Airbrush buying guide

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kumakichi But this brings up a question. Do people use the HP-CS and 4000 for the finer lines (.35?) and a second airbrush for cases when they need more coverage (.5?).... say your airbrushing larger with a base coat. Or are these airbrushes flexible enough that you can get by with just the 1 airbrush?

No, either one of the models you mentioned will spray both fine lines and heavier lines.
The siphon-fed Omni 3000, and later the Eclipse BCS, were both designed for T-shirt airbrushing which requires a lot of paint to cover backgrounds, etc.
The Omni 4000 and Eclipse CS models are gravity-fed decendants of those siphon-fed models and spray very similar.
Now bear in mind that they will not put out the paint that an airbrush with a #5 needle and tip will, but most people never need that much paint unless you are painting something big like a 1/48 B-1 or something that needs some real coverage.
In the case of models that big it might be better to just drag out the automotive spray gun for those monsters.

Mike

Thanks for the reply. And I see your points. I've only had it happen once or twice where I was airbrushing something that took a lot of coverage and about half way thru I was ready to kick myself for tryin to do it But like you said... that only happens once in awhile.

I'll probably pick up one of these airbrushes and try it out on a 1/16 tank I'm working on. That should be a good test for coverage

QUOTE: Originally posted by maddafinga Well, my Revolution has only a .5 nozzle,and I did manage to get a nice looking cammo job on a 1/72 spitfire with it. It took me a bit of practice, but I did get it. I'm interested to try an omni or an Eclipse CS just to see how they compare to my CR, but I don't really need any more of a brush than I have already. Want is a different thing though. I want to start doing some airbrush illustration though, and that is a different animal entirely.

I found that with double action experience the HP-CS and omni sprayed very well on first try. I would say that your revolution probably is the only brush you'll ever need.

I got way out of hand buying and comparing. I could actually be fairly happy with my aztek. The results I got with it were very good. I'm just too picky and I was obsessed with getting the finest soft edges I could get without having to mask.

I just feel that the Iwata finally set me free to enjoy painting without any frustration that are normally associated.

As for my comparisson, I've been sidetracked by my girlfriend, work and an F-14B low-vis scheme. I just got excited about how it was coming out and had to keep working.

The Revolution will do fine for models, I have no doubts about that, but I do intend to get one for illustration, where I can see that it would make a big difference. I'll know for sure what kind of difference it will make pretty soon, as I'm going to start painting a new knotwork in a day or two. I'm going to mask a lot of it with frisket, but some is simply going to have to be done freehand. That's when I'll see the difference a fine line would make. If I'm totally happy with that, I have another project in mind, almost entirely freehand, and if I'm happy with that, I won't get another brush for illustration with after all. (I do want to get a new brush though, just to see :)

I do need a new compressor however. The "blue ice" diaphram I bought some time ago isn't quite cutting it. It's loud and it pulses and gets hot. Anyone have any reccomendations for a decent tank compressor that is quiet enough to have running in the same room? My hearing is bad enough as it is.

QUOTE: Originally posted by maddafinga Anyone have any reccomendations for a decent tank compressor that is quiet enough to have running in the same room? My hearing is bad enough as it is.

Josh,

What are you looking for and how much are you willing to spend?
There are many good models from Badger, Silentaire, Iwata and others.

Ask the dentist where you work to let you have his and he can buy a new one.

Mike

I work at a lab that's an independant business and we work for several dentists around town. In fact, in about 4 more years, I'll be half owner of the business, one of my bosses is going to retire and I get to buy in. We acutally have a great great compressor there, but it's somewhat loud. It's a great big JunAire model, we run it at 80 or more psi all day every day and it's never had a problem at all. I asked how much they paid for it, they said about 3k to 5k (I don't remember exactly). I'd love to have one like it when I get a house though, air tools, filling tires, blasting dust out of the computer and Playstation, ooh the possiblities!!

I'll be looking to spend a few hundred dollars, less than 300 hopefully. I want a quiet one with a tank, so I don't have noise and pulsation. I'm not particular as to oil or oil less, is there a huge difference, should I opt for one over the other? I don't have much compressor experience.

So given those constraints, anyone have any compressor suggestions?

hey madda, ill build you a silent one for $299.99 and ship it for free. i doubt very seriously the frig compressor could keep up with an air tool. sears has some decent deals on upright tanks on wheels that im thinkin of buyin for my "big airbrush"(cup gun) to finish cabinets with. the one i was lookin at was a 20 gallon with upright for about $345. im sure its kinda loud though. later.

Josh,

I have a Jun-Air 6-Maxi which is the oil lubricated model. It is about 35 dB in volume and doesn't vibrate hardly at all. They are, of course quite expensive new and that is why I bought mine used.

If this is going to be for modeling only then I would consider the following:


This is the new Silentaire Scorpion II with tank. It sells for $299 at Dixie Art.


This is the Createx Stealth 5000 and it sells for $299 also from Dixie Art.

These are about the only good units out there with a tank for less than $400.
I think the Silentaire Scorpion II would be my choice out of the two as it is quieter. These are both oiless models by the way. The models that use oil tend to have a longer life but there are none out there that I know of for less than $400 as I said.

Mike

dont be stealing my glory mike!

QUOTE: Originally posted by saltydog dont be stealing my glory mike!

Sorry Chris. You can go ahead and build him one if you want.

Mike

Good suggestions all around. Thanks for the offer Chris, I'd thought about refrigerator compressors too, but I think rigging one up with a tank and whatnot is out of my league. I've also been a bit leery of how well they hold up under use. I'll have to plow through Dixieart with an eye on the Silentaire Scorpion II. I really don't need that big a compressor just yet, a smaller one will do for now, but I'm open, as I won't often have this much money to blow at one time. They say it's good for the economy you know.

Josh,

If you need more info about that Silentaire Scorpion II then give Ernesto Ceraudo a call at Silentaire. He is their compressor tech and he knows what he is talking about.
He is from Italy and that is where the Silentaire motors come from.
He's a real nice guy too. The number and a photo of Ernesto are here:
http://www.silentaircompressor.com/default.htm

Mike

Cool, thanks. So from what you know, they are pretty good jobs then eh. I don't really want a half ****** compressor that I'll hate shortly. I already have one of those.

Josh,

I can't comment on the quality of them as I have never owned one.
From what I have heard from others they sound like a good unit.
I know a guy who had the Scorpion I and he said it was real quiet.
That is why I gave you that link. Call Ernesto and ask him if it is built well and how long it should last, etc. He should give you a straight answer and if he thinks it is not that good I am sure he will gladly try and sell you a Silentaire 20A.

Mike

Thanks guys! Yall rock!





I'm in Oklahoma, we say yall here.