Is it worth the money to try....

I'm not sure which Testors Airbrush Kit you are looking at for $20. I know my Wal*Mart has a few different ones ranging from $17. - $49. Maybe it's something like this one - 8821A.

In my opinion... those cheaper airbrushes won't really give you the correct feel for airbrushing. As a matter of fact, they will probably discourage you. I haven't seen a decent spray job come out of one, at least not the one I had.

When I was a kid I bought one of those Badger 250 single-action external mix cheap sprayers. That was money thrown down the drain, I could get better results with spray cans.

How about trying a $20 Vega 600 single-action, there's one listed at Badgers Garage Sale.

I've seen some really nice graphics work done with a single-action, bottom feed quality airbrush. It is a bit more difficult to work with, have to adjust for each spray pattern width, but not impossible. It would work great for spraying one color for say a car model or the base color of aircraft or something. Then adjust the width and spray details.

I would recommend a less expensive but good quality airbrush. Something that will work as an airbrush should so you will enjoy spraying with it. If the airbrush performs as it should, then you just have to practice working with it and your technique. Something that is not possible with those cheapy sprayers.



- Edit -

Oop's forgot...

Shortly after trying to get the 250 to spray at least like a spray can and stop spitting, I gave up and got a Badger 200 NH. It worked great although I didn't get to use it much (paint fumes, overspray, in the house and Mom), I wish I still had it... humm... wonder if it's still packed in Moms basement??

This question pops up again and again. What I find funny about the answer is that airbrushes are actually fairly inexpensive. That $20 one Jim is talking about probably would work quite well. Even the top end 100 (gravity fed) or 150 (siphon fed) dual action series from Bear Air or Dixie Art are fairly reasonable at under $65. What bites is the cost of the air supply. You will easily spend two, three or four times the money buying a compressor.

I agree with Jim, the cheap (emphasis on cheap) Testors model will probably do more to dissuade you from using an AB.

Airbrushes are nice, brilliant in fact, and they will definitely take your building to a new level, but you can also get impressive work with a brush. If all you can afford is that Testor, I would recommend sticking with brushes!

If you are set on getting one, and are on a limited budget, you really need to think about how you can afford one, maybe save up the money over a couple of months before you can buy the AB, then save up more for the air supply. That takes a long time, but if you really want something bad enough, time passes fairly quickly.

There are many hurdles to get over:

What kind of air supply can you use: Hobby compressor (fairly quiet and small). Garage compressor (large, loud and best used outside of the house, can you run a hose into your build area). CO2 air tank (fairly expensive to buy, fairly inexpensive to refill, absolutely dead quiet, can be a PITA to get refilled if you rely on public transportation), simple air tank (fairly inexpensive to buy, you can fill up for free at the local gas station, and you will run out of air at the worst possible time).

Where will you use the AB: basement, hobby room, kitchen table, garage. Are you in an apartment? A house? Do you share your space with others that will resent the noise and smell?

Then you need to think about getting a spray booth, something that can contain any overspray and evacuate the toxic particles away from you and yours. You might be able to get away with a cardboard box and a fan blowing away from you and towards an open window. Can you build one yourself, or will you have to buy one? A good spray booth can make the compressor look affordable! Respirators are recommended, that's an additonal expense many people neglect to remember.

Daunting, isn't it? Airbrushing isn't cheap, I've easily spent $250 setting up my system (Badger 150, garage compressor and 50' hose, custom home built spray booth with fans, ducting and doors), and I still suck at using the darn airbrush! But it's done and all I have to do now is learn how to use it better. An investment that is well worth the expense.

Good luck with your decision making!

I think I'll wait. I read yt'all's posts, and the guy at the hobby shop I go to said exactly the same thing. In fact, he said he rarely uses a brush any more.

I also happened to read something in a magazine on it while I was out today, and it basically said airbrushes aren't as intimidating as people make them out to be.

So I think I'll save up and take the plunge.

Thanks for the advice!

Glad to hear we help guide you down the correct path.

I always used spray cans on my car bodies and was never happy with the results, they came out ok, but I wanted better. At first I was intimidated by the thought of an airbrush, I was around 9 or 10 years old. But I saved my allowance until I could get one. I went with the single-action because the guy at the LHS said it would be easiest to learn with and serve my purposes just fine (one color coat on the car). I was truely amazed at how quickly it was to get decent results with it, the Badger 200, not the 250 LOL. I started off using those propellant cans until my cousin gave me two converted freon canisters from his garage. Then I only had to ride my bike to the corner gas station to fill up with air, yes even in the rain.

Good luck and hopefully you'll be happily spraying soon.

Humm... maybe I should get my son that Vega 600 for $20.00 ?

What do y'all think of Aztec? ( I believe that is the brand.)

Some love them, some hate them. I dunno, never used one, though from what I've read of them a plastic airbrush just doesn't seem right. I've seen some amazing paintjobs that came out of them, but I get the feeling that the people who did the painting could do just as well with a soda straw and a bellows.

I was researching airbrushes before Christmas. I went to many forums and from what I gathered, most people wasn't to happy with them and ended up buying something else, usually Badger or Iwata, some went with a Paasche. I was a little disappointed too because the LHS guy was pushing his line of Aztek saying it can do anything and is one great airbrush.

Another day at the LHS and I was asking all kinds of questions about the Azteks and compressors he had (cheapest compressor - $399.) and a gentleman was shaking his head saying no to me without the store owner seeing. He waited outside and told me - "If you're looking for an airbrush to do modeling and other projects, don't buy an Aztek". He invited me around the corner to his little autobody shop and showed me a collection of airbrushes. I couldn't believe it, he had all kinds. I told him all the things I hoped to try doing with an airbrush and he said - "Try this, you'll love it, can't get any better than an Iwata for the money." He didn't put down Badger's products, he had some kicking around the shop. But he prefered using his Iwata's, he said he liked the feel and it seemed to spray just right for him.

So around Christmas time I ordered my setup. Air compressor and Iwata Eclipse BCS at AirBrush-Depot. If shopping online for just an airbrush, Dixie Art Supplies probably has some of the cheapest prices you'll find. Check out their line of Badger AB's.

jwb wrote:

What do y'all think of Aztec? ( I believe that is the brand.)

Don't waste your money, get a metal airbrush that is tried and true...preferably a Badger.

As mentioned you'll probably get a lot of love-hate comments about Aztek AB's.  I've used an A470 for about 3 years now and I've been very happy with it.  But I'd like to try something like an Iwata HP-C or some other popular airbrush.  I have nothing negative to say about the Aztek AB.  I did have one die on me but it was promptly replaced (it has a lifetime guarantee).  My A470 came in one of those kits that has additional cups, jars, nozzles, etc... and cost around $80 I think.  An HP-C costs around $160 for just the airbrush alone and you'd have to buy additional needles, nozzles, etc...  so I'm sure there is a noticible difference between an Aztek and some of the high end airbrushes out on the market.  Just how huge that difference is I think you'd have to judge for yourself.  But an airbrush is a tool that takes skill to use so someone with talent and skill using an Aztek could get some very good results.  By the same token a very expensive airbrush is no guarantee of a fantastic paint job.

You might also want to check out some of the Badger AB's.  Their airbrushes are reasonably priced.

Nothing is nicer than one of those silent compressor's.  I wish I had one!  I use one of those dual hot-dog type compressor setups and its noisy as heck but works well.  But when I first started I was buying canned air.  I went thru many cans and it is a bit problematic.  You have no way to regulate the pressure and when a can is nearing empty the pressure can get to low to really be much use.  And the cost of cans does eventually add up.  I switched after awhile and bought the compressor I'm using now.  It was on sale at sears (last years model I think so it was discounted).  I can't recall how much it was.. maybe around $150 on sale.  Its versatile because I use it to fill tires on my bikes and for some tools.  Its portable but its heavy.  Its noisy but its tanks have a 20 gal. capacity if I remember right so I just have it in my basement.  It fires up and fills the tanks then thats enough regulated air for a good while.  It may only have to fire up once or twice to give me enough air to airbrush for the entire day.  So I guess its not that bad.

FSM had a pretty cool article on alternative air sources.  Everything from silent compressors to bottle air to air tanks you fill at the gas station to use a tire and of course buying canned air.  Its just my opinion but I think buying a tank and then just taking it down to the local gas station would work.  I'm not sure how you'd get max pressure in the tank though unless you were friendly with the local garage.  A lot of garages keep airhoses regulated too.   You'd have to check it out some I think.  I don't think the tank would be too expensive.  But buying a regulator and moisture trap would be an additional cost that you'd have to invest in.  Just a wild guess maybe $20 for the tank, $25 for a regulator and trap?  You'd have to do some researchin.

P.S. did you visit the Badger website and see there garage sale things.  They had that $20 airbrush and a $99 Thayer and Chandler compressor.  I dunno much about those compressors but the price sure seems nice.

jwb wrote:

What do y'all think of Aztec? ( I believe that is the brand.)

I've never owned one, but I knew someone who got one as a first airbrush—total disaster.

OTOH, there are people who love them.

I have an ancient Paasche H with both the number 3 and number 1 tips. This is a good airbrush to learn on, it is very sturdy, simple, and quite capable.

Check out the Badger and Paasche websites, DixieArt, and Bear Air

Between these, you should be able to find a brush that suits your situation and pocketbook.

Read this thread, and this one.

Thanks to all!