Airbrush Recommendations

[distractedcarnifex]

My bottom-feed Badger has finally given up the ghost - it’s time to move on.

Any recommendations for a gravity-fed airbrush? 

Iain

[Jack Shrapnel]

I have a harder & steenbeck Ultra 2 in 1... and just ordered the infinity...

the ultra has been great, comes with two needles (2.0 and 4.0 mm) and two paint cups. Never had a problem with it and it's pretty cheap.

[ohgodsnakes]

I'm with Shannon. Harder and Steenbeck Infinity if you have the coin to spend. Otherwise Badger 105 if you want a budget do-it-all.

[Trickster Raven]

I'm still using my badger patriot 105. Solid airbrush, and no real complaints. Good option if you're after more affordable

[kaelon]

If you want something cheap a neo by iwata is pretty decent the harder and steinbeck that Shannon suggests is pretty good too. If your willing to put a little extra money into it the iwata eclipse is amazing I've had one for a year and a bit and I've never had to give it a deep clean, it works as well as the day I took it out of the box

[Malarks]

I'll second what Kaelon has said - I have an eclipse as well and, for what (little) I have done with it it has been pretty damned reliable and easy to maintain. It doesn't seem to like really thick paints (Vallejo primer, for instance) but it'll get it on the model.

[cmcd]

Any recommendations for a quiet compressor?

[Jack Shrapnel]

mine is just a compressor with a tank from amazon...cost around $80... Just make sure you have a tank with it, as then it doesn't run constantly.

[dave]

I really enjoy my iwata eclipse. I use it with an iwata compressor. No tank, so it does run whenever I'm actively spraying, but it really isn't loud.

Can't compare it to anything else though as it is my first. I'm honestly not sure how it stacks up price-wise. I just got really lucky with kijiji.

[cmcd]

So I got a compressor and an airbrush. Do you guys use a spray booth? Or use a air filter when spraying?

[Jack Shrapnel]

I just wear a mask, but don't use a booth at all... just an empty box lid so I don't get paint spray everywhere.

With an airbrush always use airbrush paint... and a couple drops of thinner even with that ... to avoid clogs.

Also err on the side of not pulling back the trigger as far as you think it should go

[question]

Pretty much the same as Shannon. Ordinary dust mask. I bought the largest dollar store plastic tablecloth I could get to put under & behind my spray box. Box is just ordinary large-ish box that I cut to provide max coverage for the desk or table I have available. I then just tape it back to box form when done with the cloth and any other supporting bits inside until I need it again. I'm not particularly dexterous when it comes to airbrushing so I use a set of disposable gloves as well. Great thing about airbrushing with acrylics is that the only odor I can detect is the cleaner. And that is very minor when working inside.

[Jack Shrapnel]

oh yeah... get gloves... good point Chris....

The absolute best ones I've found are GRIPPAZ Bob Dale Gloves - sell them at Canadian Tire. I generally only wear one on the hand that is holding the model ... as that is generally the only hand I end up getting covered in paint...lol

10 gloves in the pack then equals 10 painting sessions. They're pretty cheap and don't have latex in them (Nitrile) and they're a snug fit so they're not slipping all over the place!

[Trickster Raven]

Same, just a dust mask, gloves and something to cover the work surface. You can also reuse some of the gloves if you're careful taking them off.