Airbrush for a beginner


dispatcher812

dispatcher812

Member
I used to have the testors airbrush that you screwed into a top of proppellent. I could never get it to work right. Can anyone suggest an airbrush that someone who never used one before could get decent results with after some practice? Any thoughts on the above mentioned set up (in case it is still in my parents basement?)

Thanks, Kevin
 
The Testors unit really is a paint sprayer and not a real airbrush, that's why it doesn't work that well. Any brand name airbrushes within your budget should work fine - Badger, Paasche, etc. Single action ones are easiest to use and clean, but double action models can do finer work. Either type will be better than what you have.

And as you've found, the propellant cans aren't very efficient and are costly. A compressor can be initially an expense, but will improve things considerably. Look for them at home improvement stores, Wal-Mart, etc., and select one with a tank. They can be had for under a hundred dollars.

As a bonus they can be used for other things around the house - inflating tires, pools, balls, etc., and some can run brad nailers. Mine came with a brad nailer and I've only used it a few times. But our eldest son borrowed it recently and it worked great fastening some new MDF baseboard in a room he was working on. It's not a nail gun, not that powerful, but great for trim work.
 
For a beginner, either the Badger 200 or one of the Paasche single action external mix aribrushes. Both are reliable and easy to use. The Testors brush you mention is a throw away which is what you should do with it if you are serious about airbrushing :D. I'd also suggest not using propellant cans. Expensive! You can get a nice compressor at Walmart or Home Depot that you can also use for airing up the car tires and other stuff pretty cheap. I never bought a hobby compressor. The big ones do more for the same money.

If you have to use cans, put the can in a pitcher of water while you use it to avoid freezing problems.

Double action airbrushes offer more possibilities, but are a little harder to learn to use, and harder to clean! Good Luck.
 
This is all very interesting to me also as I'm in the market for my first airbrush.

Thanks for the responses!
 
I have been using my old Pashe (SP?) single action external mix for about 10 years Its great for all types of painting. Its easy clean up and you can move fast with them. I dont consider it a detailing airbrush as its better used for weathering and painting solid colors over a model. I have a steady hand and still cant paint lines with it thats what tape is for. I use water based paints as the clean up is 100% faster and less cross contamanation of colors when you are changing colors without breaking the gun down to clean out.

just my.02
 
If you have already got the basics of using an airbrush down, then take a look at the Master's air brush line through Air Brush Depot. I use a G23 for most of my hobby use.
Air Brush Depot
 
Unfourtunatly I do not have the basics down. What I need is something simple for a beginner that can paint two solid colors. I don't need it to paint lines or any details. Just something that will do a neat paint job.
 
then start with a begginers air brush. one that has parts availible localy. they are not that pricy and simple to use. you will also need a good compressor and thats what gets price if you dont have one.. you can use a large garage compressor but you need to keep water out and regulate it to a lower pressure. I have painted trucks,trains,planes and layouts with mine. the hardest part is learning how to get the paint thinned just right. every paint is diffrent so every paint gets thinned diffrently. also dont mix oil and water baised paints without cleaning the gun first. have fun its a great learning step in modeling
 
Kevin, Life is to short to mess around with a single action external mix I am using a sceond hand Paasche VL airbrush :D get some paint and some cardboard and let it fly:rolleyes: the more you use it the more easy it will become !!!:D
Larry
 
Ok, here you go. This is basically the setup I use with great results.

A deluxe Airbrush for $16
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95810

10' air hose $6
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95813

A pancake tank air compressor that can maintain 40psi $75
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95275

Regulator w/Water Trap $13
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=43242

For $110 you can have the complete setup, the same that you would pay for just the airbrush in many places. You may also need to get a quick disconnect coupling set to connect the air hose to the regulator, depends on how you want to set it up.
 
dispatcher812 said:
WOW, I did not that there were so many types. What should I get a bottom feed?
Click to expand...

Most start out with a bottom feed. The harbor freight brush kit is not something I have any experience with, but when using bottom feed I do like to be able to switch between a color cup for small jobs, and a jar for bigger projects. Also what about parts? At $15.00 for the airbrush, is it worth fixing? I see from the ad it's aluminum construction. Most good quality airbrishes are nickle plated brass. You will wear out needles & tips, & o rings from repeated disassembly for cleaning. I keep small parts handy so if I need to repair it I'm not dead in the water until I get parts in the mail or a new airbrush. Like any other tool, a good investment up front is usually the best deal in the long run. There are lots of opinions out there about what is best. I've used just about all of the major brands, Badger, Paasche, Thayer Chandler, and Iwata. I agree with Trent, get one at your LHS or art supply store where you can also get parts if you need to. Try it out & get one that feels good in your hand.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks everyone for your help. I hjave a lot of research to so and a trip to my local art suplly store to make. Again, thanks for the great info.
 
I have a Paache single action and it works wonders for me, I already have a 75 gal. compressor but I had to buy a regulator with an air/water separator to reduce the pressure way down and remove any moisture, the regulator and air/water separator I have is a Parker model I got from an industrial retailer that sells hoses, fittings, and other stuff for fluids and pneumatic applications.
 
For the harbor freight airbrush, it wouldn't hurt to start on that to get a hang of using dual action. Also that mini regulator/filter that was linked, I would try it out at the store first. I bought one a while ago, but I never could get the damn thing to turn. Took it back to the store and no one there could get it to work either.
 
funnelfan said:
Ok, here you go. This is basically the setup I use with great results.

A deluxe Airbrush for $16
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95810

10' air hose $6
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95813

A pancake tank air compressor that can maintain 40psi $75
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95275

Regulator w/Water Trap $13
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=43242

For $110 you can have the complete setup, the same that you would pay for just the airbrush in many places. You may also need to get a quick disconnect coupling set to connect the air hose to the regulator, depends on how you want to set it up.
Click to expand...

Ted, I started out years ago with basically the set up you suggested except I purchased this compressor-
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=93657

It's a good setup for anyone wanting to use an airbrush.
 
do you have to thoroughly clean the airbrush out when you are doing to colors on the same project?
 
Steve, you either have to clean the airbrush or have multiple airbrushes. The cheap Harbor Freight airbrush is pretty appealing if it's any good at all since you can have four or five ready with different colors and not have to clean them out until you're done with the job.
 
Espeefan said:
At $15.00 for the airbrush, is it worth fixing? I see from the ad it's aluminum construction. Most good quality airbrishes are nickle plated brass. You will wear out needles & tips, & o rings from repeated disassembly for cleaning.
Click to expand...

It's actually chrome plated brass. Only the tip cover was aluminum.

As far as cleaning the airbrush between colors on the same project. Since I use water based Polly Scale paint, I simply have a bottle of rubbing alcohol. When I finish one color, slap on the bottle of alcohol and spray until the brush is clean, and then start in with the next color. I makes switching between colors quick and easy, and I don't have to disassemble the brush each time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.



Back
Top