Which airbrush?

Go with a Badger. I have a Badger Renegade Rage and love it.

 

I got the kit from harbor freight, I've seen others on here recommend it. It comes with the air brush and the compressor. I haven't played around with it too much yet, but so far it works, lol.

 

I too use a Harbor Freight double action airbrush. I have finished deer and ducks with it and it sprays great. Once you get the needle adjusted correctly you can spray fine to 1" patterns. I haven't had any issues with it and if any thing happens to it, you can take it back no questions asked and they will give you a new one.

 

Not trying to Jack your thread but will the 3 or 6 gallon tanks work as good as the mini compressors? They aren't that much more than the mini size.

 

The mini compressors run all the time - they have no tank for reserving air. The 3-6 gallon tanks will fill up after a few minutes and the compressor will shut down until the tank runs low. With an airbrush thats hardly ever. I bought my 3-gal compressor for $39.99 with a coupon. The coupon is in the April issue of Field and Stream but they advertise in all the outdoor and hunt/fish magazines but the ads are all different.

 

So the only benefit from a mini would be compact size and mobility?

 

If you get a mini, take the money you save and buy a real long hose. That way you can put it in another room and save yourself from going deaf. It will run nonstop. IMO you want a minimum of 5 gallons for sanity sakes.

Get whatever airbrush you want, but get a gravity fed. You will spend too much time changing colors and waste too much paint if you get a suction fed bottle.

If your compressor doesn't come with one, plumb a regulator and moisture trap combo onto it. Then get the cartridge dessicant filters and plumb one into your hose. You will pull your hair out if you do not address the water that will come through your line. Makes for a nightmare when you go close up on your work and a big splooge of colored water flies out of your gun and hits your mount. Have fun but do it up right.

 

Here's my set-up. I used an old computer desk to put together a roll-around paint station. I have a pressure regulator and dessicant moister trap attached on the left side of the desk and fit the compressor underneath. The power chord and air hose come out the back where the computer cables would normally go. I use Paasche VL's and the two I use (#1 & #3) I can run at the same time with a tee at the regulator. I've had these Paasche's for almost 30 years. Joe

 

I don't like all that organization. It's much too nice. (Kidding you Joe)

SaWEET!

 

...and a Happy, Happy Birthday to you young man. Mr. Greg, enjoy your day!

 

Buy the biggest compressor that you can stand, the day will come when you will want to blow up a flat tire, or a bigger job.

 

Funny. Tonight my son had a flat and he used my mini to fill it. He had to let the mini fill up and shut off five times to inflate the little tire on his Focus.

 

on these little harbor freight models
is there a regulator that controls it
turning it on and off at a certain pressure?