Air Brush

[colbra]

Hi All
I was thinking of buying an airbrush, to get a better finish on some Cars and trucks that I make from time to time. Over the next couple of days I will look around on the web to see what information I can gather and maybe a tip to local library, but if there is anyone on the forum that can help with some information on the above it would as always grately appreciated I have a compressor, but it may need more filters on it, or it may be to big although I can always cut pressure back to suit
Regards colbra

[arose62]

I'm no expert, but one of the first pointers I found was that there are two main types of airbrush - single and double action.

Single action has a button/lever which controls the amount of airflow and paint simultaneously.

Double action has a button/lever which you push down to control airflow, and pull back to control paint delivery. More expensive, but more control.

My airbrush was a SuperCheap Auto double action, and I drove it happily from my belt-drive 50l air compressor, just using a little regulator to reduce the pressure.

Cheers,
Andrew

[nev25]

Try
http://www.airbrush.com/forums/

[Waldo]

You want a double action, brand: DeVilbis or Pasche, if they still make them Thayer&Chandler are the ducks guts. (got one in my office haven't used it in over 15 years - I will one day, hopefully) From memory you want to run 15psi.

[Woodlee]

I have four airbrushes of different models three Iwatas and one Aztec.
Iwatas are the no 1 airbrush on the planet today and range in many different models ,depending on what you want to achieve.
Here is a link to a US dealer ,
http://www.medea-artool.com
but they are much cheaper on Ebay from a guy in Hong Kong
I bought mine from him and had no trouble .
He also sells over runs or Iwata knock offs from the same factory at a fraction of the price from dealers .

My advice is get a double action , with the paint cup on the top ,(gravity feed) or the side adjustable cup ,the suction type with the bottle underneath are a pain for close up detail work as the bottle gets in the way when you need to get right up close.
A spray pattern from pencil line to 1" is plenty for model painting .

Kev.

[Waldo]

That's the one I was trying to remember Iwata, not Pasche. Used to have an Aztec - had one when they first came out but I already had a couple so I gave it to my BIL.

[petersemple]

I have a Badger single action - but it is a needle single action - kind of like a double action one but the adjuster for the line width is at the end of the brush not on the switch. When I bought it it was significantly cheaper than double action brushes and got pretty much as good a finish. Had it for years and it still works really well.

Peter

[Batpig]

Dear Colbra,

I've got a single action Pasche myself, but just on the subject of compressors for a second, I wonder if any of the guys here have got a definitive opinion on whether or not the type of compressor (ie. "Oil-Free" or "Oil-Filled") makes a difference to the quality of the paint job. It's hard for me to comment, because my little 6L unit that I use for the airbrush needs Compressor Oil, but then again I've only ever sprayed Enamel paint with it... Perhaps if you want to spray in Acrylic (as a lot of guys do) and then do your Dry-Brushing and Washing in Enamel with a hand brush, it might pay to have an Oil-Free compressor. You could still use it with Enamel Paint of course...

If other Forumites think that this might be the case, then there is a little 6L Oil-Free unit that GMC have just released: http://www.gmcompany.com.au/index.cfm?module=article&id=89)
that might be worth your while thinking about (depending on the price of course). The special brand units that they sell in the hobby shops are very expensive (over $500 in some cases :oo:), and they're only just little fellas...

Best Wishes,
Batpig.

[Woodlee]

I use my big garage compressor ,I have a line set up from the big compressor to a smaller tank I made from a dry powder chemical fire extinguisher .I have a water trap/ filter on the out let of the big tank so the air going to the smaller tank is clean and dry.
Coming out from the extinguisher I have a small regulator then to a manifold with four 1/8 ball valves , onto which each of my airbrushes are connected so I can have four brushes going at once if I want to.

I agree the smaller specialty compressors are a rip off.
You need to make sure the compressor you use has a pressure cut out switch and can be fitted with an adjustable output regulator and moisture trap/ filter.

Kev.

[Waldo]

By far the best way to run an airbrush off, and I used to do it before the ad agency I worked at bought me a air brush compressor, was an E size compressed air cylinder - no problems with oil and all I had to do was run a regulator and water trap/ filter off it - super quiet with no noise :2tsup:

[colbra]

Hi every body
Thanks for all your replys, I will take all of this good advice, on board and over the next few weeks invest in a air brush. I have a compreser with a water trap, cut off valve, and regulator,it does have an oil sump but I will see how things go, its mainly cars and trucks up to about 500mm long and about 200mm in height.
Regards colbra Col

[woodcutta]

Colbra,

I have a Badger 360. Its double action and the bit I like the most is it can be used either as gravity feed or suction feed.
The best air source is a diaphragm compressor as it is oilless, but a moisture/oil trap works fine on a piston compressor

woodcutta