Airbrush help

[airhead]

(thanks GeM)

One more question... Instead of a compressor have any of you had success with a CO2 tank (and if so, what kind? Like dive shop tank?)

I know a couple of artists that use nitrogen tanks. (large welder's type tanks). You'll be out more than the cost of a cheap compressor by the time you put deposit down on two bottles, purchase a dual stage regulator, etc. to get consistant, usable pressure.

I talked to one of the local gas companies about using CO2 bottles ala soda fountain type. Same problems, plus CO2 tends to be wet (has moisture that comes along) so you have to have moisture separator as well. Plus, filling your bedroom full of CO2 is probably not a good thing.

Pluses:
Quiet.
Nitrogen is inert and will not affect paints as it is shot.

Minuses:
You always run out of gas in the middle of a project at 6:00 pm on Friday night. (that is why you have to have 2 bottles).

 

[kirara]

Alright, thanks!!

 

[Valander]

Ok, I'm intrigued and thinking of picking an airbrush up, too. Been reading through these threads for a couple of weeks now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Testors-AZTEK-5...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c5303ea36

That's a kit I'm thinking of grabbing. I've seen a couple of good posts about the Azteks, mainly from Einion, so I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this particular model.

 

[Einion]

@Valander: full whack for that is $252.99, so $119.99 is a great reduction.

From what I've read Aztek airbrushes don't vary much in quality - they're about as good/bad as the next in all regards, especially in terms of spray quality (because they all use the same nozzles) - and if you're lucky it'll easily last you ten years or more of occasional use. So the major question would be the compressor; I think it was referred to in a prior thread, not sure (never used it myself), but as it doesn't have a tank it's not a great one, although it might do the job.

On the airbrush front, this is what you're getting:
Airbrush (roughly equivalent to A470)
General-purpose nozzle
High-flow nozzle
Acrylic nozzle
Acrylic high-flow nozzle
12cc gravity-feed cup
28mm siphon cap
Four 1/2fl oz bottles

The eBay price here is less than retail would be for these as a set and less than the cost of the compressor alone, plus RRP for the airbrush cleaning station all by itself is $36.74. So this is really super value.

Einion

 

[Valander]

Awesome. Sounds like a decent deal then. I've currently got a bid in on a NIB A4308, so if that one falls short then I may just go for this set.

I've got an older Aztek/Testors airbrush that uses the same nozzles, and a couple of nozzles, but it's the cheap, single-action type. I messed with it a couple of times, but it's been packed away for years. I figure since I can use the same nozzles, if I can get a dual-action for a reasonable price, then I might play with it more.

Edit: Also, I have a 2 gallon compressor. It's a little large, and when it does kick on it's pretty loud, but I'm sure it will work fine (I have a moisture trap for it, too). If I do get that kit and the compressor is crap, it doesn't sound like it would be a big deal, since the rest of the set is still a good price. Thanks, again!

 

[Einion]

I've got an older Aztek/Testors airbrush that uses the same nozzles, and a couple of nozzles, but it's the cheap, single-action type. I messed with it a couple of times, but it's been packed away for years.

Hehe, the 1000S? That came free with the compressor when I first bought... ended up using just the single-action one nearly all the time! I'd still use it for most things if it hadn't broken.

Wish they hadn't been discontinued, they'd make an ideal intro to airbrushing for anyone completely new to it who was working on a limited budget.

Edit: Also, I have a 2 gallon compressor. It's a little large, and when it does kick on it's pretty loud, but I'm sure it will work fine (I have a moisture trap for it, too). If I do get that kit and the compressor is crap, it doesn't sound like it would be a big deal, since the rest of the set is still a good price. Thanks, again!

Ah, good deal then. And welcome.

If your current compressor is a bit loud to use comfortably it might be worth making a simple cover for it from a strong cardboard box - cut openings where necessary and upend the box over the compressor; something as simple as this can lower the motor noise a surprising amount apparently! Just make sure there's enough airflow so that it doesn't overheat.

Einion

 

[Valander]

Yeah, I think that's the one, Einion. It was pretty cool, and it should still be in good shape since I only used it a couple of times to do some weathering on some buildings I made years ago.

Good thing about my current compressor is that it is an auto-shutoff, so it's not on all the time. When it is on, though, it's pretty loud; it's more for pneumatic tools than airbrushes.

Either way, next thing to do is build a small spray booth. My plan is basically to make a small open box with some of the spare plywood I have about, with a bathroom exhaust fan and air filter on the back or bottom, hooked to a dryer hose that I can drop out the window next to my desk. Should keep most of the overspray off my desk and powder from clogging up my computer, which is nearby.

 

[airhead]

...Either way, next thing to do is build a small spray booth. My plan is basically to make a small open box with some of the spare plywood I have about, with a bathroom exhaust fan and air filter on the back or bottom, hooked to a dryer hose that I can drop out the window next to my desk. Should keep most of the overspray off my desk and powder from clogging up my computer, which is nearby.

Do not use any solvent based paints (varnish, enamel, etc.) with that setup. I'd even go easy on flushing the gun with alcohol near that fan. Bathroom fans are not designed to exhaust flammable or explosive fumes. Even dirt is explosive if you put the right amount of it in the air as fine particles - let alone paint particles backed up with flammable vapors.

 

[Valander]

Do not use any solvent based paints (varnish, enamel, etc.) with that setup. I'd even go easy on flushing the gun with alcohol near that fan. Bathroom fans are not designed to exhaust flammable or explosive fumes. Even dirt is explosive if you put the right amount of it in the air as fine particles - let alone paint particles backed up with flammable vapors.

Yeah, the only thing I'll be airbrushing will be acrylics, and it won't be used that often most likely. I will, of course, make sure windows are open and all that; I'm more concerned with making sure particulate doesn't go flying around the room.

 

[Einion]

...I'm more concerned with making sure particulate doesn't go flying around the room.

:good: Well worth it - if you spray without any active venting it's quite easy to see a layer of coloured dust settled on horizontal surfaces around the room!

Einion

 

[Valander]

Woot! Just won a bid on a A4709 Aztek on ebay for 60 bucks. Set was used, but looks like it was used maybe 3 or 4 times. Looking forward to getting it in and messing around with it.

 

[The Inquisitor]

Inexpensive and airbrushing don't go well together. I've got a drawer full of cheap airbrushes. No-name or Unknown-name airbrushes are just as bad. If I cannot get parts for it and it doesn't work smooth and consistent, it is wasting my time.

HA! Well put. AB's are not cheap in and of themselves not to mention the air supplies. I stopped using cheap brushes because 1) they REALLY don't do as good as even a midrange regular 'brush and 2) they tend to fail MUCH more regularly.

My basic kit now is $100's of dollars; but worth EVERY penny. I can do jobs in hours that would take others weeks to finish, not to mention all the additional things that AB either directly offers or has indirectly taught me (e.g. having VERY good control and understanding of paint...)