Any user reviews of the self contained portable airbrush MicroMark sells?
I have never heard of this...
Off to check it out...
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Hi Calapooya,
Can you tell us which one? MicroMark offers a couple of different sets which include an airbrush and a compressor.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
The one he is talking about doesn't use a compressor:
https://www.micromark.com/Micro-Mark-Self-Contained-Portable-Broad-Spray-Airbrush
There are two that are described as self contained. One is for broad painting
The other is for fine painting. Lithium battery, dual action airbrush putting out 25 psi for 40 minutes.
There is a video that shows the difference between broad and fine.
I've only just learned about this. I only have used a single action airbrush and I like the ability to vary the air pressure. If you are painting a fleet of cars maybe 40 minutes is not enough. I suspect most of the time it would be adequate.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I must have been under a rock as I did not know these existed so did some resurch. It seems most work well as almost all the negatives seem to be caused by improper cleaning if you read them closely. There are many brands and you can run a hose to the main unit also for some. All the ones I saw seem to be compatable with existing air brushes.
Stumbled across this video this morning.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Here's a link to the video on YouTube with all the marketing expediency edited out of the URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up93AGejXXY
I'd have something of a 'learning curve' to use this, because I'm used to holding the airbrush itself to aim while working the controls. This makes you hold up what is essentially a fat pistol grip, and move the whole mass of the airbrush, compressor, and battery around with the muscles in your wrist.
I cannot tell whether the compressor is implemented to avoid any pulsation in the air through the airbrush section, or how humidity in the intake air is removed. The first is normally handled with a pressure reservoir, which would likely be unworkable at desired size; the latter via a drainable coil of copper tube or equivalent. I'd think you could easily use a small desiccant patch or envelope over the air intake at the mass flow involved with at least the 'fine' version.
As I have looked into this, I can only think of one model railroading task where this would be an improved tool... painting rail and track.
Being able to freely move the airbrush around the layout without an attached hose would be a great convenience.
For everything else that I do in the paint booth, this would not be of any help at all over a traditional compressor / regulator / airbrush set-up.
Other thoughts?
SeeYou190 As I have looked into this, I can only think of one model railroading task where this would be an improved tool... painting rail and track. Being able to freely move the airbrush around the layout without an attached hose would be a great convenience. For everything else that I do in the paint booth, this would not be of any help at all over a traditional compressor / regulator / airbrush set-up. Other thoughts? -Kevin
I've seen airbrushes used on a layout for painting and weathering roads and painting rockwork. I'm pretty sure I've read articles where airbrushes were used throughout the scenery, for rejuvenating old layouts to initial coloring. I think one was misting greens over brown fibers to simulate new spring growth.
The 40 minutes of battery doesn't seem great, especially if you don't want to run the battery down every usage.
I have the black one and it does everything that I need in an airbrush.
I have had no issues with it and have ran both oil base and water base paints through it.
I like the fact that there is no noisy air compressor and hose to deal with as with my other air brushes.
I picked one up at the last Timonium show from Mico Mark. Battery lasts about 40-45 minutes as they state. Works as well as any other double action airbrush I have used. Comes in handy when wanting to do some weathering or touch up on the layout where no compressed air supply exists. I like it. --- Ken
AEP528 I'm pretty sure I've read articles where airbrushes were used throughout the scenery
Kevin wasn't saying it was impossible with a traditional airbrush.
Some of use a pancake compressor, so you have to schlep that down into the basement. And it is LOUD inside the house.
If your layout is partly or completely sceniked, you have to be careful the hose doesn't take out your trees, signals and buildings. But certainly it can be done.
BigDaddy AEP528 I'm pretty sure I've read articles where airbrushes were used throughout the scenery Kevin wasn't saying it was impossible with a traditional airbrush. Some of use a pancake compressor, so you have to schlep that down into the basement. And it is LOUD inside the house. If your layout is partly or completely sceniked, you have to be careful the hose doesn't take out your trees, signals and buildings. But certainly it can be done.
He said:
I can only think of one model railroading task where this would be an improved tool... painting rail and track
I think it would be an improved tool for several tasks on the layout, where the airbrush use has been written about and demonstrated multiple times.
I certainly didn't say it would be impossible with a traditional airbrush. Which should be obvious because of the examples I've given.
I have a 200psi compressor with 100' of hose on a spool in the garage, I just use that with my airbrush. The hose reaches right into the train room when I paint the layout and when painting models I do it in the garage or sit outside. That being said, one of those cordless airbrushes would likely be all I would need if I didn't already have what I have. The price is right to boot.
I refresh scenery by adding a sprinkle of new ground foam.
Painted scenery has never looked good to my eye. Maybe I have never seen it done right.
The only task I have ever used an airbrush for on a layout is painting track.
This self contained airbrush seems wonderful for people custom painting hoods and decklids of custom cars.
I have already plumbed compressed air into my train room through the wall. I'll deal with the airbrush hose. I paint my track before scenery anyway so there will not be very much that can be damaged.
Certainly other users will find many creative uses for this tool, but it is not for me.
BigDaddySome of use a pancake compressor, so you have to schlep that down into the basement. And it is LOUD inside the house.
Hi Henry,
The days of loud pancake compressors are gone! I have a California Air Tools compressor that performs just as well as my old pancake compressor without blowing your eardrums out. It is incredibly quiet! It weighs about the same as a pancake compressor but it is easier to carry.
https://www.californiaairtools.com/contractor-grade-ultra-quiet-series-of-air-compressors/3-5-hp-air-compressor/cat-1p1060s/
hon30critterI have a California Air Tools compressor that performs just as well as my old pancake compressor without blowing your eardrums out.
I'll second the California compressor line.
Air_Pump by Edmund, on Flickr
I can run it with the missus asleep directly above the paint booth with no complaints
I've seen those self-contained airbrushes on advertisements for makeup and facial-toning products. I figured if they're made cheap enough for those type of gimmicks they really aren't for precision work. As some have mentioned, maybe for track and scenery but I don't mind running a length of hose out to the layout for use with a traditional airbrush.
Good Luck, Ed
What a lot of people are doing is hooking the compresor up to their favorite air brush, one guy uses quick connects and runs more that one brush at a time for speacil work. Now the question is which one to get, at least one comes with adapters and a faily good brush.
26 Db less than mine! Now we have successfully turned a self contained airbrush thread into a 6 gallon compressor thread
BigDaddy 26 Db less than mine! Now we have successfully turned a self contained airbrush thread into a 6 gallon compressor thread