I am a wife of a modeler! My husband has asked for an airbrush kit for Christmas…and I have no idea what to buy. I see that you need an airbrush and I think you need a compressor.
Can anyone help me and tell me what he needs or where to start?
He works on airplanes mostly, 1/18 scale, and some tanks. He doesn’t have a workshop and a limited amount of work space. He normally just hand paints all of his models, he has never had an airbrush.
Your advice is greatly appreciated!!!
This is a good mid range starter brush. Paasche VL
For a quiet compressor, the best is
try dixieart.com or bearair.com…depends on your budget as to what you can get,but these two are the cheapest with great service for beginning airbrushes i’d look at a double action ,internal mix,Badger 100lg,or a Thayer Chandler Omni 4000
as for compressors,again a mixed bag depending on buget,i personally have the Badger Billionair silent compressor and i could never ask for anything better(not even for X mas) but very pricey…
others will be here soon to help out
I’ll agree with what the other have mentioned, I started out with a Badger 175 Cressendo kit comes with everything you need exept the compressor for $69.95. If noise isnt an issue you can use a compressor bought at walmart or sears I have a small 4 gallon compressor that coat around $45.00.
Hers the link to Dixie art http://www.dixieart.com/Badger_Crescendo_Model_175.html
When I got back into this hpbby I was asking and asking about an airbrush and just about everyone said get the Omni 4000 and I did and I LOVE it. Here are 2 links for the Omni 4000 and the Compressor I got for it.
Omni 4000 - www.dixieart.com/Omni.html
Scorpion II Compressor - www.dixieart.com/Silentaire_Scorpion_Compressors.html
Hope that helps
Have a GREAT day
Bud
Thanks to everyone who responded so quickly. This will help me a lot!
I do have one question…for the person who said the walmart/sears compressor is okay if you can deal with the noise. Does it work okay, though? Is it noise and poor quality or just noisy?
Thanks for being patient with my lack of knowledge on the subject.
They work great if you can deal with the noise. they can be a little loud when they turn on to fill the the tank mine is a coleman that i picked up at pep boys its about as loud as a electric preasure washer it only turns one until the tank is full once the preasure is low enough it will turn on again during a single days use it turns on 2 or 3 times to build up preasure. Hope that helps you can aslo ask the CSR if you can plug it in to listen to it.
http://www.airbrushcity.com/121tk.htm That is the aircompressor I have, and it is very quiet, and works very well. I have a Badger 175 Cresendo that was a little tricky at first to learn with, but is a wonderful airbrush.
You are a remarkable woman and wife to be so supportive of your husband’s addiction hobby. He must also be a remarkable man! Don’t worry about our patience with your lack of knowledge, we have more than enough lack of knowledge to share! [:)]
The “garage” compressors aren’t just noisy, they’re incredibly noisy. The best bet is to leave it in the garage and run a 50’ airhose to where ever he gets to paint. I use that style of compressor and that’s what I do. I think I would go insane(r) if I had to listen to the full noise! Other than that, with a decent air regulator (you want to be able to control the air flow, consider the regulator a tap with a gauge attached) they work great and can also be used to pump up flat tires, air mattresses, pneumatic nailers (for those reno projects [;)] ). The above mentioned Dixie Art and Bear Air webstores are highly recommended.
Happy Hunting, and Good Luck!
Has anyone on the forum used this compressor? I tried a search but came up empty handed. Any happy customers? This would be ideal for me because I rent a room so noise is a HUGE issue for me.
Too add to the thread I have a Paasche DS500R and VLand H series airbrushes. They work just fine for beginners.
I started out years ago with a Badger 200IL, and it was a good brush. I have moved thru several airbrushes over the years, and Im totally sold on the Iwata. If you have a Hobby Lobby nearby, they may have a decent selection of Iwatas (mine does) along with the fifty percent off coupons that come out weekly avialable online at www.hobbylobby.com.
There are a number of compressors avialable there as well, and let me tell you they can be NOISY!
I currently run a one gallon tank/compressor combo from HomeDepot, and I fill the tank and then shut it off. Otehr far more expensive compressors run silently, and you can find those at bearair.com or dixieart.com
One peice of advice, dont buy cheap airbrushes, they dontlast at all!
Good luck!
David