I think I'm ready to try an airbrush

[Joe W.]

A Steve Good pattern (which has been popular at the Farmer's Market).
My wife thought Black might sell as well, so this is the result.
Happy with the outcome, but it took almost a whole can of spray paint to get a complete and even coverage.
It looks like Santa might be getting me an airbrush for Christmas.

   

[Eplfan2011]

Yep I'm shopping for on the weekend !

[lawson56]

I agree Even though I have never used one, I have heard a lot of Great things about them. Awesome job by the way!!

[jollyred]

I am getting rid of most of my spray cans and using the Harbor Freight Quick Change airbrush in place of them.  I think the "regular" airbrushes have too small a paint cup to cover much area with one filling, so you are constantly stopping to add paint.  Also, one of the important parts of using an airbrush is keeping it clean.  The HF Quick Change airbrush only needs the bottle cleaned, the other parts of it never touch paint.  Most importantly, the learning curve is much shorter.

Here is a YouTube video on using one.  (1) Scale Model Tips - Testing Harbor Freight's $10 Airbrush - Is It Any Good?? - YouTube

I also have a "regular" airbrush that I use on more detailed and smaller work.  But I still use brushes sometimes. LOL

Tom

 

[OCtoolguy]

A lot of folks I've read use the cheapie one from Harbor Freight. This one.
https://www.harborfreight.com/quick-change-airbrush-kit-93506.html
Evidently the learning curve is much easier with it. Not as many adjustments to make.

Edited September 17, 2022 by OCtoolguy

[daveww1]

nice job

[Scrappile]

I watched the video.  Why does he paint spoons black.. He kept saying he would paint a lot of spoon black because he uses them the most... Why not just buy black plastic spoons.  I do think I would use one of those. I have a cheap one but have never used it because there is too much clean up... this one solves that.

[jollyred]

Scrappile, I think he paints the spoons black to use as a base for checking other paints.  The color under some paints will affect the hue of the covering paint.  White will make the top paint brighter and black will make it darker.   A lot of paints are not opaque, so this can make a difference.

Tom

[barb.j.enders]

I got an airbrush for Christmas last year.  I have used it a few times.  If using the gravity cup, it does take a lot of time to clean between colours.  It also came with the other style.  Still don't use it much because it just seems like such a "production" to set everything up.  I think I just need to get a better setup in the shop for it.  

[Scrappile]

Can someone explain the paint you us in these?  Can you use the acrylic paints you buy in a hobby store.  Like Delta.  Would they have to be thinned too much to work?

[Joe W.]

6 hours ago, Scrappile said:

Can someone explain the paint you us in these?  Can you use the acrylic paints you buy in a hobby store.  Like Delta.  Would they have to be thinned too much to work?

I got the last airbrush on sale at my local Harbor Freight. 
My wife has a lot of acrylic paint & I'll be experimenting with them and let you know 

[BadBob]

19 hours ago, Scrappile said:

Can you use the acrylic paints you buy in a hobby store.

Yes, when adequately thinned and using a larger tip size. Craft paints tend to have larger pigments. All airbrushes are not the same, and all paints are not the same. You have to experiment.

[barb.j.enders]

On one of the Facebook groups I belong to, the gal uses the sample sizes of Behr paints and thins it.  I have used the Unicorn Spit in it, also thinned.

[Scrappile]

Well while waiting for my wife while she was in  respiratory rehab, I went to Harbor Freight, the sacrifices I make for my wife,,, and purchased one of these air brushes.  If it works well  I may get another..the jars alone are worth it.   While checking out, the checker, a lady, I am sure said she had one and it worked well for decorating cakes until she ran vodka through the air hose and it some how screwed up the hose... ??  I may have to go back and revisit that with her,, next time my wife is in rehab.. Vodka???!!! 

[Joe W.]

9 hours ago, Scrappile said:

Vodka???!!! 

My wife uses an airbrush for cake decorating and uses Vodka for cleaning hers.  Hasn't had any problems - it is the standard design (gravity fed) that does not use a plastic hose like the HF.
I picked up the last airbrush our local HF has and used it a few days ago and was satisfied with how it worked - painted a cut out Star of David with it holding the airbrush about 6-8 inches away from the piece.  The spray pattern is a bit wide, (compared to my wife's gravity fed airbrush) but a WHOLE lot less than a spray can.
Set the compressor to 30psi and adjusted the bottle's brass screw tip to give a medium amount of spray when using it.
Clean-up wasn't too bad - but - it seems like more paint is wasted - because of the size and shape of the bottle compared to the small airbrush gravity fed designs.
I did look at a few airbrushing YouTube videos and see you can use 'regular' acrylic paint (thinned and strained), and save some money.  I paid $5 for a 2 oz bottle of airbrush paint at Hobby Lobby and I understand that is the going rate.     
I do like the airbrush - it gets paint into the small fret spots without having to use a lot paint compared to using spray cans. 
And to cut down on wasted paint, when possible, I'll save the painting part for last and paint several pieces at the same time.
Finally, it does make me consider getting a standard gravity fed airbrush to see if it would do an even better job. 

[Scrappile]

must be a better cleaner,, waste of good Vodka!

[Eplfan2011]

I picked up one this week too. I looked at the HF one but eventually ended up buying one from Amazon as i liked the idea it had a tank as well, it also came with two brushes lots of jars, bottles and other dodads lol.

I'll be giving it a try this weekend.

 

[jollyred]

Waste of good Vodka!  Any alcohol will work, I use 91% rubbing alcohol.  Lots cheaper and not drinkable.  Also, why run the Vodka through the air hose?

Tom

[BadBob]

I use window cleaner (aka Windex) for cleaning my airbrushes when spraying acrylic paint. The cheapest I can get from the dollar store.

 

[BadBob]

Cheap Chinese airbrushes are throwaways. If you break or bend a needle, you will discover that replacement parts are hard or impossible to get. If you find the parts, they may cost as much or more than a new airbrush.

[OCtoolguy]

On 9/23/2022 at 8:18 AM, Eplfan2011 said:

I picked up one this week too. I looked at the HF one but eventually ended up buying one from Amazon as i liked the idea it had a tank as well, it also came with two brushes lots of jars, bottles and other dodads lol.

I'll be giving it a try this weekend.

 

Brand/model number/price?

[Eplfan2011]

9 minutes ago, OCtoolguy said:

Brand/model number/price?

Ok no recommendations yet as I haven't even plugged it in yet.

  I also bought this knowing the airbushes themselves wouldn't be brilliant but good enough to learn with, and if I decide to carry on I can buy a better one like a badger.

I wanted to go with a compressor with a reservoir so it's not constantly running.

Also there's a lot of talk about using one of these https://www.harborfreight.com/1-gallon-135-psi-ultra-quiet-hand-carry-jobsite-air-compressor-64592.html 

They are supposed to be whisper quiet... Google them for use with a airbrush.... FWIW I'm tempted to return mine and buy this and a good airbrush.....oh what to do...ideas for you at least ....and now I'm rambling...

T TOGUSH Air Compressor Kit with... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z66DDZZ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[Dak0ta52]

After reading some of your posts about air brushing, guess I'll be spending a little money. Now I just have to convince my wife on how much she needs one! 

[Joe W.]

1 hour ago, Dak0ta52 said:

After reading some of your posts about air brushing, guess I'll be spending a little money. Now I just have to convince my wife on how much she needs one!

My wife does has done a bit of cake making over the years, including some wedding cakes.  She is pretty good at it.  A few years ago I got her an airbrush for decorating her cakes and it has increased her decorating options, to include using some some stencils I made for her. 
She was hesitant at first, but quickly got the feel of it.
So if your wife is like my wife, then buy two  - one for her and one for you.  The family that airbrushes together, stays together  

[Joe W.]

On 9/24/2022 at 7:43 AM, BadBob said:

I use window cleaner (aka Windex) for cleaning my airbrushes when spraying acrylic pain

I'll have to try that next time I use it
I did use it to spray a modified pattern cutout of Steve Good Bud Vase and was pleased with the finish.  Used the 70% isopropyl alcohol to thin the acrylic paint.
It took a while for it to dry.  
Saw a UTube video where the guy recommends using denatured (pure) alcohol and picked up a can of it from Tractor Supply (best price I found).  Supposedly, the drying time is faster since there is no water in the alcohol.  Will post results when I use it.