just looking for some advise, I bought a Iwata HP-BC Plus, brush and a Iwata Medea Studio Series ninja jet single piston air compressor. I am having problems spraying, I have thinned the ready to spray paint and still do not get a good spray. I cleaned the brush and turned the air up all the way. Still wimpy. My compressor goes from 1 to 20 PSI. I looked at the next size and it goes from 1 to 30 PSI. Am I missing something? Do I need a bigger compressor? Iwata is supposed to be one of the better brand brushes. Have any of you had similar problems ? What PSI do you generally spray on? Spraying a poor stream in Missouri
If that's a siphon feed airbrush (which I think it is - hook the jar of paint to the bottom and it sucks it up?) you'll want somewhere around 25 PSI. The gravity feeds don't require as much. I've got a siphon feed Badger and use 23-24 PSI. If it's sputtering out droplets instead of the mist that's also an indicator of needing more pressure or you have a clog. I'm not an airbrush expert by any means but just speaking from my experiences. -Mike
Hey Bill, the airbrush I use the most is an Iwata Revolution. Pretty much like what you have but mine is gravity feed. I am with Mike I normally paint 25 psi + even on a gravity feed like these, with a dual action trigger brush you can keep the air down as you spray. A siphon type like yours requires a lot of air. My gravity feed is an old Badger Crescendo. A siphon type is nice for bigger project because it holds more paint. It sounds like yours is not pushing enough air from this. What kind of paint are you using? That makes a big difference. Tru-color is thin and I have never thinned and sprays easy, good stuff.. Vallejo is always so thick it would be easier to thin some old Dutch Boy you painted grandpas barn with. Both claim they are spray ready. I'd bet Tru-color would spray fine on 5 psi. I like the Testors Model Master Acryl myself for projects. I rarely spray enamels because they are slow drying and I am not a patient guy. For weathering I mainly use cheap craft acrylics thinned with plain old water.
I'm using Badger model flex, Vallejo and US Art for paint. I have not bought Tru Color, but seems everyone likes it. I am betting I will need another compressor. 20 PSI is just not enough, my brush is a Siphon type. Sooooo, what type compressors do some of you use with good results ?
Bill, I use a pancake style compressor from Portor-Cable. I attached an in line water filter trap and I also put a disconnect to my air brush air supply line. I used this compressor for my basement remodeling project, so I figured why not on my air brush. The compressor is located away from my painting station, it is kind of loud and annoying when it kicks on. Works like a charm. I have other types of "hobby compressors" they did fairly well. The only dis-like was they are constantly on.
I'm using an Alltrade "Trades Pro" 2 gallon air compressor that I bought for the car/garage, I think I've also used my Porter Cable pancake once or twice as well. I don't use a water filter trap although I know it is recommended - maybe because I live in the arid southwest moisture hasn't been too much of a problem. The bigger compressors are nice because you can also fill up your car's tires, blow off sawdust in the shop, use them for air-tools, and spray paint your models - just dial the pressure up or down as needed.
Well I went all crazy on my compressor I wanted one that would do whatever was needed so I buys me a 130psi 80 gallon Ingersall Rand. I plumbed it throughout the garage, shop, train barn even ran a line thru the crawl space up thru the floor into my laboratory. Sits in its own insulated room. I only charge it once a week runs my little air brush for days. I have little or no luck with acrylics, it's all my fault in sure but I just can't get a good result.
I am about the same too Bill. I have an Iwata made for the brush I have I use for small work. Its super quiet which is nice. I also use my twin tank Emglo that is at least 20 years old for bigger projects on occasion. My Iwata supposedly goes from 0-60 psi. I set it close to 30 and never touch it except to drain the in line moisture trap. What brand paint do you use Tom? Your paint jobs always look good so something is working there.
Bill, I have one of these and it works quite well. The addition of a tank to a compressor makes for much smoother airflow and better paint flow. It is nice and quiet. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Airbrush-P...224702?hash=item2cb439723e:g:bDwAAOSwKOJYHsYk Thanks to input from Stephen Priest (RMC Editor and good friend), a gravity feed brush is the best bet for painting small jobs (railcars/locomotives) and is easier to clean.
5 stars on this thread. Very timely for me as it's something I would like to be better at. I have a craptastic model that's probably good for tempera paints on Brio trains. Very much enjoying seeing input from folks here in terms of what works and what doesn't. For additional perspective, there was recent post on Ted Culotta's blog on airbrushes: http://prototopics.blogspot.com/2018/12/airbrushing-getting-started.html
Chris, I had a Passche air brush and air compressor many (40) years ago. I really never got good with them. Now I am in need of one again, to detail, paint buildings and so forth. Keith, that looks like a winner and won't break the bank. I may see about the gravity feed brushes later but right now I need one for scenery, buildings, lake bottoms and rivers. I can't see myself painting engines and cars, maybe a few. Mike, I see the advantage of using it for other activities, blowing up the swimming pool. Lots to be said for that. Steve, need to know what type Iwata you have, 0 to 60.? I see the advantage of the low pressure one like I have for buildings that are weathered, also cars and rock castings. General scenery.
Chris et al, I have a friend that bought the Iwata Sprint Jet compressor that Ted Culotta likes and just about had a cow when he saw mine and what I paid for it. It is virtually identical to his in mechanical/design terms but has a tank which his Iwata does not.
The max pressure the compressor can produce is 95 psi but the shutoff pressure is 58 psi. The regulator can regulate 0 - 58 psi. On the Iwata max pressure on the compressor is 80 psi but the regulator goes only from 1 to 25 psi. The one I posted will do everything the Iwata will do and more.
Keith explained it perfect. The one he has the link to looks like a winner. If I was in the market for one. Like I said above, mine is great with a gravity gun and the right paint. To use heavier paint or a siphon I have a tank type I can use. The one Keith posted would do anything on its own. It would be nice to get a little more pressure than the Iwata has sometimes.
Don't know if any of you need a pro-level heavy duty paint booth, but I have one I need to sell. I have a very lightly used Pasche double fan, galvanized metal booth. Large enough for G scale. With both fans on, huge suction power. (Fans are individually select-able.) I'm going to need a smaller unit in the new location for my painting operation. So, I'm going to sell this one. IMHO, shipping on it would be pretty expensive, so what I can do is work a deal and deliver it at one of the regional train meets within the NW AR/SW MO/EA OK/Mid OK areas. (Or equivalent distance.) Haven't thought of a pricing structure yet, but it will be a good deal. I think I paid something like $400 for it when new? I can shoot pics of it tomorrow. PM me if interested. Andre
Well I am Air Brushing now. Great pick Keith, really works nice. The extra air makes a big difference. The old Pasche I had years ago didn't have that problem. Seems it just sprayed, course that may have been operator error.
