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I want to but an airbrush and compressor tomorrow.


i am either going to buy this kit off craigslist for $150
http://www.utrechtart.com/dsp_view_product.cfm?item=95048

this has:
•Smart Jet Compressor
•Eclipse BCS airbrush
•Airbrush From Scratch DVD
•Com Art Kit G with 5 opaque colors and 5 transparent colors
•8 oz Airbrush Cleaner
•10 Bottle Adapters


or buy an IWATA CS (the top fed version) and a larger compressor from home depot
http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardware-Air-Compressors-Tools-Accessories/h_d1/N-5yc1vZb8mrZ66xgv/R-202018100/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

how or why does a bigger compressor work better? I know it louder and don't care but is it better. What else would i need to work an airbrush with a large compressor VS a model one?

thanks,

B

I prefer a top feed airbrush for just about every possible modelling use. Bottom feeds are harder to clean and tend to not be able to dial down as fine. Don't think it's a bad airbrush, far from it, I just have a different preference. Add the little color cups to a bottom feed, and they can do wonderful things. That compressor is excellent as well, already has a good regulator and water trap. Overall, a great starter set.

A larger compressor won't necessarily be better for you. They just move more air and at higher pressures, but for an airbrush, you're dealing with much much lower pressures I sometimse spray as low as 2 or 3 psi. Some commercial type compressors also get what's called a "pulse effect", which is a pulsing supply of air. Not a big deal for an air wrench, but a huge drawback for spraying.


-Hans

hans is right about some of it.. the first compressor you showed with the kit will cause the pulse effect cause its not always at the same pressure.. its basically a piston that moves back and forth creating the pressure in real time.. the home depot one has a tank that you can fill to have consistent pressure.. that one is by far better for you than the other one.. i have a 12 gallon compressor i use for my airbrush work.. since i live in a appartment building i fill it up.. takes about 4 mins of full run time to fill.. and then i shut it off and have about 2 hours of air time for my airbrush before i have to fill the tank again.. also the top feed airbrushes are not only easier to clean but allow you to see everything your doing.. the bottom feed ones tend to block your vision some due to the bottle..

chris

Actually, Iwata advertises the Smart-Jet as being a pulse free design. Usually just the air volume in the regulator and moisture trap is enough to prevent it. I use a very similar design, the Badger Cyclone II, and have zero pulse effect in it.

But that's a good point that a large tank will give you a lot more time without having to hear a compressor run. It's one reason I keep trying to convince myself to switch over to a CO2 system. That, and I hate not being able to spray when it's really humid in the summer.

so 1 vote for the kit and 2 for buying the stuff seperate?

Use a gravity feed airbrush, like a paasche VSL or TG Talon series.

Don't waste time with a cheap brush, as you won't learn proper technique, and when you do upgrade it you will pretyy much have to learn all over again.

Compressors vary wildly, all I can recommend is a min 30 psi, regulator and water trap. If it's quiet great, if it has a tank great. If you get a cheaper one and don't like it you can usually ebay it for very little loss( if it was $60 new you can usually resell it for $40).

Kits come with all kinds of crap extras you don't need. Their paint is not ideal for what we do. Use tamiya or vallejo airbrush paints.