complete newbie to airbrushing

For sure you will want to put a water trap and another regulator on your compressor.  I put mine on the end of the AB hose that goes to the compressor with quick disconnects.  Since I spray acrylics, and do it at work (a body shop) I don't worry about fumes, etc.

You can get a regulator w/guage and the red "pumpkin" water traps at Harbor Freight for around $10.  Or any local auto parts store, along with any brass adapter fittings to hook everything up.

Good luck, once you start using an AB, your won't go back to brushes except for detailing and touch-ups.

Read "Don's Air Brush Tips" a couple of times, it will help in deciding what you want in an AB.

I hope your air compressor will work for you. I imagine it already has a pressure regulator but if not, chances are you can add one. And a quick disconnect for your airline. I do enjoy having a paint booth, have had one for years. Mine is home made and I plan on making a larger one soon. It's 18"x18"v18" with a Lexan roof, small fluorescent lights, a door and around a 375cfm squirrel cage type blower. I vent it to a window with a piece of dryer hose. I can't provide a link at the moment but you can buy a small paint booth these days that works on the same principle, but with a different fan, for less than $100. I haven't used one personally but there are several folks here that have them. I like having a door on mine, makes it easier to keep dust out and off painted parts. I can leave parts on stands or hanging in the booth to dry, contain any odors and keep them clean. The new one will be much larger, 24"x24"x48" with two exhaust fans so I can also spray gun stocks and parts without having to take them outside and fight the dirt and bugs. :-D A booth isn't a necessity, you can work around it, but it sure does make modeling life easier. I can paint any time I want in a climate controlled environment. Handles aerosols just fine too.

Don Stauffer

I guess I am a contrarian here, since I do not use my spray booth for airbrushing.  When I use rattle cans, I do use the booth and ventilation, as those cans put a large amount of overspray and fumes in the air.

Now, there are some folks who open the flow on their airbrushes way open and hose on the paint as if the airbrush were a spray gun, but to me that is not the best way to use an airbrush.  I use little paint flow, and consider the airbrush to be a paint brush that puts down paint without brush marks.  Takes a bit longer to paint, but I think I get  a better job.  So, I use the airbrush right at my workbench (and I use enamels).  I only make sure I have no parts nor subassemblies, near the front of the bench, and airbrush away. I get little overspray.  And hence, I get little crud in the air, too.

Maybe I am endangering my health, but I am almost 80, have airbrushed for 40 years with no sign of any respiratory problems.  And my shop is in the basement but get no complaints about a smell problem from wife upstairs.  If you are in a hurry to get each coat done, and really open up the flow, you may need to consider ventilation, but if your shop is away from rest of house, or in basement, try low flow and take your time putting down paint, and see if it works.

 

 

I also don't have a spray booth.  My bench is in the basement with little tiny windows clear on the other side.  I talked to a mason about putting a vent in the foundation so I could get a spray booth, and he advised against it due to water issues in that corner.

I use acrylics, and like Don said, I never open up the AB to full flow except for the final water flush after cleaning.  My wife has never complained about chemical smells in the basement.  I do wear a mask when cleaning the AB using lacquer thinner.  That stuff is nasty, but it does do the job.  I also wear one when using Testor's Dullcote in the rattle can, and then retreat upstairs.

D

 

I guess I am a contrarian here, since I do not use my spray booth for airbrushing.  When I use rattle cans, I do use the booth and ventilation, as those cans put a large amount of overspray and fumes in the air.

Now, there are some folks who open the flow on their airbrushes way open and hose on the paint as if the airbrush were a spray gun, but to me that is not the best way to use an airbrush.  I use little paint flow, and consider the airbrush to be a paint brush that puts down paint without brush marks.  Takes a bit longer to paint, but I think I get  a better job.  So, I use the airbrush right at my workbench (and I use enamels).  I only make sure I have no parts nor subassemblies, near the front of the bench, and airbrush away. I get little overspray.  And hence, I get little crud in the air, too.

Maybe I am endangering my health, but I am almost 80, have airbrushed for 40 years with no sign of any respiratory problems.  And my shop is in the basement but get no complaints about a smell problem from wife upstairs.  If you are in a hurry to get each coat done, and really open up the flow, you may need to consider ventilation, but if your shop is away from rest of house, or in basement, try low flow and take your time putting down paint, and see if it works.

 

I feel unless your spraying very large models with lacquer or enamels,ventilation shouldnt be a problem,but small models using acrylics shouldnt be a problem.Proper use of an airbrush means good regulating of air pressure and paint supply so as to avoid vast clouds of overspray.An open window should be enough.

Some considerations would be where are you painting,and how much painting will you be doing,how big will your projects be.

I paint in the basement,have an open window,and use my respirator for prolonged spraying.

route62

I use a small 1 gallon general purpose compressor and it works fine.  I have added a water trap and a second regulator after the water trap.  The second regulator is so that I can set the first one to say 40 PSI and then I set the second to what I need for the airbrush which is usually from 8-20 psi.  this keeps any air pulses away from the airbrush as the compressor cycles on and off.

 

Absolutely. My hard learned lesson on general purpose compressors is noise. It's a real issue if working after dinner, or before work if you  have neighbors.

Ventilation is so key, cats and babies have little tiny lungs.

I use a small 1 gallon general purpose compressor and it works fine.  I have added a water trap and a second regulator after the water trap.  The second regulator is so that I can set the first one to say 40 PSI and then I set the second to what I need for the airbrush which is usually from 8-20 psi.  this keeps any air pulses away from the airbrush as the compressor cycles on and off.

I'm not sure I can answer your compressor question.  Best guess is "maybe".  Some general purpose compressors that you can get at your local big box home improvement store don't work well with our hobby.  It helps to be able to control pressure.  Best to do some research on your particular type of compressor and what it can and shouldn't do.

Regarding ventillation, the answer is absolutely you need ventillation!  Depending on what you are spraying you could be playing with your own personal chemical warfare.  Lacquers in particular can be nasty and linger.  You want to be near a window, or a big open garage door, or at least have a spray booth.  Even with that you will still want to wear a respirator. 

Ventilation is vital unless you enjoy breathing in all the fumes from the paint. And if you painting in the house, it will help reduce the fumes and the smell.

I spray out in the shed into a spray booth and wear a respirator.