airbrushing?

snemmy · Nov 2005

ive got a friend who's been wanting to get into airbrushing (for computer cases, cars and other things) but isnt sure where to start. there was a $100 or so starter kit in the model car section of Walmart that he was looking at but isnt sure if he'd be wasting his money on a piece of junk. he was also wondering what are some good brand names of parts and paints.

so i said i'd post and see if other people have any suggestions for starter kits and good brands?

pogonip · Nov 2005

You have to be careful when it comes to airbrush stuff because cheap brushes get clogged and can really make life a pain and same for cheap paint and it takes a lot of maintenence to keep the brushes running well . I would deffinatly tell him to do his homework on it if he is serious because it is a very expensive hobby/craft .

oXYnary · Nov 2005

Daz is a good source.. But dude.. A Walmart starter kit is going to be shit.

Go to a hobby or crafts store and look into name brands like Paasche or Badger.

Depending on what he wants to do and the size, a bottom fed is good for larger surfaces, but can clog easier. A top fed can take smaller doses of paint, and wont clog as easily.

Internally mixed give a finer mist, but can clog easier, while externally are great for large areas.

Make sure he gets a dual action (you pull the trigger back to release more). Single actions are shit. They would turn him off in the long run. Especially since they can splatter more.

Paint wise..totally depends on what he plans to do with. I work on 3d surfaces, so my paints vary from acrylics to lacquers.

Gmanx · Nov 2005

Paasche is a good brand. It's ten years since I used to do bike tanks and leathers, but I used Paasche equipment and never had a problem. I also used Rotring's ACP (Acrylic Colour for Professionals) which sadly isn't made anymore, but it had the proper 'milky' consistency for airbrushing. There must be a modern alternative. He'll also get through hundreds of scalpel blades as they dull incredibly quickly. Oh and lining or piping tape, from a car accessory dealer, for masking curved lines - it comes in 2, 3, 4 mil widths.

He can try out some of the techniques used in airbrushing with small hobby aerosols, masking and blending and such. ALternatively, how about trying one of those tattoo airbrush kits? They're cheap enough to practice with.

He'll need ultimate patience, but it's a rewarding craft.

Toomas · Nov 2005

For computer cases i would propably start with aerosol cans to see how it works out. The basics are the same anyways and if he does not like it he will only lose few cans of paint.

ElysiumGX · Nov 2005

My younger brother is serious about airbrushing. I'm hoping to get into airbrushing myself once the income improves....so I've been doing some research.

If he's serious, and wants something that will last, get an Iwata. Gravity Feed, easy to clean. An illustrator on conceptart.org uses it, and his works are amazing.
http://www.dickblick.com/zz250/32/

In fact, you can get pretty much anything from that site. We have an airbrush artist on this site who goes by todman.

Joshua Stubbles · Nov 2005

Ahh yes, Dick Blick. I ordered a Plein Air easel for my g/f a few weeks back for her birthday - defineatly quality product from the Blickster.

I've heard of Iwata before, and they are surely good. The only airbrushing I've done personally though, was with those crappy compressed air cans, and the plastic airbrush pens. They made a huge differance in my model aircraft, though

Ruz · Nov 2005

yeah stay away from badger. (good for beginners though)
Also be careful to get an airbrush that can handle acylics, cause they can clog the hell out of the airbrush.

Paache is good, but shop around.
I got my compressor from an undustrial unit not from a hobby shop. I got a really powerful one for 300 quid, lasted me about 10 years.

(Try to get a quiet one too or you go mad)

Daz · Nov 2005

Better still get a compressor with a tank so it's not on all the time. Can't remember the make of mine and I've no idea where it is now. Probably in some relatives garage in the UK. As a professional I always used Devilbiss airbrushes and they were pretty reliable and high quality. I wouldn't be much use for advice since I haven't used an airbush for about 8 years now. I don't even know if half of these companies are still operating.

oXYnary · Nov 2005

[ QUOTE ]
yeah stay away from badger.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pardon? Badger makes great long lasting airbrushes. I have had mine over 10 years, but need a gravity fed one these days. Looking again at Badger because of the quality and ability for ultra small tips.

[ QUOTE ]
Paache is good, but shop around.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well the other way around, I knew someone who had a paache in which it literally blew apart on him. It was quite funny seeing him covered in paint splatters. He returned the airbrush immediately.

ElysiumGX · Nov 2005

They sell mostly Badgers at the art stores I've seen. My bro started on my old Paache that doesn't work properly anymore, and is a pain to clean. I've read reviews that the Iwata is the real workhorse of the industry. Finding a good low cost, and quiet compressor is the task.

snemmy · Nov 2005

thanks everyone. i'll be sure to point him in this direction when i see him at work tonight.

Ruz · Nov 2005

Badger is for the hobbyist oxynary.
I too was a professional airbrush artist about 9 years ago and as far as I remember badgers were only used by beginers when I was at college.

I always wanted a paache turbo, but they were wayy expensive, very specialised too for detail work.

problem with airbrushing is that there is no undo button

oXYnary · Nov 2005

well I met a professional one occasion that used Badger. Badger also seems to offer many high end brushes for "simply" being for begginers. So does Paache for that matter. Really, Apples to oranges.. viewpoint.

Maybe your mistaking seeing the lower end introduction Badger brushes being more available than your higher end which are usually special order.

EDIT: Ok, I admit, maybe Badger is more common in hobby circles. But its quality isn't shit, and some of them can spray pretty fine mists. It's not like your getting a piece of shit. Besides. Badger is american made.

EDIT EDIT: http://www.airbrush-depot.com/badgerchart.pdf

Scott Ruggels · Nov 2005

Used Paasche Airbrushes years ago, before Computers. Not well, but good enough for models and some light Illustration work. (preferred Markers).

Scott

Mark Dygert · Nov 2005

I am sure the "starter" kit your friend is looking at is going to run off canned air, which sucks. I used canned air for a while and couldn't stand it. The can gets cold the more you use it, the pressure drops and you get mixed results. I had a few pieces ruined because of the can! This happens pretty quick when laying down big areas of color or just about anytime you use the brush =/

You still have more air left in the can but you won't be able to use it until the can warms up, don't heat up the can. Have a few cans you can switch between so you are consitantly at full pressure, which is almost never with those bloody things. Maybe they have made some big advancements in canned air, but based on my personal experince they are SOOOooOOooo not worth it.

OR

Get a cheap used pump. Many of the problems I ran into with air pressure, flow, paint "splatters", went away after I switched to a pump. I still use it for painting minitures, and the occiasinal T-Shirt when I'm borred.

If he does start out with canned air, make sure his "kit" can be used with a pump otherwise he is looking to buy another setup.

airbrushing?

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