Hi could someone please explain to me how an airbrush work.... i'm only 14 and unknolegable and need some help, pleeeaaase.

Well the Harder and Steinbeck Evolution is very good, but i'm not certain if you have it there.
Compressor is always andy, you domn't have to buy busses full of gas, so it pays itself back.

Agree. I use the Evolution and their Euro Tec compressor. Have no problem to recommend it.

Erik

The answer to what type of airbrush to get varies from person to person and from what each person expects from their airbrush.

but they all have one thing in common, some kind of air supply is needed. some people use the compressed cans but they have many drawbacks including over time that they are very costly..

Common types of alternitive air supplys are..

Compressed air cans. Unless you buy a regulator to use with them you generally dont' have much control over air pressure and the pressure starts to drop as you use them. The don't last very long and they cost a bit per can.

Hobby Compressors.. (small and quiet but can get expensive.)

General compressors such as small automotove ones you can get at sears.. ( larger and louder but cheaper)

CO2 tanks.. quiet but require an ocassional filling..

General Air tanks, such as 5 gallon automotive ones you can fill up at the local gas station.. quiet and cheap but requre filling...

one thing you need on all is a regulator of some type so that you can control the amount of air you get to your airbrush.. A good regulator will allow you to set the air pressure to the airbrush. in increments of 1 psi....

everything but perhaps the CO2 tanks will also require a water trap on it to keep any moisture in the air supply from going out through the airbrush....

Note: some hobby air commpressors are sub standard, such as Testor's Blue.. Its cheap for a reason.. (i've been told its a diaphram type and the air tends to pulse instead of being steady)..

I personlly use a Oilless piston hobby type aircompressor with regulator and water trap..the initial outlay was a bit costly but in 4 years i've not had to pay a penny more.. and I like the small size and quietness.

As for the Best airbrush.. you ask 10 people you might get 10 differnt answers..

But to give you a start.. figure out what you want to do then go from there.. asking questions....

Ok thanks alot, has anyone else got any ideas of a source of compressed air that a 14 year old can get his hands on

Hi Sam, I got a compressor from B&Q costs about £70.00 does a good job for me, I got a Badger 200 airbrush and have found it easy to use and to clean costs about £60.00 pounds, now it all depends how serious you are about your modelling and to convince Dad to cough up the dough.

Hello mate. I also bought a DIY compressor from B&Q. Its great for airbrushing, inflating tyres, nail gunning etc (maybe Dad will come in with you on it if you explain all this). However, if this is too rich for you then you can buy cans of compressed air from your hobby shop. BUT.... these work out very expensive after a while and you only get maybe one model per can and its about £7 a go. You can also use an old car inner tube as an air supply, it only costs when you pump it up! As for airbrushes, Badger are very good but so is Aztec. I have two Aztec brushes and like them both. Neither is all that expensive being from about £30. Stay away from the likes of the Humbrol hobby kit as it is cheap but no better than an aerosol can. Hope this helps.

Hi Sam
You must have edited your initial post and here you got an answere.

Airbrush
This site is not so much about modeling, but a lot of usefull stuff for airbrushing.

I'm not sure if they explain how an airbrush works, but to keep it very simple an airbrush is basically an advanced, refillable spray can propelled by a compressor

Erik

Ok thanks alot, don't forget i have a paper round (bringing in my own money :-) ) so..... Thanks alot for all teh advice, sorry about editing the first post Erik Ok well my Aunties Uncle has unfortunately past away and gave me 2 airbrushes, lots odf paint containers and 2 wires. BUT IT SEEMS QUITE OLD, is it wise to use them or shall i buy a new one?

Check them out on a old model you dont want any more, the airbrushes shoud be ok as long as they were looked after as for the paint if its enamels they stay good for twenty years or more, I have tins nearly that age and they are ok

Ok thanks man

I had the same problem w/ my little Badger 1/20 hp compressor as the testors blue one i wasnt getting enough of a steady airflow so i figured out that an air storage tank would work I bought a campbell/hausfeld one in my local Wal-Mart for only 20 bucks and I already had the regulator/water trap i just fill the tank at my firehouse but a gas station would suffice the tank is a 7 gallon tank so i could finish a full model w/ it

good luck