Peterdita Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 Allright folks, the ebay auctions have ended, the products have shipped, pay pal is funded... I want an airbrush. Let me follow that with I know absolutely nothing about them, other than you can do some really cool stuff with them. Like make matching trucker hats for my boo and me to wear to the state fair. But really what I was hoping to hear are some suggestions from you folks on what kind is good, whats crap, etc. I'd need the compressor and all. I do live in an apartment so smaller is better on the compressor not a big deal, I have an extra room. Budget is around $300, could prob push upto $400. I assume I could pick up the compressor from like a Harbor freights or something cheap and local and just drop the scrilla on a good gun with attachments, but there I go making assumptions about things I have no experience with. Who's in the know? Whats the dish? Thanks in advance and links are really appreciated. Quote
TheBugKing Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 OK. Here's the thing you need to realize real quick. The gun is secondary. The air source is your primary concern. Spend you money on the compressor. My set up is an Iwata Air 1 gallon capacity on demand compressor. It's really quiet too. Dimensions are approximately 8" x 18" and about 12" high. The two brushes I have are the BCS Eclipse and the BS-H Eclipse, also from Iwata. One is a gravity feed with a very fine point and control. The other is a siphon feed that is great for terrain as it holds a lot more paint. Not where near the control as the siphon feed though. I suggest that you go check out BearAir as they have a huge amount of information on airbrushes, compressors, tutorials and the like. They used to carry Iwata but for some reason Iwata dropped them. I got all my equipment from them. Great shipping and cool people. Quote
Draykin Posted June 19, 2009 Report Posted June 19, 2009 I will second TBK! I also run Iwata guns...but I got a "shop" compressor and a moisture trap for just over $100. A bit on the louder side but not too bad. I also live in an apartment. I dont know about bugs but I can also dial in the pressure for my compressor and use it for other things, like filling flat tires or using an automotive spray gun...or even dusting I use the HP-BCS Eclipse and an Iwata clone as well...both were under $200 when I got them. Iwata is about top of the line but you could go with Paasche, almost the same quality but not as high a price. Quote
TheBugKing Posted June 19, 2009 Report Posted June 19, 2009 Ahh. Yes. Forgot about the dual regulator system in the iwata air compressor. A must with what ever air supply you go with. Do NOT get a direct air system. Be sure to get something with a tank and a moisture trap. You get much more consistent air that way and nothing sucks more then to get some moisture in the line as you are doing the final spray on a mini. I too have an HP-BCS and HP-CS forgot the letters. Basically Dray and I run the same system. My compressor will not fill tires though. Quote
Peterdita Posted June 19, 2009 Author Report Posted June 19, 2009 Thanks fellas. Did a little bit of research based on the input and found this at my local shop. She was so helpfull and friendly on the phone, it lightened my day and ended my search http://www.artmediaonline.com/artProducts/viewProductInfo.asp?productID=27190 Stay tuned for some awesomness... :cool: Quote
St. Anger Posted June 19, 2009 Report Posted June 19, 2009 I would definately recommend a dual-action airbrush which gives you fine control over the volume of paint and air... Quote
TheBugKing Posted June 20, 2009 Report Posted June 20, 2009 The Eclipse CS is dual action. He has that covered AoM. But truly a very good suggestion. I never use single action airbrushes. They suck. I didn't even think to tell you that Pete! I think you have a great deal here. Go for it! Quote
Peterdita Posted June 20, 2009 Author Report Posted June 20, 2009 Well crap... i don't think it is... http://www.iwata-medea.com/index.php/products/hp_cs/ This multi-purpose, high-paint-flow, high-detail Eclipse Series airbrush covers a wide range of uses. Commonly used to spray premixed or heavier paints, it is well suited for uses demanding precise control of spray when applying moderate-to-large amounts of paint to a variety of surfaces and to various-sized areas. This Eclipse Series brush has established a new benchmark for excellence in an all-purpose airbrush. · Gravity-feed airbrush features a unique 0.35-mm needle and nozzle combination for fine-detail spraying, but with high-paint-flow capacity · Generous 1/3 oz. sized cup is designed with a new funnel shape, which makes for easy clean up and more efficient paint flow · Automotive artists, fine artists and students will appreciate how well the Eclipse CS sprays heavier acrylics and Medea Textile Colors, while maintaining high-detail spray characteristics Hmmmmm....... Now I'm doubtfull. Maybe they can upgrade the brush for me to a diff model? crap... Quote
goblyn13 Posted June 20, 2009 Report Posted June 20, 2009 Well crap... i don't think it is... http://www.iwata-medea.com/index.php/products/hp_cs/ This multi-purpose, high-paint-flow, high-detail Eclipse Series airbrush covers a wide range of uses. Commonly used to spray premixed or heavier paints, it is well suited for uses demanding precise control of spray when applying moderate-to-large amounts of paint to a variety of surfaces and to various-sized areas. This Eclipse Series brush has established a new benchmark for excellence in an all-purpose airbrush. · Gravity-feed airbrush features a unique 0.35-mm needle and nozzle combination for fine-detail spraying, but with high-paint-flow capacity · Generous 1/3 oz. sized cup is designed with a new funnel shape, which makes for easy clean up and more efficient paint flow · Automotive artists, fine artists and students will appreciate how well the Eclipse CS sprays heavier acrylics and Medea Textile Colors, while maintaining high-detail spray characteristics Hmmmmm....... Now I'm doubtfull. Maybe they can upgrade the brush for me to a diff model? crap... It is dual-action, just gotta click on specs. product overview | specifications | airbrush usage | parts guide | articles and resources Paint Reservoir Nozzle Trigger Action Spray Pattern 1/3 oz. (9 ml) Gravity-Feed Cup 0.35-mm Drop-In Self-Centering Nozzle Dual-Action Hairline to 2 in. (50-mm) Round Features Optional Features Product Name Item No. · Single Cut-Away Handle · Adjustable Main Lever Tension · 0.5-mm Nozzle · Pre-Set Handle · Pre-Set Cut-Away Handle · Solid Ergonomic Handle · Crown Cap · Iwata Eclipse HP-CS · Iwata Airbrush Deluxe Set ECL 4500 IW 200 HP-CS Tip Size Nozzle Nozzle Cap Needle O-Ring Notes Standard .35mm I 604 2 I 603 2 I 617 2 N/A - Optional .5mm I 604 1 I 603 1 I 617 1 N/A - Quote
goblyn13 Posted June 20, 2009 Report Posted June 20, 2009 Oh yeah. Don't forget to get yourself a quality respirator mask. You're spraying paint into the air, unless you plan on using the airbrush outside all the time you'll want to prevent the paint from getting into your lungs. Quote
Nathan Caroland Posted June 20, 2009 Report Posted June 20, 2009 Oh yeah. Don't forget to get yourself a quality respirator mask. You're spraying paint into the air, unless you plan on using the airbrush outside all the time you'll want to prevent the paint from getting into your lungs. You want one whether you are outside or inside, spraying paint isn't anything to mess with. Quote
Peterdita Posted June 20, 2009 Author Report Posted June 20, 2009 It is dual-action, just gotta click on specs. product overview | specifications | airbrush usage | parts guide | articles and resources Thanks for pulling my head outta my arse for me buddy... Just made me weekend! Quote
nerdelemental Posted June 20, 2009 Report Posted June 20, 2009 No matter what: get a moisture trap. No matter where you live or whatever advice anyone else offers. They're cheap attachments to any compressor and worth triple whatever you pay for one. Ruined many projects without the trap.... :mad: Quote
St. Anger Posted June 21, 2009 Report Posted June 21, 2009 No matter what: get a moisture trap. No matter where you live or whatever advice anyone else offers. They're cheap attachments to any compressor and worth triple whatever you pay for one. Ruined many projects without the trap.... :mad: Ditto what he said... Wait???? Hasn't he been banned yet???? Quote
Peterdita Posted July 3, 2009 Author Report Posted July 3, 2009 (edited) I finally got a chance to play with my new toy. Pretty darn fun. I had no Idea how fast they rip through paint, lol. Wow... I thought I was "wastefull" before... I'm prob. better with a can of spray paint at this point. Getting the pull on the double action nob is a little wierd and I like the grip of a can in my hand better. It's pretty forgiving though. I can see the potential of getting much better with the airbrush though, once I learn some tricks and get some good colors mixed/matched, this thing will be really cool for lots of stuff. So far I have mastered the "Blow all the crap off my work area stroke". All others are WIP's. Certainly a lot of fun and not as bad to clean up as I thought. I painted up this old Chapel I found in a box of model train stuff when I visited my parents the other month. Pretty cool because my father and i had this on a train board when i was a kid, and now I'm using it again...20+? yrs later? Nothing I'm super stoked about, and I'll prob wash the hell out of it and dirty it up or something later, but as is it can play in my next Malifaux game Edited July 3, 2009 by Peterdita Quote
Draykin Posted July 4, 2009 Report Posted July 4, 2009 Im sort of surprised you find it wastful, I found that I was putting too much paint in the cup and had to dump it back into the bottle...if I hadnt mixed it that is. If you pull it back slow and gentle you will find you get a fine spray of paint. It may need more passes to coat the way you want it but its always easier to add more than to take extra off. Also...a REEEALY cheap paint practice substitute I use is food colouring! A dollar a bottle and EASY to clean...it wont react the same as paint but it will let you get practice with your trigger until you have the to confidence to move on to more important projects. Quote
Peterdita Posted July 4, 2009 Author Report Posted July 4, 2009 Thanks for the tip! I guess its not that bad, and I was trying to paint something primed dark grey white so that took quite a bit. Crappy thing is my compressor stopped working last night. Didn't pop, wasn't hot, the wall outlet is ok, it just stopped workling mid spray and lost all pressure. Now it does absolutely nothing. It's like it needs a reset button like a garbage disposal or something. I'll have to contact them and get an RA and send it back, what PITA! I'm bumming... Quote
TheBugKing Posted July 4, 2009 Report Posted July 4, 2009 Hmmm. This was an Iwata compressor Dita? If so it should still work. I've had mine for over 8 years now and used it pretty constantly in that time with no issues what so ever. Be sure to thoroughly check the entire thing It may HAVE that reset button somewhere. Quote
Peterdita Posted July 7, 2009 Author Report Posted July 7, 2009 I called Iwata today, it went a little like this: Me: Hi, I bought a smart Jet compressor about four days ago and mid spray it shut off and wont turn back on at all. Rep: Do you have a hammer? Me: uhm.... yeah.... Rep: hit it with your hammer. Me: No. lol Rep: well there is a little pin in the pressure head that can get stuck sometimes. Take out your frustrations on that thing. Whack it as hard as you think it deserves to be hit. Me: okay, we'll see. I got home from work and whacked the damn thing with a hammer. I'd have to say I'm a bit releaved that it did not fix the problem. I called back and he said to send it in. Luckilly they are based here in Portland, so I don't have to pay to ship back my brand new toy. They are of course open the same hours I work, but he offered to stay late when I could make it up there. So that was really cool and now I get to go check out the place and watch him disect the thing which will be nice to learn all about it for the future. A bit of a bummer, but the guy was really cool and promised he'd set it straight. Quote
Peterdita Posted July 8, 2009 Author Report Posted July 8, 2009 Drove up to the shop last night and sure nuff, the pressure cap was bad... His hammer didn't fix it either, but he replaced the part and I'm spraying again. Yayyyyyy :party: Quote
TheBugKing Posted July 8, 2009 Report Posted July 8, 2009 SWEEET! That's great news man! That is really convenient that the US Iwata offices are so close to you. Well hopefully you experience no more hiccups from equipment from now on. Once you get some practice under your belt you and I need to talk about masking mediums and the like. Quote
nerdelemental Posted July 9, 2009 Report Posted July 9, 2009 Using too much paint? Hmmm....that's the opposite of my thoughts, too. Depending on the paint you're using, airbrush specific paint comes in two flavors: transluscent and opaque. Many of us like the transluscent stuff but you'll never really be able to cover. If you're using that, think about it like you're painting in black and white and then you go over with color for a quick colorization. Your paint should be getting thinned as hell to go through the brush, too, so it goes "longer" that way. And good advice on the food coloring as practice. That's how professional cakes are made, too! Quote
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