Harbor Freight airbrush set.

The big negative on this set from my reading is the lack of a regulator on the compressor. It comes with a moisture trap and a pressure gauge only. If you do get this set, I recommend you get a regulator to go with it. I have a similar compressor that I bought by itself from harbor freight, and it's usable. It runs pretty much constantly when spraying, and I wouldn't expect it to last for too long, but it does work.

As for the airbrush itself, I can't speak much for it. The $24 "deluxe" airbrush they sell by itself has pretty great reviews on the website, and this one honestly looks like the same brush in a slightly differnet color.

Read the reviews here:

sites.google.com/.../harbor-freight-deluxe

I bought my compressor through tcpglobal.com

I use the airbrush (I don't have their compressor) and am very happy with it. It will out perform my Badger 150 with acrylics, and believe it of not, very thin lines. My ONLY complaint is that mine is a suction feed.

The website by Don Wheeler is excellent, IMHO.

modelcrazy

I use the airbrush .................My ONLY complaint is that mine is a suction feed.

Perhaps Chinese manufacturers don't make that type?

Among my airbrushes, I have a Harbor Freight one and I have a Harbor Freight compressor. I don't use either much at present, not because they don't work well but because 1) I like gravity feed and 2) I like a compressor with a tank. Because the HF AB is inexpensive and not made in USA I think it is underrated. It works well. In so far as the compressor, I don't like the one that comes as a set and is shown in your pic. That one has a bleed regulator so as you adjust pressure the compressor runs continuously whether spraying or not. The other HF AB compressor (doesn't come as a set) has a proper adjustable regulator so it runs only while your using air (I have this type and used it for a number  of years without problems; it still works fine). The HF AB's are not of the precision/quality of 'higher priced spread' but they do work well and will last if properly cared for. I do own H&S, Iwata, Badger and Grex AB's but the HF one does work well. Just hope the AB police don't get after me for not saying 'spend a lot more money'. My 2 cents.

@Bick The airbrush set I'm interested in is presently on sale for $99 CDN is it possible to add a adjustable regulator?

Yes, but not as easy as one might think. I helped a friend do it and the existing bleed regulator was very tight in the cylinder head casting. We did get it off and a new one installed but had to use some JB Weld (tough epoxy) around the thread of the new regulator to get a good seal. Last I knew it was still working fine. Care required so one doesn't crack the cylinder head casting.

EDIT: Just a a thought. You could just add a proper regulator to the existing one and leave the bleed valve closed. A little bulky but would work and you'd only need an adapter from the current bleed regulator (1/9" BSPP) to the input of the proper regulator. Should be easy.

I've had the same issue with mine Bick. The regulator that was on mine was problematic, and after installing a new one I have had a heck of a time eliminating all of the air leaks. I ended up just putting the compressor in the corner and hooking the regulator/airtrap up with my loud garage compressor.

Is it possible to add a adjustable regulator (with a coupling) to the existing bleed regulator?

I imagine it would be yes. Harbor freight sells a 1/4" npt regulator/moisture trap for $14, which is the one I currently use with my garage compressor. It comes with no fittings, so you will need to get them yourself. The bore on the compressor (at least on my compressor) is actually 1/4" nps, which is an unusual size, but it did come with a 1/4" nps - 1/4" npt coupler. It looks like harbor freight also sells a 1/4" npt regulator by itself.

Regulator with moisture trap : www.harborfreight.com/14-in-air-line-filter-regulator-with-gauge-68228.html

Regulator alone: www.harborfreight.com/14-in-mini-air-regulator-with-dial-gauge-68226.html

I would think Yes. One of the Iwata compressors has the regulator separate from the compressor. With the proper coupling, it should work fine.

I just bought the airbrush set, the compressor is relatively quiet much more than my big one. Now a question I have a Badger 350 but the thread size of the air outlet is too big, does an adapter for my 350 exist? I'm not sure of the size of the Badger but the compressor size is 1/8 in-28 NPS.

Maybe I need just another hose.

You can get an adapter. I own a Paasche airbrush and Neo Iwata dual action. I was able to buy an adapter for my Paasche air hose in order to use my Neo airbrush. Try looking in Tcpglobal website for air hose adapters. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply. Another question  this compressors don't have a steady airflow (pulsing air flow), is it possible to add a portable air tank to it?

You need an adapter like this:

www.amazon.com/.../B004RM2DIO

(cheaper from other places though)

And, the threads on the compressor are 1/8" BSPP NOT NPS  (NPS is 27 tpi IIRC). Same for the hose that came with your kit. The adapter will be Badger AB to 1/8" BSPP.

And, yes, it is fairly easy to add a tank but before you do, connect your hose and AB to the compressor and try it. The hose itself acts as a small air reservoir and you'll find very little pulsing. Mine works fine without a tank.

Thanks guys!

You get what you pay for! Iwata or Harder & Steinbeck. Spend a little up front and get descent equipment.

Bick - I got my air hose adapter for half the price of what Amazon is asking at tcpglobal.com

Buster, yes you can add an air tank to your compressor, but there are a couple things to consider with this.

1. Does your compressor have an automatic shut off. If not, then you will have to manually keep an eye on it and turn it off when you reach the desired pressure.

2.  All compressors are designed to operate for a certain period of time before it turns off and has a chance to cool down. Running the compressor for too long could cause the compressor to wear down faster than it normally would. These little compressors run pretty much constantly anyway, so it probably wouldn't be a big problem.

Pother an "overload shut-off and automatic reset" is an automatic shut off ?

Honestly I'm not 100% sure. It sounds like the right stuff. I know the one I have, which is nearly identical to the one you linked here would shut off when it reached the regulated pressure I had set. So chances are good it does. I can't say for sure about yours though, having not used that exact one.

Buster95

Pother an "overload shut-off and automatic reset" is an automatic shut off ?

Unless they have changed in the last several years, both HF AB compressors have a pressure switch. That is, they turn On at about 40 PSI and shut Off at about 60 PSI - independent of the pressure set at the regulator. I'm not sure if they have a thermal overload protection switch - mine never got hot enough to trip the thermal switch if there is one. As Milairjunkie said,  two totally different functions.

My wife purchased the entire kit for approximately $86.00.  For a beginner like me, it was an amazing buy, as it comes with a dual action siphon AB.  I also own a NEO Iwata Gravity Feed dual action with that, I made a purchase from TCP for a Iwata MAC valve and that helped with my PSI.  I have no complaints nor negative comments as it does the job time and time again.  For the price you can't go wrong.

The biggest point that I like to make is that with a AB, it will perform only as good as the modelers skill set.  I've tried and practiced with both AB, sometimes I succeeded and sometimes not.  Overall, I recommend this set.