airbrushing setups question

gbeef

Hunter
Hi guys i want to buy a airbrush setup. I have a couple questions. im looking at paasche setup but im kinda confused.

1. How is clean up compare to a single action and double brush? I herd the single action takes 3 mins and the double takes like 20-40mins!!!! How do you find the cleanup time and its it worth it... I mean going Double action?

2. Compressors.. Im confused..
I see compressors built for airbrushes and then i see compressors used for Nail guns at home depot.... can these compressors be used instead?

3. What types of paint (brand wise) is everyone using to paint there stuff?

Thanks in advanced.
 
Hey gbeef,
Although I've only owned a couple of airbrushes, I have owned both a single and a double action brush.
The cleanup will depend on how "rigorous" you are about cleaning. I clean my brush pretty thoroughly after every use, and I don't find that cleaning the double action has ever taken 20-40 minutes! For either type of brush, if you don't really get in there to flush it out, it can gum everything up.

I've never owned a compressor, but am looking into getting one. Till now I've just used those cans of compressed air. A larger compressor can be used with an airbrush. You just have to make sure the pressure is adjustable. You don't want to try blasting 100 psi thru your brush! Also, I believe the compressors built specifically for airbrushes are designed to take portability and noise levels in mind.

For paints, you can pretty much shoot anything thru an airbrush as long as you thin it per the manufacturers' instructions. For most of my Fett related stuff, I use Floquil or Polly Scale (enamel or acrylic versions of the same color line) or Testors Model Master Acryl.
I tend to prefer acrylics over enamels, as cleaning the brush is much simpler.
 
ditto what superjedi said about cleaning. It seriously will not take anywhere near 20-40 minutes for a double action. I own a compressor from Home Depot that's fully adjustable and has a small storage tank. I originally bought a compressor made for airbrushes and I hated it. It was cheap and difficult to use. The one I have now is like for inflating tires and using on tools but its fully adjustable and works well with my airbrush.
 
ditto what superjedi said about cleaning. It seriously will not take anywhere near 20-40 minutes for a double action. I own a compressor from Home Depot that's fully adjustable and has a small storage tank. I originally bought a compressor made for airbrushes and I hated it. It was cheap and difficult to use. The one I have now is like for inflating tires and using on tools but its fully adjustable and works well with my airbrush.

Inorder to use a home depot tank what do you need? a regulator? and what else?
 
i spend maybe 5 minutes cleaning my double action.

i buy createx airbrush cleaner... it's around $15 for a quart. i mix it about 50/50 with water, and keep it in a paint bottle.

when i switch colors / finish for the day, i switch from the paint to the cleaner, and spray it through until it comes out clean. my oldest brush is about 3 years and it's still fine... even on the original needle.

i've never used a single action.

i have a campbell hausfeld compressor from home depot, with regulator built in. popular wisdom says you should have a moisture trap, but i don't and haven't had an issue. i'm guessing the humidity in your area would have a lot to do with how important that is.
 
popular wisdom says you should have a moisture trap, but i don't and haven't had an issue. i'm guessing the humidity in your area would have a lot to do with how important that is.

Same here. I say save the money on the trap unless you start having problems.
 
I've had Badger IL dual action airbrushes for 20 years. They work great and if you ever need to change the needle out it's easy. Cleaning doesn't take long at all.

As far as compressors go, I bought a 5 gal. tank and put a moisture trap on it. I'd spend the money for a good trap. Nothing's worse than painting and water starts coming through with your paint or when you are just pushing down for air.

Paints and cleaner I regularly use are Createx. I do costume work for dance mostly. It works well, pre-thinned so you don't need to dilute it. I've also used Badger brand, they are good too. Laquer based paints will just take more time in cleaning your airbrush.:)

Hope this helps,
 
Living in Southern California where the humidity is usually negligible, I have no need for a moisture trap...so it does depend on where you live.
 
I use my 30 gallon Craftsman shop compressor. I have it setup with 2 outputs, each with a regulator. One for airbrush and one for everything else. I don't use a moisture trap. I have 2 airbrushes- a cheap Testors single action and a Badger 150 double action. Cleanup is a little longer with the Badger, but only like 5-10 minutes. I just clean right away when I am finished. I only run water based through it so far, oil based would probably be a longer clean up.
 
As a total novice to airbrushing I've been learning as I go, I got a double action airbrush and it usually takes about 10 mins max to get it clean, I just fill a spare pot with 50% water and 50% thinner and blast it through a good few times (y)
 
i got a question what does the moistre trap do?

It keeps any moister that would build up in the compressor tank from getting into the brush and mixing with the paint. Look on the testors.com site they have a tutorial somewhere on airbrushes and the do cover the trap.
 
I also have a bigger compressor and can't seen to find a good pressure to spray nicely... I can adjust it from 1 psi to 100 psi and have tried it at about 15 psi which seemed to work the best. Any advice on the best pressure? I have a double-action paint gun.

Thx!
 
This thread is more than 16 years old.

Your message may be considered spam for the following reasons:

  1. This thread hasn't been active in some time. A new post in this thread might not contribute constructively to this discussion after so long.
If you wish to reply despite these issues, check the box below before replying.
Be aware that malicious compliance may result in more severe penalties.
Back
Top