Looking to buy an air brush, and need some advice. I understand the need for filters/dryers/pressure regulators, (I am a pipefitter by trade). My questions are Single Action or Double Action - and any “Must Have” accessories I should include in my search. I understand I must develop my skills to approach many of your levels, but it certainly should create better results than spray cans. Thanks in advance
I’d go with a kit from a known brand. Having the accessories available will allow you to try them out and develop your airbrush “style”. For weathering and free form work go with dual action. For large area use single action. You can also do either with both.
FWIW, I would recommend a single action to start. Generally, single action airbrushes have a much shorter learning curve. If you want to but a double action, I say go for it but I will warn you that you will probably not be happy with the results for quite some time. Also, for model railroading a double action is a bit of overkill, depending on what you are painting. The effects (i.e. weathering) created for model railroading are straight forward enough that a single action will work 99% of the time.
As far a must haves, I would suggest a compressor with tank, I have a craftsman compressor with a 15gal tank. I really like it because I can fill the tank and it last for a week or more depending on usage. Finally, I would recommend acrylic paint when airbrushing simply because it is easier to clean.
BTW, I have a badger 200 and 360 universal that I have used to paint model kits, they both have some advantages and disadvantages, but I like both.
Just my opinion,
Sean
What must one do to use a double action brush as a single action for general coverage? Thanks.
Capt…
There is not much you would have to do to use a double action for general coverage, actually nothing. With a double action the needle can be moved forward or backward with the trigger in process, or while spraying. The spray pattern increases when the needle is pulled back. Thus, for general coverage you could hold the trigger in one position and cover what you are painting, this can be a little tricky because if you use to large of a pattern or you finger slips and pulls back on the trigger you can cause a lot of over spray or leave a large wet spot on what you are painting.
Sean
Thanks Sean. I didn’t know of anything else I could adjust like a wheel, etc. I suppose while I learn, I could use a duct tape “stop” behind the lever. I think Iwata has an attatchment/handle trigger gizmo that allow you to make a “stop”. It’s spendy though but I’ll look into that again…(edit) Here’s a link but no price yet…http://www.iwata-medea.com/images/iwata-pdf/TripleActionHandle.pdf (someone may have to make the link “live”, sorry…) Also, for the OP, this is one of the best sites I’ve found for reviews of air brushes and for advice: http://www.airheadairbrush.com/iwata_airbrush.htm
There are several things one should consider when purchasing an air brush, air source #1. No need to go out and buy some $500 air brush air compressor, go to one of the big box stores ans pick yourself up a nail gun compressor. As long as it has a tank on it thats all you need to be concerned with, the amount of air you’ll be using is nothing that will require you spending all kinds of money. Next a combination pressure regulator and water filter. these can be had just about any where for around $40 a trick picked up a long time a go referred to as a poor man’s air dryer. take a coil of air hose lets say 20’ long the average sized shop air hose and leave it in a coil on the floor and attach you air brush hose to it.he airbrush hose is always a much smaller diameter. the long length of house allows the hot air that comes out of the compressor to cool down to ambient temperature, when the air cools there is far less condensation (water) then if you use air straight out of the compressor.
When it comes to buying your first airbrush some guys will say pick up and inexpensive one til you learn how to use it and then go buy yourself a good one. Not true, cheap or inexpensive equipment produces poor quality work even in the hands of a seasoned user. Not telling you to buy a top of the line airbrush right out of the gate but a nice entry level or general purpose air brush will be much better to start off with and should cost around $100.00
As far as buying single or double action airbrushes both have their purpose but a double action brush takes a little more finesse to use as your doing tow operation regulating air flow and paint flow with one finger so it may take a little longer to get the hang of it but everyone is different
Check out the first link you’ll get a ton of valuable information that will help you make your decision and when your ready to buy go check out TCP the second link. I buy all my stuff form them and they have the best prices around on top shelf equipment. nice people to
I use a Paasche VL double action brush and it’s equipped with an adjusting wheel which can be set to maintain the trigger in a particular position. I almost never use it, though, as I prefer manual control of the paint flow. Pulling the trigger back on a dual action brush increases the amount of paint moving through the brush, while pressing down controls the airflow.
Paint choice is up to the user - I prefer lacquer-based paints, but also use acrylics. I find thinned acrylic paints to have a limited shelf-life, while thinned lacquer-based paints seem to last almost indefinitedly. I also find lacquer-based paints offer a much easier clean-up, and use lacquer thinner for cleaning up after using acrylics, too, as I don’t have water readily available in my paint shop.
Depending on your personal preferences, a compressor with a tank is not necessary - I have a newer one with a tank and one made from a truck’s air brake compressor, with no tank, and prefer the latter. I find the re-starting of the compressor more distracting than the one that runs constantly. [swg]
Wayne