The All knowing newbie airbrush questions guide [mod plz make sticky]

I think this is a question of horses for courses.

Some topics, ie dual action vs single action, diaphragm vs piston, are ideally suited to FAQs, because they are a objective in their nature.

However where forum members are asking 'What AB should I buy?' then this is very much a question of members providing subjective comment.

I fully agree with MusicCity's request that members check that a similar question has not already been asked recently, however that does not mean that we should ignore those questions when they are duplicated. After all we were all new here once.

Just my tuppence.

Karl

In all fairness to 1337, this topic is his expanding on This Topic that I started (thanks, Ryan).

I disagree that people should be encouraged to post questions without bothering to see if they have already been answered over and over and over. The goes against the etiquette of every forum, newsgroup, or BBS that I have ever used (Including This One) and is the exact purpose for FAQ pages. FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions, and is typically the repository for the types of questions that come up all the time. The FAQ at the top of this page contains the answers to many of the types of questions that I referred to, and is a good place to look before asking a question.

I don't profess to have the patience of Richard Petty. If my temperment is comparable to any NASCAR driver it would probably be Tony Stewart because I don't have a lot of patience. As I said in my thread, I will be glad to do anything I can to help someone out, as will the vast majority of the users of this forum, but answering the same questions on a regular basis gets tedious. I haven't been around this forum that long, but I have seen dozens of questions that could have been answered by a simple look through the FAQ at the top of this page.

You guys are right in that I can ignore the posts though, so maybe I'll do that for a while.

QUOTE: Originally posted by woodbeck3 Ignore that salty guy" . -Jeff

hmmm... been hearing that line a lot lately...

Lol! couldn't resist it Chris!!!

I think this went well 1337 didnt shoot me (yet ) But I know where it came from. Sometimes my friend you have to just not open a thread and take a break. You have always given great help to those who asked. Sounds to me like your a little burnt on it right now. Go build something and take lots of pics so I can look at it , then when you see a thread "New to AB, whats better..." you can open it with your usual " Yes Badger is the best AB you can buy, but 90% of a good ab is user skill" or however you say it... thats badly needed because youre the only one who says that. Then usually Mikev immedaitly follows you with "yes what he said" and its all good bro, then I come along and "Omni is your best choice, Ignore that salty guy" .
This is what we are here for, info and fun... let er rip bro.
-Jeff

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337 good answers all, it's just that i thought it would be easier to get newbies to use google before they ask questions: What is an airbrush? what is paint? how do i use an airbrush?

Maybe they WERE searching the web (google) for answers to their questions and that's how they found us! [:0][:0][:0]

Besides, if someone post a repetitive question, the reader is confronted with the following Choices:

(A) Don't respond.
(B) Post a link to an instructional URL or previously printed article.
(C) Actually type a written response.

Given the free exercise of said choices, this is rendered a non-issue.

Take care,
Frank

good answers all, it's just that i thought it would be easier to get newbies to use google before they ask questions: What is an airbrush? what is paint? how do i use an airbrush?

I couldn't agree more with what Frank said.

To the old hands around here it's the same old questions over and over. But, those questions come from people who are making the transition from simple building to serious model making. The "airbrush hurdle" is probably the single jump that makes the most difference in the finished model.

Awesome work can be done with a good kit, simple tools, patience - and an airbrush. If it takes answering 1000 airbrush questions from beginners, it's worth the investment in the health of the hobby. The more serious modelers there are out there, the more high-quality kits there will be at lower prices.

If answering the same questions over and over strains your patience, then avoid the topic.

Hmmm.... I have to go along with Jeff on this one.

Stock Car racing legend, Richard Petty, lives about 2 miles from me, and over the last decade I've had the opportunity to do work for him on several occasions. During this time, we talked about things involving racing, as well as everyday things, but one question he answered stands out above all the rest, and I believe directly relates to this posted topic: (Q) "Don't you ever get tired of all the people asking you the same questions over and over?"...... (A) "Nope; they might ask me the same old questions, but it's brand new answers to them, and that's what matters."

Firstly:
Regardless how tedious answering questions may become to those of us who continually delve in this pastime, we must never become so caught up in our accomplishments that we tire of lending a One on One hand to those who ask.

I have a folder with about 14 "Cookie-Cutter" type responses that I'll use in such multiple question cases, and a few URL's that I'll e-mail to them. I include a personal message concerning their situation, because I feel THAT (one on one interaction) has always been a vital asset to this Forum's success in attracting new members..... then I'll add something like; "For more information, go to *URL*"

Secondly:

QUOTE: 1337 wrote: if you still have questions, go for it and ask away. our members would be [less than] happy to answer them

"our members"?

I have always tried to put myself in the "Newbie's" shoes... new, excited, curious. For me personally, answering questions and meeting new Modelers as a result of those questions, is a privilege and honor that I pray never stops happening.... for it is IN those questions & answers, that I grow.



Take care,
Frank

Regarding airbrushes, we can also categorize in the generalized AB sticky what AB's are good for covering large areas, doing all-around work, fine detail work, etc. With so many models to choose from, it really is overwhelming specially for a beginner to pick one (though we seem to recommend mostly either the Badger Omni or the Iwata HP-CS). I knew I was way back then!

There are two airbrushes that have obviously risen to the top among model builders... The Iwata Eclipse CS and the Iwata Eclipse BS. Just kidding. The Iwata and the Omni gravity feeds are the obvious forerunners. A sticky of this nature would have to go into more detail about why these designs are satisfying such a large percentage of model builders. But, it couldn't be limited to those two. It would also have to explain why the siphon feeds are useful.

A compressor sticky would have to explain tanks, oil, oilless, diaphram, teflon, regulators, gauges & moisture traps, noise levels, lifespan, the way they behave in model building, price considerations and safety issues.

It's possible to create a really good generalized kind of thing, but I don't mind just doing it manually whenever someone brings up such a subject.

I think it is good to ask, I think this topic here... to make it a sticky is not good. People need to ask, If ya get tired of it, dont open the thread. People need to ask questions as best suited to them. Youre one of my favorites 1337 but I feel you went left of the mark on this one. Its ok for people to ask. We all use diffeerent AB's here and someone who doesnt know about them has an invaluable asset in us. Maybe you could make a standard cookie-cutter response in word 1337 and save it for these threads . This kinda stuff is why we are here, not only to take but to give so put this back into context friends, and get used to it. We will help those who need answers or this place is useless, know what I mean.
I hope this makes it through to ya my freind.

-Jeff

bah. skim milk is tasteless. go with yoohoo! sorry its unrelated to airbrushing

I'm glad ya got something with a tank for a lot less than airbrush company compressors.

With my Makita Mac700 which has a 2.6 gallon tank, it cuts on about every 5 mins while airbrushing. It is oil-lubed though... quieter. It doesn't bother anyone. Almost everything I do with models is usually done all hours of the night & 3 other people live here. When it comes on, it runs for 15 seconds to go from 100 psi to 130 psi. It sounds like a hobby compressor without the high / mid tone, yet it does have a bit more low hum.

We should point out that Omega-3 is for people. It is not good compressor lube. It is not good paint thinner.

I just went down to Lowes... got the 2 gallon tank model for 77 bux... 1/2 HP I think... it is all I need, except I am thinking of getting a new regulator in smaller numbers to better tune it... it's a "bit" loud but with a 2 gal tank it doesnt come on unless I am painting the whole body and just for a sec... usually what I do it right before bed time I fill it up... and have enough air for most of my small stuff... interiors, cockpits, etc... without a refill... in the AM when the wife wakes up I just turn it on and leave it on.... usually have enough juice left in it to paint until she wakes up too! (I get up at 6ish on the weekend, she gets up at ???)

Oh and BTW: I think the Chocolate Silk is better... even makes Uncle Sam's Omega-3 cereal taste good!

QUOTE: How much do I thin paint? a general rule is to thin to the consistancy of 2% or skim milk.

I prefer Organic Silk Vanilla or the Enhanced Silk for cereal. It has Omega-3 in it.

QUOTE: What compressor do I need? what's in your price range? how loud can you stand? what about moisture traps and pressure regulators? If you are broke, or don't care for noise, go for one at www.harbourfreight.com. if you want good hobby compressors, be prepared to pay lots more, for models like the iwata sprint jet, the badger whirlwind, or the badger millionaire.

On a serious note, I must say both the harborfreight and the airbrush company compressors are a bad place to start shopping.

QUOTE: enamels are also much more toxic.

Especially if you like to lace your respirator filters with lacquer thinner.