discussion Which airbrush would you buy?

[LeytonO]

If you are using water based acrylics like Vallejo their airbrush cleaner works well. Try to use the thinner, flow improver and retarder of the same brand as your paint.
Sometimes I shoot IPA through my airbrushes to give them a good clean out.

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Glad your sorted Peter. You wont regret it.

 

[John Race]

A decent mask with the correct filters if you spray Tamiya paints along with the extractor going.

 

[LeytonO]

A decent mask with the correct filters if you spray Tamiya paints along with the extractor going.

Also worth mentioning that some types of paint (solvent based and lacquers) are flammable and the correct brushless type of fan should be used.

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

along with the extractor going.

How I envy you chaps who have the luxury of a workspace inside your house. My extractor mechanism is to leave the garage door open. Take pity on me.

 

[PaulTRose]

How I envy you chaps who have the luxury of a workspace inside your house. My extractor mechanism is to leave the garage door open. Take pity on me.

I'm only one step up..... I leave the shed door open

 

[Andy T]

Never had an h&s but they a reliable 'name', up there with iawata

Actually owned by Iwata now too, along with some other brands like Sparmax.

 

[Jim R]

Actually owned by Iwata now too, along with some other brands like Sparmax.

Well That's something I didn't know. German/Japanese cooperation.

 

[pjgtech]

My credit card is now creaking!

Apart from the compressor and air brush I now have on order...
Face mask and filters
Quick release hose adaptor
Water "wash" bottle with spout to flush out airbrush cup, etc
Airbrush cleaning kit
Airbrush cleaning pot/container
More Thinners

I must stop buying stuff!

Bloody rabbitholes....

 

[PaulTRose]

Knew you wouldn't be able to resist it

Resistance is futile

 

[pjgtech]

Quite pleased with the choice I made for the airbrush in the end, (Gaahleri advanced Seeker v2), I only bought it cos it had the essentials I wanted, top trigger, dual action, easy to take apart/clean, reasonable quality, not dirt ceap budget, but not mad top end, etc.
Had not done a lot of research, a bit, but not much. But since ordering I've seen a couple of YT reviews and they all seem to be positive about it, rating it above the model that preceded it, with some nice improvements, especially for a beginner, as it seems to be easy to use, has useful features, is well made and should do everything a beginner will need to do, some close up/fine stuff, medium stuff and large area/wide stuff. So looks like I lucked out..... Will give my own feedback when I get it and have some use of it....
Link to one of the YT reviews:
YT video review of airbrush
Cheers

 

[stillp]

Been there, done that!

My first airbrush came free with a garage compressor from Aldi. It was useless. Then I bought an AS186S compressor from John and he generously included two generic Chinese airbrushes. I still couldn't get along with airbrushing so I decided to buy the best a/b I could afford so that I would know that any problems were my fault, not the airbrush. I settled fro a Harder and Steenbeck Infinity CR Plus with 0.2 and 0.4 mm nozzles. It hasn't been used much recently as I've been unable to model as much as I'd like, but the only problem I had with it was when I bent the needle!
Some time later I came across an Iwata Revolution CR for £25, too good to miss. It just needed a clean. Feels very good in the hand, a bit better balanced than the H & S, but I can't get on with the 0.5mm nozzle.

Pete

 

[Jim R]

If you're still in spending mode and the credit card isn't in rehab then you might find a MAC valve very useful.

MAC = micro air control. A small adjustable valve that fits between the airbrush and the air hose. It allows you to control the air supply quickly and easily without having to make adjustments on the compressor itself.

I wouldn't be without mine.

 

[PaulTRose]

Of course next thing will be a spray booth with extractor

 

[pjgtech]

If you're still in spending mode and the credit card isn't in rehab then you might find a MAC valve very useful.
MAC = micro air control. A small adjustable valve that fits between the airbrush and the air hose. It allows you to control the air supply quickly and easily without having to make adjustments on the compressor itself.
I wouldn't be without mine.

Yeah, I did look at those when I ordered the quick release connector set, but decided against it.

 

[pjgtech]

Of course next thing will be a spray booth with extractor

I do have my own "Acme" spray booth, eg: booth made from cardboard, lined with lining paper, which is easily changed, and an extractor fan with foam inserts to catch most of the atomised particles. It must work as the foam need changing on a regular basis just using my rattle can primer, etc which gives loads of overspray, so I'm hoping the proper AB will have much less overspray, so less particles to pick up, etc.

But.....

Yes, I have still been looking at dedicated proper spray booths.... Might have to wait till pension payday next month now though....