exhaust. So the biggest thing that would get painted would be the body, nothing huge? JR

[Grant Lamontagne]

This is the one I have, but it's got to be close to 25 years old now.  Still going strong though.



I don't frequent too many nail salons so I have no idea what they use.  I would imagine it is something similar, although with improvements in technology I am certain you can get them half the size, twice the power and a tenth the noise of this one.

Def

[Chako]

That looks like the same unit that I have Def. It is a bit on the noisy size for sure.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah it is a bit loud but I have hobbies so I have a way of getting away from other people.   

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[Whoey]

Testors used to make a cheap kit... I don't think they're available over here in Europe, but in North America they should be plentiful.

I've been looking off and on seems to be lots of options!

[MadPlumbarian]

Yeah it is a bit loud but I have hobbies so I have a way of getting away from other people.   

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

That would have been great a few years ago, heck I'd just have the pancake compressor going, but now living in a apartment, it kinda sucks, that and having to listen to the wife complain to turn it off, it's to loud! Or having any neighbors complain about noise wouldn't be to good! This isn't looking to good,, JR

[Whoey]

newer compressors are probably a lot quieter these days. Also depends on the size.

Remember the power bricks we used to have to get 12V from the wall socket, and now you compare with the tiny usb plugs we have for our smartphones...

[MadPlumbarian]

newer compressors are probably a lot quieter these days. Also depends on the size.

Remember the power bricks we used to have to get 12V from the wall socket, and now you compare with the tiny usb plugs we have for our smartphones...

True, but they didn't make noise..

Oh and Grant, the ones that I've seen are kinda like fish tank air pumps, hmm would they do anything, or not enough push? JR

[Whoey]

yes, I know that, I'm comparing how things advance over time.

http://www.testors.com/product/137109/50204A/_/Testors_Blue_Mini_Airbrush_Compressor

[lowtech]

I have owned different Airbrush systems. From my experience (longa ago) I can say:
Right, aerosol sucks for airbrushing. Compressors are noiy or expensive.
One of my (simpler) airbrushes had an adaptor that made it possible to use a Car Tire as a reservoir. This worked better than you might think.

But in the long run, a compressor works best.

[MadPlumbarian]

yes, I know that, I'm comparing how things advance over time.

http://www.testors.com/product/137109/50204A/_/Testors_Blue_Mini_Airbrush_Compressor

wow, $150 just for a compressor, ouch! JR

[Grant Lamontagne]

You can usually find compressors at Costco, Home Depot and places like that on sale for under $100. Models with tanks reduce the noise issue as they shut down the compressor one a certain pressure is reached and only come back on when the pressure drops too far. With and airbrush it can take a long time to drop the pressure that much.

You might find yourself spending a fair bit to get a moisture trap and some fittings to make the airbrush hook to it.

If you are careful you can probably save some money this way, but I'm not sure how worth it that method may be.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[Whoey]

I'm not sure, but I think there are kits available for less. Keep in mind that's Testor's official page. Check amazon and eBay to get a better idea of prices, check your local hobby shop. Here in Spain for example it's double the online prices in my local hobby shop. Which is literally 5 min walk from my front door.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[MadPlumbarian]

You can usually find compressors at Costco, Home Depot and places like that on sale for under $100. Models with tanks reduce the noise issue as they shut down the compressor one a certain pressure is reached and only come back on when the pressure drops too far. With and airbrush it can take a long time to drop the pressure that much.

You might find yourself spending a fair bit to get a moisture trap and some fittings to make the airbrush hook to it.

If you are careful you can probably save some money this way, but I'm not sure how worth it that method may be.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

So if I had one of those 5gal portable air tanks filled up I could get away with that until it needed a refill, but I would also need some type of regulator also? JR

[lowtech]

In most cases, the Air tank does have a pressure regulator or there is one built into the adaptor you need to hook up the airbrush gun.
If you are eager learnin g german, I do have an older "airbrush Perfekt" book I can send you. ;-)

[MadPlumbarian]

In most cases, the Air tank does have a pressure regulator or there is one built into the adaptor you need to hook up the airbrush gun.
If you are eager learnin g german, I do have an older "airbrush Perfekt" book I can send you. ;-)

Oh, thanks, but no I'm good, until I figure this all out I don't know which way I'm going!


I mean I'm starting from scratch, it's been a while, and the only thing I'm really working with is a desk. Most of the little parts that I'll be working with can just be painted by hand. It's the larger pieces, like the body's of the cars, planes, tanks, that gotta be done right, with no paint strokes? And I'm guessing that's where the airbrush would come in handy? I just don't have any exspriance with them.. Heck I can just make it easy and get a can of spray paint and take a walk outside, but I'd still like to get a little more in detail, like if I wanted to do camo, that ain't getting done with spray cans! I just don't know where to start! JR

[Chako]

I hear you Def. Likewise, I have a big garage to myself...the noise is nothing compared to my 60 gallon compressor. 

[Chako]

I can easily suggest a Testor's Aztek Kit. I love this airbrush. It is a dual action setup that is super easy to clean and maintain. The deluxe kit that I have come with plenty of extras. I have tried the cheaper single stages, and in airbrushes, you do get what you pay for. With that said, a single is a lot easier to use, but if you start off with a dual, you do get used to it quick enough.





And some info for you.

http://www.ebay.com/gds/Selecting-an-airbrush-Single-Action-vs-Dual-Action-/10000000000820470/g.html

Also, something like this would be nice if you plan on doing a lot of this in the future.

http://www.internetmodeler.com/scalemodels/nrtools/Model-Expo-Portable-Spray-Booth.php

[MadPlumbarian]

Thanks for the info Chako, I'll look into it! JR