Air tank for Airbrush?

[NightrainSrt4]

I was looking at airtanks/compressors because I am interested in starting airbrushing. At Home Depot and Lowes The Compressors with tanks start at 100$. While cleaning out my car I realized that I have one of those safety/emergency all in one things that cost ALOT. One of the things it has is an air compressor capable supposedly of 150+ psi (gauge goes up to 250psi so im assuming it can hit 150ish). So all I need now is an air tank.

Is something like this a good type of tank for airbrushing?
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?jspStoreDir=hdus&catalogId=10053&marketID=401&productId=100000784&onlineStore=true&locStoreNum=8125&keyword=air+tank&langId=-1&searchRedirect=air+tank&storeId=10051&endecaDataBean=com.homedepot.sa.el.wc.catalog.bean s.EndecaDataBean%408501f8e&ddkey=Search

I was under the impression that it needed to have some sort of regulator to adjust air pressure. This has an air pressure guage, but I can't tell if it allows a change in output pressure. Or if it will accept being filled by a tire inflator type of connection.





As for airbrushes, are there any recommendations for a good airbrush that can do pretty fine details? I don't need it to paint a whole case or anything, but want it for detail stuff. I was looking at a Badger 155 at A.C.Moore. They have a bunch of airbrushes at that store where I am. That one is Dual action and seemed pretty nice. The only thing was that it wasn't gravity feed. it has a little cup like the gravity ones though, its just underneath.

I would like to stay with acmoore brushes unless there is a great deal on something you guys find because I can get those 40% or 50% OFF any one item coupons for it. I can go back in there and write down the brushes they have and you guys suggest the best one maybe? Any good brushes reasonably priced that you guys can come up with i am open to as well.

[Commando]

I think it is sooo much worth it to just get one of those 100$ compressors from Sears. It would be a ton easier, much smaller, and better in the long run.

Those 100$ Sears Craftsman compressors are awesome quality for the money.

The Badger 155 is a good first airbrush. I use an Iwata Eclipse HP-CS it's the best brush for the money. If you can get a good deal on one jump on it.

[NightrainSrt4]

Thanks Commando.

Looking at it now doesn't seem worth it. I don't see a water trap. Maybe it doesn't need it on just a tank??? Looking at the tanks, I would also need to get a regulator it seems, which would be another $20 or something. I guess I will try and look for a good deal on one of those Sears compressor/tanks you speak of.


The Badger 155 seemed like the nicest brush they had at the time. Reviews speak well of it. Its supposed to be able to do real fine detail all the way up to like 3/4" sprays or something. The have a badger 175 as well i think. They had quite a few brushes. They also had createx paint real cheap i think.

The only thing about the badger 155 that threw me off a little bit was that the needle is exposed i see from reading reviews. I guess that can be better...but it also means you have to be real careful? It isn't that bad I suppose because ACmoore has replacement needles for it and they were only $5...so thats good. They seemed to have a decent selection of Badger replacement parts, thats why I looked at the badgers.

I will look and see if they have an Iwata. Those are really nice brushes. But they are pretty expensive. But i can get those 40% off coupons pretty easily so if they have that one i will look.

Im going to go look again at the brushes this afternoon i think and I will post which ones they have this afternoon.

[NightrainSrt4]

Well yesterday I didn't get a chance to go and look at what other airbrushes they had. Im pretty sure the Badger 155 is the one that I want out of what they have.

But, I did go into Lowes looking for some 600+ grit sandpaper (preferable 2000) to finish off the mouse for project: Alb. But no, they only have up to 220. How are you supposed to make anything smooth with 220?

Anyways.


They had a compressor/1 gallon tank combo thing...that also came with a basic staple/nail gun (don't need it, but might come in handy). It looked like it had a regulator but I couldn't tell. If it does it seems like a pretty good deal for only being $49.


Is a 1 gallon tank big enough? I am not going to be doing a whole lotta airbrushing as I will only just be learning. Commando you mentioned that something small and such is nice, and this is pretty small and seems portable. Nice because I have a small apartment so easier to tuck away than a big tank. The compressor can refill it.

Does 1 gallon of air run out real fast while airbrushing? Seemed like a decent deal though...hmmm.

[Airbozo]

FYI, go the the auto parts store for _fine_ grit sand paper.

Usually the best way to tell if a compressor has a regulator is to look for 2 dials. One is the tank pressure, the other is the line pressure. Some do not have the tank pressure dial, rather a blow off valve to prevent overfilling.

I did look at the model from lowes you mentioned but without seeing it up close I cannot tell if it has a regulator or if it is a set regulation for that gun.

[NightrainSrt4]

Thanks for the info on where to get the sandpaper. I couldn't find it for the life of me. Seriously, how do people expect anything to be smooth with only 220 grit? I guess wood might feel smooth but anything else doesn't seem to cut it.

Ya the Lowes one, I can't tell if it has a regulator either. And none of the boxes those compressors come in tell you much of anything. There was a picture of someone using it with an airbrush on the box, but no info about anything else.

On the plus side, I got a couple of the 40% off any item at AC Moore. Just go to the store lookup section and type in your area code. Click coupons, download and print it. :) .

*Note:Some of their maps are wrong. Their map for my area is wrong. I got all excited. Looked up my area and it showed one right down the street from me (ive moved here in the last couple months and haven't gone that way). So I go down the street exactly where it showed and all that was there was farmland lmao. Looked up the number on a different map thing and pulled up the one I already know where it is, about 20 minutes away. lmao. They need to fix there maps.

[NightrainSrt4]

Well, went and checked out their airbrushes.

No Iwata airbrushes at the store nearest me. And there website doesn't list any airbrushes at all so wouldn't know if they carried them without checking lots of stores.

They do have Badgers and Testors I think is the name.


Badger 155
Badger 175 (had a plastic looking trigger, looked like the 155 was better)
Badger 350 (didn't look as nice as either of the above)

And like 3 different testors brushes. A few were pretty cheap, especially with the 40% coupon. The only thing that turned me away from them was that they all were plastic.

Most of the brushes except for the 155 and maybe the 175 were only single action.

I am still lost for a nice small and portable compressor with holding tank(doesn't really need to be portable, just small because i live in a small sized apartment...don't care about noise really, the apartments sound proofed). This is what has kept me from buying the airbrush. Can't find a reasonable priced compressor/tank that would work.

I really need suggestions on a reasonable priced tank/compressor as I am lost here.

[Commando]

I am still lost for a nice small and portable compressor with holding tank(doesn't really need to be portable, just small because i live in a small sized apartment...don't care about noise really, the apartments sound proofed). This is what has kept me from buying the airbrush. Can't find a reasonable priced compressor/tank that would work.

Spend around 75-100$ on a regular compressor. You can get them at Wal Mart, Sears, or any hardware store. Anything with a tank that is 1 gallon or more is fine. The bigger the tank the less often it has to build pressure(turn on and make noise) in the tank. A 1 gallon is fine, just make sure it has a regulator(lets you adjust the output pressure), almost all do.

As far as Badger goes. They are good for a first brush. Definitely get a double action. The 155 and the 175 are both bottom feed airbrushes. I like the color cup on top models of airbrush but sometimes they are more expensive. Having the color cup on top makes airbrushing easier and the paint flow better.

Don't get a single action airbrush like the 350, it sux.

[NightrainSrt4]

Damn it, I had a whole reply and the internets lost it arghhh lmao.


Anyways. Christmas is coming so I will look out for a good compressor. i was going to buy one but as my current projects don't need the airbrush and people are begging for me to tell them what i want, I think I will find one and ask for Christmas.

As for airbrushes. Are there any good double action gravity feed brushes that you can recommend at ~$80-100 price range? Thanks in advance.

[NightrainSrt4]

Thanks Commando. I will look at Walmart to see what they have as I haven't checked there. Seeing as how I just realized how close it is to Christmas I think I will ask for a compressor for Christmas. I was going to just buy it but my girlfriend reminded me of all the people begging for me to come up with ideas for gifts for me. Might be worth saving the money.

I wanted an airbrush for probably my third mod. The one after Nightrain and Alb. Both are coming along nicely, and big updates will be coming soon as Ive done a ton of work on them these past two weeks, but I don't think I need an airbrush for them, as I wasn't planning on it. My third mod I have a pretty cool idea and color schemes and an airbrush would come in handy.

Do you have a recommendation for an airbrush around $80 or so that is gravity feed with a small cup and double action? The 155 was the nicest one AC moore had, but I might be able to ask for something else for xmas so if you could recommend a good brush I would be very greatful. Thanks.

[Commando]

I'm telling you, if your willing to spend 80$. Go ahead and buy an Iwata Eclipse HP-CS. They are around 110$ but it will last forever and it is pro level.

It's what I recommend to everyone looking to get into airbrushing. Yes, there are cheaper airbrushes, but none that are as versatile and as high quality for the money.

Here's a link if you need to find it.

http://airbrushtricks.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,43/

I hope this helps.

[NightrainSrt4]

Ohhh thanks sooooo much! That brush looks perfect for what I want. I saw the Iwata name when you mentioned it earlier and just assumed it was one of their $300 brushes.


I probably don't even have to ask this but (as I see your videos are everywhere on that site), is that a good site to order the brush from? I assume it would be as from your recommendation, just like to check ahead of time.

Thanks again.

[calumc]

FYI that's Commando's site!
But the shop on there is run by Amazon and I presume Commando gets some percentage of the sale for the referral so just buy it from there!

[NightrainSrt4]

Lol I know its his site. Ive visited it many times and watched the videos. I was trying to be silly and be like "are your sure that sites ok". Im sick today and probably didn't convey that too well through type. Oh well. I feel like crap, but atleast I know of a good airbrush. lol.

[Commando]

You know what's cool is that it's actually Amazon.com that is fed into my site.

It's a really cool function. It actually searches all of the sites under Amazon and gives the best price for each item.

Don't worry I'm not exactly raking it in. The commission is 5% of a sale. I just like it because it adds another dynamic element to your site.

[NightrainSrt4]

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That error kept coming up when I tried to reply. Arghhh whole replies gone again...


Anyways thanks Commando. I will go through your site when I am ready. I want to go and buy it right now but I have to remember that Christmas is coming, and my girlfriends birthday just 5 days before that.

And Crysis and Assassin's Creed are coming, and my Step up for my GTS. But when I am ready you will have yourself 5% to help out you and/or your site. Thanks

[Commando]

No problem.

I hope you can find some useful info on my site. Alot of the other airbrush sites out there are real clique'ish and stuffy.

That's why I love TBCS, everyone here is really cool to new guys. That's the kinda site i was going for with airbrushing.

[NightrainSrt4]

Thanks. Ya your site is pretty cool. Ive looked at it quite a few times. Watched like all the videos. Very informative, and in a way that isn't boring or anything.