Advice on getting an airbrush setup

[Icetigris]

Let me preface that I have absolutely no experience with airbrushing at all. However, I am looking into getting an airbrush and a compressor and all that to do stuff like metal paints. I can see myself also using it for makeup, airbrushing fur, stenciling on fabric, and maybe painting silicone prosthetics. So I'm looking to invest in a system that can handle many different paint types and many different viscosities. At any rate, here are my two big questions:

1. What kind of airbrush and compressor should I get?
2. What other things can you use an airbrush for?

I'm probably going to be splitting costs with a couple of other cosplay buddies, but I'd rather not spend a huge amount on my first setup if I can avoid it. Any advice on specs, brands, models, etc. is greatly appreciated.

 

[Pestilence]

For this YouTube is your Friend, there are a lot of tutorials about Airbrushing and start up needs. As far as brands go Badger and Iawata are the go to brands. I use a cheap no name thing that works well for shading but not for any detail work.

For a compressor as long as it hold a steady supply of air you're good. Many local shops use what is called a Diaphragm pump only because they are quieter.

In closing search YouTube. Ed Hubbs has awesome techniques for airbrushing.

 

[Finhead]

For a Airbrush brand get Iwata they are by far one of the best and most versatal brushes. I would look into the Eclipse HP-CS or if your budget allows the Plus line HP-C Plus. Either of those are very good all round brushes an d can do very detailed work.
Best advise on a compressor is get the largest you can afford and or have space for. When I was teaching my airbrush course I lived in a apartment and had to use a silent compressor. Great compressors but very pricey for the size/CFM you get. Now that I have a house/garage I use my 5hp 60gal compressor works perfect but and hardly every kicks in while airbrushing. But do not get a diaphram compressor they are pretty noise and make a lot of heat which causes water in your lines, not good at all.

Here's a link to my AB gallery most of this was done with the cheap Iwata HP-SBS or HP-BCS. Don't need expensive to get good results.

Airbrush Art pictures by c2hoines - Photobucket

 

[Rdmaul]

I have a setup I use for my Darth Maul makeup application, If your using it for wide areas then get a Single action Airbrush if your using it for tight lines and wide ares then get a double action. Just my .02 cents but I would get a single action to start with and then upgrade later to a double action.

 

[Finhead]

I have a setup I use for my Darth Maul makeup application, If your using it for wide areas then get a Single action Airbrush if your using it for tight lines and wide ares then get a double action. Just my .02 cents but I would get a single action to start with and then upgrade later to a double action.

I would say that is a wate of $$ there is zero advantage to going with a single action airbrush. If you want wide coverage just buy a brush with a larger tip/needle. Has nothing to do with the action of the airbrush, all in how much paint you can flow through the tip.

 

[Icetigris]

What kind of minimum specs do I need on my air compressor? I was looking at this kit at Harbor Freight; is this compressor going to be powerful enough? I'd like to get an oilless compressor if possible, it seems like a pain to deal with the oil.

I'm definitely going to be getting a double-action airbrush. I've been looking at airbrushes a little bit, but I'm not sure what I need in terms of features. Gravity-fed? Teflon needle packings? Are these just nice-to-have features, or do my applications demand them?

 

[Skuld]

I use the Badger Anthem and the Iwata Eclipse for a number of different types of painting. (face and body, T-shirt, makeup, blah blah). I like siphon fed (but I have a rack of 10, each with a dedicated color, so I never have to change colors and have my white turn pink or my yellow turn orange or anything like that...) I often run mine off of a CO2 tank, which eliminates condensation in your paint, silent, and needs no electricity. Otherwise I have a little Campbell-Hausfield compressor (available at Walmart for under $100) that I can use in an emergency, or if the tires on my mower go flat.