Airbrush and Compressor recommendations

[Alpha]

ONE MORE THING! You'll need an adapter between the Master hose and the Badger airbrush. Google it, you'll see which one.

Search Amazon for this: "Master Airbrush Brand Airbrush Fitting Conversion Adapter for Badger"

[Aros]

Great, thank you! Specific info is what I was hoping for. I already have a respirator mask from all my painting I do any ways so I am covered there. :Cool:

[borntoolate]

I enjoy re-painting my planes. I took the plunge and bought an airbrush and compressor a while back. It is my preferred method of painting. I only use acrylic or water based latex paint in my airbrush. It is a much easier clean-up and I don't have to deal with the fumes or the solvents/thinners. I know everyone has their own favorite paints and methods so I can only urge people to find their own way. Most of my paints are from Home Depot or Lowe's. I have found their computer color matching to be nearly perfect. It is hard to beat the price of ~$3 for 7.5 ounces of paint - in the perfect color. There is always enough left over for those inevitable touch-ups!

Bob

[Alpha]

What do you thin your Home Depot paints with, Borntoolate? I'm guessing mostly water with a small amount of ammonia-free Windex or Future?

[borntoolate]

I have only used distilled water to thin the paint. I know some do use Windex, but usually when I paint it is warm outside and the paint dries very quickly.


Bob

[bidwin]

Bought a Paasche airbrush off RCG about a year ago - haven't used it yet. Any reason a Craftsman 2-gallon compressor can't be used to drive the airbrush? It's got a water and dirt filter on it, and I can regulate the hose air pressure. Will probably need an adapter to mate the compressor to the airbrush hose. Please LMK any drawbacks to this setup.
Thanks.

[borntoolate]

I used a 2 gallon compressor for a while but switched to a larger capacity because I kept outpacing the tank. I would have to take small breaks to let it build up pressure. But, I was painting some larger planes at the time.

Bob

[Aros]

Well it only took me 15+ years in the hobby (not to mention another 9 months to order it from my Amazon cart!) but I finally ordered an airbrush system! Thanks for the help Alpha!

I will start with the easy exhaust trails first. :)

[Grossman56]

Hey Aros, start on a piece of cardboard or thicker paper, go light, it's all about layering, lots of fun once you get into it !

Grossman56

[MikeT]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvUIE2OTfl8

Something I found interesting reguarding the use of Windex..

Mike

[Grossman56]

Found something interesting today. I recently repainted all the white on the Avanti, and wanted it to shine in all her glory.
I recently bought a can of Minwax Pro series Spar Urethane and thought this would be the perfect project to try it on. I gave it a couple of coats with a brush and decided to spray on a final coat. I left the plane to dry for two days so everything was set.
Interestingly, when I sprayed the finish on, it went dull!
So, I let it dry and repainted the whole plane with a brush, using the Urethane liberally and watching for runs. This product, btw, doesn't seem to run as easily as the other products I've tried.
I get it applied, check for runs and the hit it with a hair dryer. Experience tells me, that she's set by the way it looks. Now, that might not be completely dry, but there's no chance of runs, I prefer to let it dry naturally from there on.
Much better with a brush.
So, I decided to give La Patrona another coat, using this product. A lot shinier even after one coat, mind you she has several coats of Varathane Spar Urethane on her already.
So the product, Minwax, Pro series Spar Urethane, is worth a try if you're looking for a glossy surface, but use a brush.

Grossman56

[redtwilight]

Found something interesting today. I recently repainted all the white on the Avanti, and wanted it to shine in all her glory.
I recently bought a can of Minwax Pro series Spar Urethane and thought this would be the perfect project to try it on. I gave it a couple of coats with a brush and decided to spray on a final coat. I left the plane to dry for two days so everything was set.
Interestingly, when I sprayed the finish on, it went dull!
So, I let it dry and repainted the whole plane with a brush, using the Urethane liberally and watching for runs. This product, btw, doesn't seem to run as easily as the other products I've tried.
I get it applied, check for runs and the hit it with a hair dryer. Experience tells me, that she's set by the way it looks. Now, that might not be completely dry, but there's no chance of runs, I prefer to let it dry naturally from there on.
Much better with a brush.
So, I decided to give La Patrona another coat, using this product. A lot shinier even after one coat, mind you she has several coats of Varathane Spar Urethane on her already.
So the product, Minwax, Pro series Spar Urethane, is worth a try if you're looking for a glossy surface, but use a brush.

Grossman56

Thanks for the info! I've been wondering how the Minway did compared to the Varathane. I've got a container of the Gloss and one of the semi-gloss waiting to go on some planes.

[redtwilight]

What is your preferred airbrush setup?

Currently I have 2 ~ Iwata HP-C+, One ~ Iwata HP-C, One ~ Custom Badger Renegade Velocity, 2 - 1/2 ~ Veda 180, and One ~ Harbour Freight airbrush.

Despite being a cheaper AB, the Veda 180's worked surprisingly well. But I love my Iwata's and the Badger.

For now I'm using a 3 gallon pancake air compressor from Harbour Freight. I did just purchase an diaphragm compressor from HF as well. But I have not used it yet because I have to pick up a couple fittings first.

[Aros]

Hey fellas, I have a question. I just opened up the box and gave it a try. Having a problem with it. As soon as I turn on the compressor it shoots up to 60PSI and shuts itself off. I thought maybe it was too cold (it's in the 20's in my garage) but I discovered if I unscrewed the nozzle slightly on the airbrush it would release some air pressure which would turn the compressor back on. As long as it's under 60PSI it will stay on. Problem is, the airbrush won't work. I push the button down and back and nothing. And of course I shouldn't have to have a leak in the line to have the compressor work. Any ideas what I am overlooking?

[Prowler901]

Is there a pressure regulator on your compressor? And, what type of airbrush did you get? Single or double action?

[Aros]

I am such a newb I don't even know what single or double action means! LOL

There is a pressure regulator and I have turned it all the way down, then slowly turned it up to increase PSI and it still shuts off intermittently. There's a valve piece that came with the airbrush itself but I have no idea what it's for (and the instructions don't even mention it) so I don't know if that is supposed to go somewhere? It's the Master Airbrush Kit from Amazon.

[Prowler901]

LOL

Single action means that the airbrush only has a trigger that you press down to control paint flow. Double (or dual) action airbrushes have a trigger that you press to start the air flow. And, then pull back to control the paint flow.

Any chance you can post some pictures of your compressor, airbrush and valve piece? There are a multitude of Master Airbrush Kits on Amazon.

[Aros]

Oh okay, I have a dual action then. I press a button down to start the air, and then pull it back to release the paint out of the needle. In theory, if it worked.

I was watching a video and apparently that piece I mentioned is an adapter for an 8mm cable if needed (assuming for a nicer airbrush).

I appreciate the help! This is the airbrush kit I have:

http://www.tcpglobal.com/ECOKIT-17.html#.WkUQ51WnGUl

[Prowler901]

I'm wondering if the compressor is designed to turn off when there is no airflow at the desired setting on the regulator. It says it has a piston, which is why I'm coming to that conclusion. Since there is no tank to store the air in, then it would have to turn off in order to prevent from bursting a line. Other compressors with no tanks have a diaphragm instead of a piston. This allows them to run continuously. So, I'm thinking that the compressor should turn on when you press down on the trigger of the airbrush, and release any pressure that is in the regulator.

But, you say that the compressor doesn't start when you press the trigger?

[Grossman56]

Bought a Paasche airbrush off RCG about a year ago - haven't used it yet. Any reason a Craftsman 2-gallon compressor can't be used to drive the airbrush? It's got a water and dirt filter on it, and I can regulate the hose air pressure. Will probably need an adapter to mate the compressor to the airbrush hose. Please LMK any drawbacks to this setup.
Thanks.

I got myself a bigger compressor too, had to find the proper adapter but you just set you regulator to, what is it, 60 psi? Look it up in the air gun manual, it works great, just loud when it does have to recompress. The little compresser is quiet but always running and the big one is loud but less run time. A trade off.

Grossman56