Cheap Air Brush Kit

sg219 · Post by **sg219** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 1:02 am

Big Lots had this when I stopped in to look around the other day.

Its nothing extraordinary, but maybe a good starter kit or to try out with. I just need to find the cheap compressor now.

DarkTari · Post by **DarkTari** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 8:14 am

Its nothing extraordinary, but maybe a good starter kit or to try out with

It's good enough Pimp! Good Find

HFT has this mini compressor on sale for $69.99 right now....(lists at $89.99 online)

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=45660

EDIT:

Sorry about that Pimp. This is the one that is on sale for $69.99 and the
one you need. This one is tanked with a regulator & filter. (list @ $99.99)
Made especially for hobby air brushing.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=34843

SuperFly · Post by **SuperFly** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 1:31 pm

You absolutely need a filter and a regulator, but those can both be added as attachments to any air compressor. The problem with compressors designed to inflate tires or run air tools is that the pressure is too high for airbrushing. I usually use 8-12 lbs of pressure for painting, and typical output of small comressors is usually 4 times that. The filter is especially important if you are using spirit-based paint as it's main function is to remove moisture created by compressing and releasing normal room air. Water mixed with laquer or enamel is deadly to a smooth finish. It might not be as big of a problem with acrylic paint.

Also, while compressors made specifically for airbrushing tend to be smaller and quieter, they are usually only good for airbrushing and aren't cheap. You could probably find a used something or the small models at Home Depot for under $100 that would be useful for other things besides airbrushing. The filter and regulator are screw-on attachments that can be had for less than $20.

sg219 · Post by **sg219** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:51 pm

OK, while we're on the subject...

Which is better, and what's the difference? A dual action or single action.

I've seen both, but the ditzy bimbos at the craft stores don't know anything.

What do those of you who have one use?

SuperFly · Post by **SuperFly** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:47 am

I have a single action and I like it just fine. I think hue35's is dual-action, and he could tell you about that. With a single action, I adjust the paint flow with an adjusting screw at the back of the long needle, and it remains consistent while painting. The "single action" is the button that controls air flow. If you're just getting started using an airbrush and will mainly use it for overall coating of things, single action is the way to go.

If you plan on doing airbrush illustration, or you think you're really going to get into it, a dual-action will be harder to learn but will allow greater control. The button on most dual action airbrushes goes up and down and foreward and back. The up and down controls air flow, and the forward-back controls paint flow.

Other differences are gravity-feed vs. suction feed. A gravity feed has a little bowl that you put the paint in, and it just flows into the air stream. A suction-feed has a little jar with a lid and a straw that goes down inside. The air flowing over the top sucks the paint out of the bottle. Mine is suction, and I like it because when I'm done painting, I can just put a regular lid on the jar and save the paint for later, and I don't have to worry about sloshing the paint out of the bowl while painting.

Mine is a Badger 200 like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 00522&rd=1

I would definitely look into a used one, as pretty much all of the parts that can wear out or get damaged are replaceable, and most parts are less than $12.

Also, as far as air sources go, I've heard of lots of people using an old inner tube as an air source. Sounds dorky, but you could just fill it up at the gas station and have plenty of nice, quiet air for almost free.

hue35 · Post by **hue35** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:54 am

A single action works kinda like a really nice rattle can... when you push the button, paint comes out. The amount of pressure appied to the button does a good job of regulating the flow of the paint/air. A dual action is kinda like it sounds... when you push down, the air flows, but not the paint. When you rock the lever back, the paint is mixed in, so you basically have infinite control over how much paint is mixed in with the air. The lever action makes it easy to control the range, from a faint mist to a full-on spray, and from a fine line to a broad stroke.

The real benefit of either is the ability to mix custom colors, and the single action is more than adequate for bit applications... the dual action is more for illustrators who need variable spray widths and use the brush to paint fine, freehand details. I have a dual action, but use it more like a single action when painting Bits.

edit: uh, also what SuperFly said... we was answerin' at the same time.

sg219 · Post by **sg219** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 6:14 pm

Thanks alot pimps.

It sounds like a single action is what I need to look into for my purposes.

Maybe after enough practice and use, I'll want to move onto the Dual, but for now a single is good enough.

Would anyone object to this bieng moved to a How-To/Info section?

Would the body/chassis section be cool? ...and make it a sticky...

DarkTari · Post by **DarkTari** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 7:37 am

Also, while compressors made specifically for airbrushing tend to be smaller and quieter, they are usually only good for airbrushing and aren't cheap. You could probably find a used something or the small models at Home Depot for under $100 that would be useful for other things besides airbrushing. The filter and regulator are screw-on attachments that can be had for less than $20.

I got this one last year.

I use it for auto, bike, matress inflation. Blower to get rid of brake dust and crap when tool'n on the rides, air tools, etc.
It comes with a regulator and the price can't be beat. Haven't tried air brushing yet. But that's not a bad price for the air brush compressor.
http://order.harborfreight.com/EasyAsk/ ... esults.jsp

hogjowlz · Post by **hogjowlz** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 7:52 am

my friend let me borrow one but its loud as a motherfuck. rattlecans are fine for me.

sg219 · Post by **sg219** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 6:57 pm

I guess these cheap airbrush sets are HOT sellers. When I got mine, there were at least 30 of these on the display. I went back today and the whole section was empty.

I bought mine on the 5th and its the 10th now. I would have never guessed that many people would snatch that up.

SuperFly · Post by **SuperFly** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:40 pm

Also worth mentioning about air compressors is whether or not they have a storage tank. DarkTari's has one, as you can see. Mine does not. The benefit of a tank is that the compressor isn't necessarily working while you are painting. The downside is that the compressor will just come on whenever the pressure in the tank dips below a certain level, and if you're not expecting it, it can scare the hell out of you.

sg219 · Post by **sg219** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 9:22 pm

I think I found the right deal.

I just need to look a little more.

http://www.superpawn.com/product.asp?ca ... store=&c=1

http://www.superpawn.com/product.asp?ca ... dingstore=[/url]

DarkTari · Post by **DarkTari** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:46 pm

Looks good Pimp! It's a Badger so it won't need a regulator. The other
is a Paasche which is also made especially for Air Brushing. As long as they
work, no problem.

HirotoR34 · Post by **HirotoR34** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 5:33 pm

I had a dual action rig that worked pretty well for a while. I bought it from a
Snap-On dealer for about a 100 bucks. I then bought a dual line compressor
with a moisture filter and pressure regulator. I also had a jam gun that was great for painting large areas. I would usually use the jam gun to paint broad areas and the airbrush for fine details.

spud18 · Post by **spud18** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:21 pm

i got a testors airbrush kit with a few enamel paints and primer and CO2 and it worked alright but the tip kept getting clogged and eventually i ran out of these little wire things to unclog it and straws to bring the paint up to be sprayed. it was 20$ canadian at wallyworld