Help - Thoughts on this airbrush deal?

[the alleycat]

I know there have been a few airbrush threads and i\'ve read through them.

This seems to be the range that someone [nick] was recommending plus a compressor with tank.

Can the guys with the knowhow comment on this setup please? What would i need that isn\'t listed here? [except spare needle/cone ;p ]

I\'m primarily thinking of painting vehicles/warbikes/that kind of thing.

All assistance very much appreciated :)

Edit: Forgot the link Doh!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&it em=260419789726

[airhead]

The compressor looks a bit better. Got a regulator/moisture trap on that one.

I\'ve bought 3 different piston compressors. One ($25 ebay special) died the first night I used it. Autopsy revealed cheap plastic (Teflon?) rings that just melted. No more compression.

Next one lasted a month - different brand. Bought at a discount tool store.

Last one from Sears is still going.

My old diaphragm (badger airbrush compressor) is over 25 years old and still going strong.

In other words, I have no idea of the brand or the product they are putting out.
Sorry I\'m not much help.

If those airbrushes are good, a trip to the local hardware store for a T-fitting and another hose would make switching between brushes easy.

[the alleycat]

Heh, thanks. Guess I\'ll ask about a warranty before i consider buying then.

[Einion]

On the downside the problem remains exactly as it always does in this kind of situation, you\'ll know from the first of the previous threads I linked to in the other current thread - spare parts for the airbrushes are a necessity, not an option, for this kind of brush*.

On the upside the seller has a sterling reputation, so that may be some warranty on the reliability of what they sell.

*You could bend a needle tip cleaning the brush on the first day, that would make it unusable. Literally, it\'s a papeweight from that point onwards! If you want to avoid this issue then Azteks are the way to go, they\'re practically bulletproof.

Originally posted by airhead
I\'ve bought 3 different piston compressors. One ($25 ebay special) died the first night I used it. Autopsy revealed cheap plastic (Teflon?) rings that just melted.

Unlikely they were teflon as it\'s resistant to high temperatures (and friction) :) Possibly HDPE or nylon, or another \'waxy\' plastic.

Einion

[airhead]

Originally posted by Einion

Originally posted by airhead
...One ($25 ebay special) died the first night I used it. Autopsy revealed cheap plastic (Teflon?) rings that just melted.

Unlikely they were teflon as it\'s resistant to high temperatures (and friction) :) Possibly HDPE or nylon, or another \'waxy\' plastic.

Einion

Whatever they were, they were gone after 4 hours use. The piston had about 1/16\" (2mm+/-) slap in the cylinder. Grooves for 2 rings, but nothing there.
I don\'t know where they went, but they were gone. I suspect they are in the small donut tank in little bitty bits.

I trashed it.

[the alleycat]

Originally posted by Einion
On the downside the problem remains exactly as it always does in this kind of situation, you\'ll know from the first of the previous threads I linked to in the other current thread - spare parts for the airbrushes are a necessity, not an option, for this kind of brush*.

On the upside the seller has a sterling reputation, so that may be some warranty on the reliability of what they sell.

*You could bend a needle tip cleaning the brush on the first day, that would make it unusable. Literally, it\'s a papeweight from that point onwards! If you want to avoid this issue then Azteks are the way to go, they\'re practically bulletproof.

Einion

Fortunately there is a seller of this kind of airbrush that does replacement parts... just not as good a start up deal and i currently have a 10% off voucher for ebay so the price gets even better :)

Edit: BTW, is the tank worth having? It adds thirty quid to the price is all.

[airhead]

The tank does a few things.

1. It takes the pulsing out of the compressed air. It creates a reservoir for the air so that as the compressor pumps in spurts, it comes out continuous

2. It lets the compressor take a break. Pump up the tank and shut off. Then wait on the tank to empty and kick back on. Without it, the tank runs until it stalls - hard on the motor parts. And may have trouble kicking back on again.

3. It lets the air cool off and dump moisture. Moisture is the devil for air brushing. You\'ll still need a moisture trap, but you\'ll be surprised at how much water is in the tank at the end of a session.

****

For my little compressor that has no tank, I jerry-rigged one with a pressure switch and an old propane tank. We used to do this with old freon tanks, but they are hard to come by now. And we used to blow the safety plugs out the bottom (not good).
If you try this, make sure your tank is rated for the pressure. Air tanks that fail are like grenades.

[the alleycat]

Thanks for all the help airhead, just a couple more questions; I hope you don\'t mind answering. The search function reveals you\'ve given a lot of advice on these things.

When you suggest a replacement cap as well as needle, which part do you mean? I ask because looking at the diagram of a couple of brushes, they have two seperate parts listed as \'cap\'

In one of the threads I read, there was talk of an additive to add to paints rather than water to run through an airbrush... any suggestions. I think Dragonsreach mentioned one but i can\'t find that thread again.

Once again my thanks, you have the patience of a saint ;p

[airhead]

That is a first, I got logged off in the middle of a response.....


AC, no problem. The airbrush is probably one of the least intuitive tools that an artist can use... You pull the lever back for more at the same time you pull the gun back away from the media.....

The other part I recommend with a spare needle is a cone.
The cap covers the needle/front end during storage. Part 025 shown here.
The air cap helps shape the spray and may not even be necessary for some guns. Part 033, 034 or 035 depending on needle size, shown here.
The cone is what the needle seals against as you release the trigger. If you\'ve damaged the needle with a tip crash (hit the media and bent the needle), you\'ve probably egged the cone as well.

An egged cone will never seat properly and will be a constant source of odd spatters.. Order them in sets: Medium needle/medium cone - fine needle/fine cone, etc.

Part 003, 004 or 005 depending your needle size for this particular gun....

[Einion]

Originally posted by the alleycat
In one of the threads I read, there was talk of an additive to add to paints rather than water to run through an airbrush... any suggestions. I think Dragonsreach mentioned one but i can\'t find that thread again.

For thinning the paint or flushing out the nozzle? Possibly screen wash either way.

For diluting paint always try just water first as it can work perfectly well, depending on the paint type and the AB.

Originally posted by airhead
That is a first, I got logged off in the middle of a response.....

Yep, has happened to me too. But then I\'m getting logged out all the time lately so why not right in the middle of doing something?!

Einion

[.sam.]

if you want to buy the airbrush thats in the picture that airhead posted let me know as im selling one with all 3 needles caps, colour cup and compressor hose

drop me a pm if your interested ;)