Aiurbrushes, what is the best way to start with them?

[ragnace]

Hello guys after much consideration I have decided to join this awesome site, and was wondering if u could help me with this!

I have read a lot of the post concerning airbrushes but one question remains what in your opinion wold be a good airbrush to start with? ( u know a good brush and compressor that is not too expensive)

Also what is the best way of going on about learning how to use them, I mainly want to use the airbrush for undercoating and painting vehicles!!

PS please excuse my probable bad use of the english language its been ages since I last used it!!

Arigato in advance!!!

 

[Dragonsreach]

Konishi Wa ragnace san.


If you are looking solely for Undercoating and Priming may I suggest a good beginners Airbrush is the Aztek range supplied or made by Testors
http://www.testors.com/.

 

[Einion]

Where are you? Recommendations on what to get and from whom can be mightily dependant on where you live.

Just a general recommendation for a do-most-jobs airbrush suitable for a beginner is one of the Azteks since you can get a double-action airbrush with a range of nozzle types for a very modest price. Plus they are easy to clean and maintain without damaging them (which is actually difficult with many traditional metal airbrushes).

As for compressors your location is much more of an issue here but the basic features you\'ll definitely want are variable pressure and a moisture trap, plus a reservoir ideally. In case you don\'t know the compressor will invariably cost more than the airbrush, sometimes a lot more - mine was something like four times the price of my AB.

Einion

 

[ragnace]

OK thanks for the advice!, I live in Spain and have to admit I wouldn\'t know where to get most of the stuff u guys have recomended I have ocasonally done some on-line shopping, have to admit that I mainly want the airbrush for painting big minis such as vehicles, wraithlords and the ocasional terrain piece!!

Will look into the link posted, thanks for the advice

 

[Dragonsreach]

Ahha you confused me with the Arigato.
Anyway hope it\'s of some use.

 

[Einion]

Well even with shipping I think it might just be worth ordering from Bearair.com, since the Euro is nice and strong against the dollar at the moment.

But compressors tend to be heavy so it may be better to buy one of those locally or at least from a European supplier.

Einion

 

[airhead]

for the type of painting you are talking about, a good single action gun might be worth looking at. Single action you set the needle to control the amount of paint feed, then just push down for air.

I\'ve never got an Aztec to work at low enough pressures to do much more than fog paint on models. I have managed to shoot a few t-shirts with one before I gave it away.

Iwatas are the cream of the crop, but you generally pay for them - unless you are in Japan. Paashe, Badger and Thayer & Chandler are other good brands. BearAir recently had a falling out with Iwata - not sure what the issue is, but you cannot buy Iwatas from Bearair.


I would think you are looking for a top feed gun as you can work at lower pressures - as opposed to a side or bottom (bottle) feed gun. Such as this one:
http://www.bearair.com/prodinfo.asp?number=100127

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by airheadI\'ve never got an Aztec to work at low enough pressures to do much more than fog paint on models.

Out of curiosity, how low we talking?

Originally posted by airhead
for the type of painting you are talking about, a good single action gun might be worth looking at. Single action you set the needle to control the amount of paint feed, then just push down for air.

Some of the Azteks can be used in fixed-double-action mode, which is useful for emulating a single-action\'s simpler function.

Einion

 

[airhead]

Base coating and priming, 15-25 psi depending on the paint. Either a Vega or the Iwata depending on the amount of area (bottom bottle feed vs. small cup).

I usually shoot at about 5-8 psi. when I\'m shooting for detail on hard surfaces and not just a base coat.

My Vegas don\'t like to go that low either, their ports are too large, but they were designed as T-shirt guns and love to work between 40 to 60 psi.

But the Iwata HP-B will shoot lines like a pencil (not quite as good as the AB Turbo, but that gun is sooo different.)

 

[ragnace]

THanks for all the great advice guys, I have to admit all the things you r talking about all sound greek to me but I\'m still looking into the stuff the las airbrush that was postedf looked nice and simple!!

 

[airhead]

Airbrushs

Feeds: top, side and bottom.

Top: small resivoir, but can shoot a lower pressures.

Side: worst of both worlds.

Bottom: can use large jars for paint that hook into the bottom, but generally have to use more pressure as they have to \"lift\" the paint via siphon up to the nozzle.

Actions:
Single Action: pre set the needle for the amout of paint and the air for pressure. Push the button and get paint. Fairly simple, but difficult to control.

Double Action: adjust the air pressure. Push down on the button, get air, pull back and get paint. The more you pull back, the more paint you get. Learn to push the trigger button foward before releasing air.

Other considerations:
Tip size: This will determine how small a line you can shoot as well as how heavy a paint will go through the gun. Larger opening = heavier and higher volumes of paint at the cost of fine-ness of lines.

Cost of gun: as a general rule, you get what you pay for. A $100 gun is a much better tool than a $20 one.

 

[ragnace]

I just found a relatively cheap airbrush check the link and let me know what u think of it!

http://cgi.ebay.es/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=009&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=190050017005&rd=1&rd=1

would I be wasting my money if I were to buy this?

 

[airhead]

Ragnace, I don\'t know that gun at all. Give me 10 minutes with it and let me take it apart and I can tell you a lot more.

Sadly, there are very few good deals in airbrushes. The Iwata\'s are expensive for a reason. A cheaper airbrush will not be made from as durable a metal (brass, chromed brass or stainless steel), or will not be made to the tolerances of the better guns.

Sorry I wasn\'t much help.

 

[demonherald]

On this topic what paints or formuas would you recommend for airbrushing...??? I\'m looking at doing Millitary models (lots of them ) and the airbrush seems a good option for me...just wondering about paints..Cheers

 

[Modderrhu]

I believe you\'d be far better off coughing over the dough for this one, ragnace;
http://cgi.ebay.es/IWATA-Aerografo-...yZ105280QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I used one recently, and was quite impressed. I\'d guess that it is an almost perfect match with your requirements (priming and vehicles). The nozzle size (0.35mm) works well with acrylics, and the drop-in nozzle makes the whole brush quite easy to clean.

@demonherald: Acrylics work with airbrushes, as long as you thin them properly. Some paint, some Future, and lots of water, say 10:1 water to paint at least. I\'d be cautious about shooting acrylics through a 0.2mm brush though, very likely to clog, me thinks.

 

[finn17]

I\'ve used a few...

Aztec are okay, but basically they are an amateur tool. Slightly overpriced too as in many cases you are paying for the wooden box. I have to be careful what I say as my wife bought me a set as a present.....
Iwata are the \'dogs danglies\' IMO

 

[ragnace]

OK guys I have just found out that my local game store has an offer for a kit the AB 300 and a VIVA Z AC 510 compressor for just 120€ do u think this would be suitable for the kind of painting I want to do?

 

[MPJ]

Originally posted by finn17
Aztec are okay, but basically they are an amateur tool. Slightly overpriced too as in many cases you are paying for the wooden box. I have to be careful what I say as my wife bought me a set as a present.....
Iwata are the \'dogs danglies\' IMO

But I like the wooden boxs that my Aztecs came in... Yes I used plural on purpose as I own two of the buggers, a regular set one and a deluxe set one.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by finn17
Aztec are okay, but basically they are an amateur tool.

Meh.

Originally posted by finn17
Slightly overpriced too as in many cases you are paying for the wooden box.

$100 isn\'t a lot for an airbrush body, six nozzles and six paint containers. Versus $200-$400 (and that\'s online!) for an Iwata with one nozzle and a fixed paint cup?

The different types can\'t do the same work exactly but for mini painting people don\'t generally need the fine lines that a really high-end airbrush can do. Plus hobbyists sure as hell don\'t need the cleaning headaches

Einion