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Hi Dakka!

I'm thinking about entering the world of airbrush painting and need some advice on what compressor and airbrush I should buy.

The airbrush part is pretty clear already. I want a gravity-fed double Action airbrush of about 0.2 - 0.4 needle size.

The part I'm very unsure about, is the compressor. My Budget is rather limited, meaning I wouldn't spend much more than 100€ on one.
At the same time, I do want a rather good one, since the compessor is extremely important for the Quality of the painting.

Any tipps are very welcome.

Cheers,

Phi-666

This is the compressor I've been using for years without issue. It retails for about $100 (75 euros).




http://www.tcpglobal.com/itemdetail_AB.aspx?itemno=ABD+TC-20T

Yeah that looks like the one Ive had bought off ebay for Christmas plugged it in the othe night to see how loud it is ( yeah I know I'm impatient) it's virtually noiseless and got to pressure really quickly. Unfortunately can't say what it's like for painting yet as my wife won't let me play with it till Christmas day

Hey thanks guys! Much appreciated.

This might help:

Thanks! Very informative videos.

I would never use a CO2 bottle though, since I want to airbrush indoors, and would prefer to not suffocate

Phi-666 wrote:
Thanks! Very informative videos.

I would never use a CO2 bottle though, since I want to airbrush indoors, and would prefer to not suffocate

I would hope that you share the same concern about the paint vapours and have some level of ventilation for your area anyway.
Also CO2 is roughly 80% of the air already, adding a little bit more is certainly no more dangerous (realistically much less dangerous) than adding particles of acrylic medium, thinners, pigments (which may be heavy metals) and cleaning agents to the air that you are breathing. Use a respirator with filters for organic solvents, dust masks arent good enough AND get an extractor fan or atleast have the windows open; the window might be acceptable for small amounts of work, but more than a quick spritz of paint and your looking at wanting propper extraction.

Co2 is not 80% of air already we would all be dead. Air is 78% nitrogen 20% oxygen and about 0.3% co2. Would be a lot more worried about co2 cylinders than paint fumes in an unventilated areas, as a filter mask would clean paint particles out but not co2

 soitra wrote:
Co2 is not 80% of air already we would all be dead. Air is 78% nitrogen 20% oxygen and about 0.3% co2. Would be a lot more worried about co2 cylinders than paint fumes in an unventilated areas, as a filter mask would clean paint particles out but not co2

haha my bad, i blame early rising with a 1 year old for that (any excuse!!)

Yes a respirator with organic solvent filters wouldnt help much in an enclosed area full of co2, youy would need to look at airfed masks then.
But still I would hope that the OP isnt planning to be airbrushing in an enclosed area with zero ventilation anyways,

For me the bigger danger in a co2 cannister is that if its knocked over and the valve knocked off... well the cannister can go on a lil journey. Depending on the pressure and capacity, right through the walls of your house, and the neighbors etc etc. (I only have experience with kinda heavy duty compressed gas cannisters in the lab.)

Lolol yes i have lab experience and made that rather embarasing error regarding the airs composition ahh well sleep deprived for the win!

 soitra wrote:
Co2 is not 80% of air already we would all be dead. Air is 78% nitrogen 20% oxygen and about 0.3% co2.

And some miniscule amounts of some other gases.

Phi-666 wrote:
Thanks! Very informative videos.

I would never use a CO2 bottle though, since I want to airbrush indoors, and would prefer to not suffocate

You might have to worry about that if you were to empty the entire bottle into an otherwise sealed room. In a normal airbrushing situation... not so much.

 Dullspork wrote:

Phi-666 wrote:
Thanks! Very informative videos.

I would never use a CO2 bottle though, since I want to airbrush indoors, and would prefer to not suffocate

You might have to worry about that if you were to empty the entire bottle into an otherwise sealed room. In a normal airbrushing situation... not so much.

Fair enough. You're probably right. Anyway, I already ordered an airbrush compressor with an air tank. Looking forward to Christmas

I received my compressor on the 24th and also a new drop pod.

Here is my first try at airbrushing: