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I'm about to purchase an airbrush and I want to make sure that I have everything I need. Please take a look at this list and let me know if I'm missing anything or if I have something on the list that's not really necessary.

Compressor: http://www.tcpglobal.com/airbrushdepot/compress.aspx#abd_tc20t
Airbrush (comes with 6 foot hose): http://www.amazon.com/Airbrush-Decorating-Temporary-Automotive-Graphics/dp/B0013DSONI/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1349037977&sr=1-1&keywords=ps900
Cleaning Brushes: http://www.amazon.com/Precision-Airbrushes-Published-Exclusively-TCP/dp/B001N3IX3Y/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1349024349&sr=8-6&keywords=airbrush
Cleaning Solution: http://www.amazon.com/Createx-Airbrush-Cleaner-4-oz/dp/B000IVPWB8/ref=sr_1_2?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1349037937&sr=1-2&keywords=airbrush+cleaning+station
Cleaning Jar: http://www.amazon.com/Iwata-Medea-NAC-201-Cleaning-Station/dp/B000VADIVC/ref=sr_1_3?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1349033450&sr=1-3&keywords=airbrush

The airbrush hose says it has 1/4" and 1/8" fittings and the compressor says 1/8" so I assume I'm good there. Also, I'm fairly certain that the compressor has a moisture trap, which means I don't need one built into the hose, right?

Thanks in advance - I've been reading lots of threads over the past two weeks trying to figure all of this stuff out.

you'll need some paint thinner, if you're planning to use standard paints. I've been looking into this myself as I'm getting back into airbrushing.

You only need one moisture trap.

The hose you've bought is incorrect. Airbrushes have a 1/8" connection, so if the compressor is 1/8" too you need a hose to suit, like this one. Most compressors are larger and have 1/4" connections, and the supplied hose is to match those.

Thanks about the paint thinner. I was actually thinking about using Vallejo Model Air, which I've read doesn't need to be thinned.

As for the hose, it says that the hose comes with 1/4" and 1/8" fittings, and the air compressor says that it has a 1/8" BSP connection. I'm obviously a total noob, but this seems like it should fit. Or does this mean that one end of the hose is 1/4" and the other end is 1/8", and if both the brush and compressor have 1/8" then I'll need a hose like the one you linked?

You'll want thread seal tape too. It's commonly known as Teflon/PTFE tape, and is probably in the plumbing section at your neighbourhood hardware store. Basically it ensures you don't get any air leaking out of your connections and is very useful.

Wikipedia reference.

So you wrap it around the connections before you connect them?

You wrap it after. It basically acts as a second seal around the connection and stops air escaping.

Cheers!

I see. So anymore input on the list or the hose connections?

 IK-Painter wrote:
You wrap it after. It basically acts as a second seal around the connection and stops air escaping.

Cheers!

I've never heard of wrapping teflon tape around after connecting. You wrap it around the threads on the male end before connecting.
You might not even need teflon tape. If the threads are BSPP (parallel) instead of BSPT (tapered), there should be an o-ring that seals

 Tangent wrote:

As for the hose, it says that the hose comes with 1/4" and 1/8" fittings, and the air compressor says that it has a 1/8" BSP connection. I'm obviously a total noob, but this seems like it should fit. Or does this mean that one end of the hose is 1/4" and the other end is 1/8", and if both the brush and compressor have 1/8" then I'll need a hose like the one you linked?

The image shows the hose is 1/4" at one end and 1/8" at the other. you will need a different hose.

Thanks! Anything else I need? Or do I have it all pretty much?

Is there a reason that airbrush is so cheap it seems to good to be true

Dunno why it's so cheap, but it's the same setup I have and it rocks the house. From what I've read around the interwebz it's basically a high grade knock off of an Iwata.

Edit: Also, they're right about the hose - but TCP sent me an adapter in the mail shortly after once I pinged them about it. Easy company to work with.

Yeah, as for the airbrush... I've read almost every thread on DakkaDakka about airbrushes, and they almost all mention this airbrush at least once each. It's apparently an older model and so the price is low at least partially because of that (probably). But also, I've read that because it's old, parts are hard to find, so if anything breaks you're basically out of luck and I'm sure that drives the price down.

That's good to hear about the hose and TCP. Maybe I'll email them about it even though I'm not buying the airbrush through them (just the compressor).

MalikDrako wrote:

 IK-Painter wrote:
You wrap it after. It basically acts as a second seal around the connection and stops air escaping.

Cheers!

I've never heard of wrapping teflon tape around after connecting. You wrap it around the threads on the male end before connecting.
You might not even need teflon tape. If the threads are BSPP (parallel) instead of BSPT (tapered), there should be an o-ring that seals

Quoted for emphasis.

Teflon tape is used on the male threads prior to making the connection, however most airbrush hoses are designed to be self sealing. They will either have a compressible seat like an o-ring or other form of plastic to seal against or in some cases will use a connection which is comparable to a Swagelok (not exactly...but similar).

The price is because it is a Chinese knock off. If you read around, you will find a lot of people very satisfied with them...while every now and again you will find one who says it is crap. Both are right. Lower quality control often leads to a higher failure rate making it through to consumers...so maybe 5-10% are craptastic while the rest work as advertised. You normally don't have as fine of a finish as you would with the Iwata or comparable name brand, so fine lines can have a bit of splatter to them though.

I would recommend adding to your list a cheap ultrasonic cleaner and some needle lubricant.

 Synchro wrote:
I would recommend adding to your list a cheap ultrasonic cleaner and some needle lubricant.

What are those?

1) Ultrasonic cleaner - You take the airbrush apart and put the whole thing into the cleaner. Even with just water, most of the paint and clogs will get vibrated out of the airbrush. You still need to clean a little beforehand with airbrush cleaner, but then like I said you drop the whole thing in the ultrasonic cleaner and you get all the crap left behind
2) Needle lubricant is for exactly what it sounds like. You add a VERY thin layer to the needle so that it moves better inside the brush and gets less paint stuck to it and should help to have fewer clogs.

Sweet, thanks!

 Synchro wrote:
1) Ultrasonic cleaner - You take the airbrush apart and put the whole thing into the cleaner. Even with just water, most of the paint and clogs will get vibrated out of the airbrush. You still need to clean a little beforehand with airbrush cleaner, but then like I said you drop the whole thing in the ultrasonic cleaner and you get all the crap left behind
2) Needle lubricant is for exactly what it sounds like. You add a VERY thin layer to the needle so that it moves better inside the brush and gets less paint stuck to it and should help to have fewer clogs.

Ultrasonic cleaner really is a godsend. Even after a few seconds in there all the paint which accumulates in all the nooks and crannies inside your brush gets cleared away.

The difference is stunning:

http://ik-painter.blogspot.de/2012/04/tools-of-trade-airbrush-cleaning-and.html

Cheers!

Just purchased all of these items - thanks a ton guys! The only thing I put off until next month is the ultrasonic cleaner. total with shipping for everything was just barely over $200. Not bad!

If you even need cheap airbrush look on ebay for the veda 180 basicly a iwata clone.

They are about £30 with free shipping from china or hong kong, I am planning to buy it and a bundle compressor with 2 airbrush so I will have 0.2 (veda 180) 0.3 (veda 134) and another probably veda make.

All the cheap airbrushes are veda or made in the same factory as veda or basicly all the same design, chinese companies copy each other alot.

So they exist solely because they copy off the people that actually do the work and design them and you are going to perpetuate that. Nice work. How about you support the people that actually do the design work and not the ones who make cheap clones by people making low ass wages.