Airbrush Choice

Specwar wrote:

I have just started into modeling again and I am looking for an airbrush. I am interested in the Talon and the badger velocity. Could someone give me advice?? Thanks, Hockeydoc44

You cannot go wrong with either one. Make sure to get a good compressor for your AB.

You cannot go wrong with either one. Make sure to get a good compressor for your AB.

Any recommendations for compressors?

batai37 wrote:

You cannot go wrong with either one. Make sure to get a good compressor for your AB. Any recommendations for compressors?

What is your budget? You can spend $100-$2,000 on a compressor.

MikeV wrote:

What is your budget? You can spend $100-$2,000 on a compressor.

Actually I don't need one ATM...mine is still chugging along, but I was interested in recommendations should I need or want to get a new one. I'd say about $200 would be my max, but I'd be willing to spend a little more for one that comes highly recommended. I prefer the non-maintenance type, and quiet.

batai37 wrote:

MikeV wrote: What is your budget? You can spend $100-$2,000 on a compressor. Actually I don't need one ATM...mine is still chugging along, but I was interested in recommendations should I need or want to get a new one. I'd say about $200 would be my max, but I'd be willing to spend a little more for one that comes highly recommended. I prefer the non-maintenance type, and quiet.

Quiet usually comes at a price although there are some that are fairly cheap. 

If you can put a compressor far from your painting area and run a long hose to it then all the better as you can use an industrial compressor that with care can last a long, long time. It all depends on where it is located, etc. as to whether you can use one.  

To expand a little on what Mike said....

Basically boils down to two categories: non-airbrush compressors and airbrush specific compressors.

What I mean by non-airbrush compressors are the ones you buy at hardware stores which are intended for use with air tools (nail guns, impact wrenches, etvc).  Range in price from about $100-$1000+, although for our purpose the absolute low end of this is what you are looking at.  Even the smallest ones are pretty substantial in size/weight, feature a tank of some sort, with gauge and regulator (at least I've never seen one without).  They "just plain work" but they are just plain noisy to one degree or another.  Modelers who are fans of this type like to point out that the noise is not persistant: usually they will pump the tank up to 100lb or so and then shut off, kicking on again only when the tank pressure drops far enough (some modelers even claim to get a whole coat of paint on a model without it kicking back on).  They never come with moisture trap (at least at the low end), though the tank itself provides some of that functionality.

Airbrush specific compressors are, with little exception, rather quiet to near-silent and much smaller/lighter than the hardware models.  Prices range from about $200-$2000.  At the very low end they are not so much compressors as they are air pumps, without any control over pressure or anything (they run continuously and bleed excess pressure if you stop airbrushing).  Next up are models with regulator and/or gauge, and or moisture trap, and because they dont bleed they usually have an auto on/off (they stop when you stop so as not to wear the motor out).  These are where the fun begins.  Then come models with reservoir tanks which eliminate the ever so slight "pulsing" of air which the tankless ones can exhibit, then come the totally silent ones, and so on.

IMO if one is on a budget and needs a compressor, the hardware store stuff is fine (light years ahead of using a spare tire <g>) but if dont need one right away and can save up a bit, spending about, say, $300 for a decent airbrush specific setup is worth the size, noise, and utility to me (I was lucky and got a rebuilt T&C from Badger for a cool $100).

batai37 wrote:

You cannot go wrong with either one. Make sure to get a good compressor for your AB. Any recommendations for compressors?

I use a Paasche DA400 twin piston compressor which is quiet and has plenty of steady air for two airbrushes. If I am to buy again, I will want to try the Sparmax TC-2000 from Air Fuego. It is a better package for only $150.

The older DA400 of mine was made by Sparmax in Taiwan, but Paasche has switched to a made-in-China model now.

keilau wrote:

I use a Paasche DA400 twin piston compressor which is quiet and has plenty of steady air for two airbrushes. If I am to buy again, I will want to try the Sparmax TC-2000 from Air Fuego. It is a better package for only $150. The older DA400 of mine was made by Sparmax in Taiwan, but Paasche has switched to a made-in-China model now.

I like the idea of a desktop clamp-on regulator w/airbrush holder. Beats having to lean down to adjust/look at the regulator, like I do now. I've never heard of Sparmax...what's the track record for this brand?

batai37 wrote:

I've never heard of Sparmax...what's the track record for this brand?

I hope that the posts on Sparmax last December helps. They are consider a quality brand at the mid range compressor market. You can do a search on "Sparmax" on this forum if you want to read more about them.

One thing you should know is that all the major internet airbrush vendors stopped carrying the Sparmax brand last year. I don't know why. You can still find the TC-2000 compressor at the Hobby Lobby stores, at price higher than Air Fuego.

The Sparmax Compressor page.