Airbrush kits

[murrietajazz1]

[?]For all of you pros out there who have used air brush kits to paint anything and everything on your layouts, I have a question from this newcomer. Are there comments on whether a single stage or double stage will last me for all my minor painting projects and do any of you have a preference on what brand is the best?

[jwar]

[#welcome]
First of all welcome to the forum.
There is a lot of posts concerning airbrushes and air compressors on this forum. An air brush is like all things a matter of preference for the one using it. Theres a lot of guys out here with a lot of experience.
Click on the search above and type airbrushing ect. You might also check the MFGs on the web for info

A med tip is mostley used in this hobbie. Internal mix gives the best spray pattern, single stage has a quicker learning curve, but to me a double stage is more effective. I have painted cars and equipment with a regular spray gun, to me the double stage is not that much of a big deal to learn.

I use a Badger 150 pro that has the fine, med, and course tips. Its easy to clean as well as most brands. The main reason I went with this unit is the shop I purchased it from has parts, seals, tips ect. I may have gone with another brand but the parts availability is not in this area.

Take care and welome to YOUR forum...John

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the forum! The correct terms you're looking for are "single action" and "double action". Double action gives finer control over the amount of paint sprayed, but for most hobby use a single action is fine (and in my opinion, easier to learn with).

As for brands, they're all pretty good. Badger and Paasche are probably the best known, and Testor's Aztec line is also popular and not too expensive.

Whatever you do decide to get, put aside some money for a compressor. If you're going to do anything more than the very occasional painting, the compressor will give you a much better job than those cans of compressed air. You can get decent compressors for under $100 at just about any hardware store, and WalMart carries some too (look in the automotive department). If you go to the Layout building forum here and search on "compressor", you'll come up with a couple of recent discussions about them.

[Anonymous]

I've recently started using a Badger 350 that I got from ebay, replacing a Badger 250 that I have used for about 15 years. Both are single action. While I will agree that double action brushes give a person more control, the single action works for me.

I have loved both my Badgers and don't ever plan on changing brands. But I believe you'll find that folks that use Paasche and others are just as loyal and satisfied as I am. Another reason I've stuck with Badger is that my LHS carries the full line of replacement parts for it. I would suggest that you take this into consideration. It's no fun if you can't paint for lack of a .50 cent part, and who wants to mail order just that?

I agree that a compressor is the way to go. It will more than pay for itself over the disposable cans after only a few months. I also think an airbrush pays for itself when you think of the paint saved (thinner layer).

[murrietajazz1]

Thank you guys for such a quick replay and with notification from "trains" that I had mail. What a neat way to go and to learn from the experts. I forgot to mention that I do have an air compressor used in construction for nail guns and I can adjust the pressure all the way down to 15 pounds so that should give me ample air to run the airbrush. You all make some good points about parts availability. Thanks so much!

[jwar]

You might consider a water seperator for the Air Compressor. I found a local auto paint store had a small plastic separator for $4.50, It mounts inline on the hose with Quick connects, mounted one at the regulator and another before the six foot air brush hose. Enjoy the forum...Take care...John