Recommendations for airbrush...

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Timbo

Timbo

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Joined
Jan 4, 2008
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1,188
Location
Kill Devil Hills, NC USA.
I'm looking to getting an airbrush to finish small parts. I own a turbine HVLP sprayer, but it's overkill for when I just want to finish a few small parts. I have no experience with airbrush kits, but I'm sure some of you folks do. I don't think I need a "professional" high dollar kit, just something that works well. I'm not even sure I need a kit with a pump...can I use my existing shop air compressor? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Tim
 
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Go with a Paasche, one of the best in the business. They have single and two stage brushes. The single is the cheap one for arounf $30. The two stage is over $100.
 
Although I don't do any air brushing at the moment. You should be able to use your shop air compressor, but you will want to put a regulator on the brushes air supply to lower the pressure to what the manufacturer calls for, or you could end up with a paint bomb :eek:. Also you may want to get a cheap air dryer to put in the air line to keep moisture out of the brush.

Karl
 
I've had a Badger 150 two stage for over twenty years. It does not see a lot of use these days but works like new. If you take the time to keep it clean a good brush will last forever. Get a good compressor. While mine has lasted I have always wished for a compressor with a tank and an on/off switch. I spent my money on the brush and went cheap on the compressor.

I have thought about using our big shop compressor but worry about damaging the brush. We have had a regulator fail and it was not a pretty site. Maybe I am just overly protective.
 
Agreed.
I'm using a Badger Crescendo 175 and my shop compressor. You need a good regulator on the air line and a good moisture filter. Moisture & lacquer don't work well together. If you keep your airbrush clean, your airbrush will hold up longer than most of us.

The Crescendo 175 has been the go to airbrush of many airbrush artists for many years. The design is probably starting to show its age but it has a long standing proven track record so it's still a popular airbrush. However... for spraying finishes, a single action with different sized tips might be all you would ever need. I like the double action myself but I could certainly get by without it if I had too.

Start small and work your way up as the need arrises. I started with a Harbor Freight airbrush and that worked well for me until I got good enough to recognize I needed better control over what I was spraying. Doing light touch ups and repairs started me on the double action brush.

I also fly RC helicopters so I needed an airbrush to paint my canopies. I use it for more than just spraying finishes.

Dave,

Haynie said:
I've had a Badger 150 two stage for over twenty years. It does not see a lot of use these days but works like new. If you take the time to keep it clean a good brush will last forever. Get a good compressor. While mine has lasted I have always wished for a compressor with a tank and an on/off switch. I spent my money on the brush and went cheap on the compressor.

I have thought about using our big shop compressor but worry about damaging the brush. We have had a regulator fail and it was not a pretty site. Maybe I am just overly protective.
Click to expand...
 
I have a Badger single stage, a Paasche two stage and an Iwata HP stage and the top of the line, around $300, is the Iwata. I also bought a Harbor Freight unit for $5 and have used it for jobs that don't require eally fine detail. It works amazingly well for a $5 price. I would suggest you look at only the two stage for fine detail because of the control it gives. As is frequently the case, the cost will reflect the quality. I have a small compressor that reaches a max of 35psi and a 2 hp that I use for larger projects and run it at 55psi. I took lessons several years ago and it was worthwhile because of the hands on training. There are lots of sources of info on line and forums that will help too. It's a hoot to learn and use but at this point I have not figured out hopw to apply the art to pens, not giving up, just have not dedicated the time requiredto figure it out.
WB
 
I Used siphon jars but most of the time I just use the little siphon cup anymore.

I chose the double action for the control. If all you are doing is using it for finishing then the control is not all that necessary.

No matter what you get practice. The best way I found to practice is water in the paint bottles or siphon cup and a chalk board. You can practice your lines or spray technique without wasting paint or having to clean everything afterword. Just make sure your chalk board can get wet.
 
I use 2 Iwata's that I use. A Neo and Eclipse both are available at Hobby Lobby. The Eclipse comes with 2 needles and nozzles that allow for fine detail and broader spray patterns. They are both dual action and gravity feed. As far as which feed to use it really depends on what you plan on spraying. If it's finishes you may be better of getting a small hvlp type gun. The smaller the nozzle on the airbrush the more you have to thin or more likely you'll spray silk. Very fine threads of finish that will go on cloudy because they are basically dry on contact. most finishes that happens with can be resprayed without too much trouble since they will melt down into they layers if you get good flow
 
I spray lacquer all the time using an airbrush. The only time I spray silk is when it's cold and wet outside. Using a retarder resolved that issue for me. Generally when my brush sprayed silk, it didn't matter if I was using a fine tip or heavy tip.

The clouding you refer to is blushing which is caused by moisture trapped under the skin of the finish. Adding a retarder or sometimes a light spray of thinner will soften the skin and release the moisture. A light wet sanding will also take care of the blushing.
 
My vote is for the Pasche or however it is spelled. For lacquer, I use the slowest thinner I can buy at the auto parts store. The only time I use the Big Box thinner is for a cleanup. Even then I prefer a cheap thinner from the auto paint department. Fav brand is DuPont. My $0.02.
Charles
 
I decided to get the Badger Crescendo 175. This unit would do justice to more capable hands, but its something that I can grow into. Besides...I hate buying the same tool twice. Even better, its going to be a Christmas present from my wife.

Thanks for all the feedback!
 
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