Learn me airbrushing

Thinking about getting an airbrush to deal with small parts and projects, basically instead of rattle-can. Wife has got some projects to do, as well.

I don't intend to do any Iron Maiden album covers on Trans Am hoods or pinstriping or anything really artful (I can't draw a straight line).

Is a cheapie HF airbrush good enough for this? Do I really have to buy one of those itty bitty compressors just to do some airbrushing, or can I use my big compressor?

A decent touch up gun is much more useful than an airbrush.

Like this one.

The size of your compressor is relative. Can you move it without lifting equipment? Than it's not that big. You'll need a regulator/drier and I recommend a soft, flexible air hose with an inline filter a few feet from the gun so you can get in smaller spaces.

I started painting close to 20 years ago and still have the DeVilbiss Finishline gun I started with, plus 2 Sata Jets that were so cheap I couldn't pass them up. I finally caved and got a touch up gun a couple years ago and it's very useful. Recently I got a 2.5mm HVLP gun for spraying gel coat and mold release.

If I wasn't doing whole cars, the touch up gun and a good regulator/drier would get it done.

Finally - if you buy a Harbor Fright gun, once you get some idea of what you're doing, you'll end up getting a 'real" gun. I recommend skipping that step and just buying something nicer than the $35 Chinese stuff from go. You'll have an easier time learning and do better work. Plus, automotive finishing materials are ~incredibly~ expensive. I've shot thousands of dollars of materials with my $150 guns and produce work as good as any shop)

(Cue a bunch of people all saying "I have a Harbor Freight gun and it works fine" - I've used cheap and I've used good, and I do much better work with good)

In reply to motomoron:

Thanks for the suggestion. I wasn't really looking for something to do auto finish-type work-- more for painting underhood items or at most maybe stuff like bolt heads to match body color.

I actually have a DeVilbiss Finishline gun I bought about 10 years ago that I used to paint a MG Midget and will probably use to paint my MGTD if I don't hire it out. I also "have a Harbor Freight [HVLP] gun and it works fine" --for shooting primer.

I have a 20 gal compressor that will roll around well enough and intend on buying a 60 gal stationary with plumbing through the shop when it is finished.

LOL at starting with weed...

And I thought the guy demonstrating his airbrush art at the car show was high on all that paint...

Motormoron why is a touchup gun better than the airbrush gun? It seems that would be too big for most things and at the same time too small for any big jobs.

I bought a air brush at an auction just to play around with but no artsy stuff. I found it handy for reaching in door jambs and touching up especially the hinges, other hard to reach areas as well. I wouldn't try to spray inside rockers w/ it, it's prolly too small for that, I use a touch up gun for that. Also good for spot touch up, I was spraying acrylic enamel.

I measured the paint, reducer and hardener w/ a syringe calibrated in ML but followed the ratio, saves material that way and is perfect for the small air brush jar. I've painted small(er) parts w/ it too but after they get so big the touch up gun is better.

Air brush is just handy to have around, wouldn't spend a fortune on it tho. I ran it off my regular shop compressor just regulated it down. I keep a touch up gun too. YMMV

Big compressor is fine. Air is air. Just crank the pressure down at the regulator. I have airbrushed off of the ship's air line, which had to be, I dunno, 100HP air compressor? Probably a lot more. At home, I use my 4 HP.

The best airbrush is a Paasche double action. That's what the pro's use. The nice HF one is kind of a clone. It may do what you want. I bought one but haven't tried it yet. I used a single action Paasche for my last project, refinishing a gun stock.

If you're doing small stuff, like up to maybe a square foot, the airbrush will be fine. For larger things, the touch up gun or the HF HVLP $10 gun is great.

I've used an airbrush for model railroading. I wouldn't ever use it to paint car parts. It's simply too small and designed for minimal paint application. The touch up gun would be the way to go.

The smaller the spray gun, the more fussy they are about being clean, and cleaning an air brush is a PITA. Also, you have to throttle down the air delivery quite a bit, which means buying extra fittings.

If you want fancy pants art work simply or complicated make some stencils with your printer cut them out with an exacto. stencil work This guy uses airbrush and stencils that he makes from blowing up photos and printing them out. Every color gets a different stencil so I suggest keeping it simple at first.

The touchup gun will be better. I use it for most of my model car bodies. An airbrush takes quite a few passes to cover anything.

The good doc is right - air is air - bigger compressor will work - just have to get the fittings down to size. I have an Iwata airbrush/compressor. Mostly artsy projects, but I've painted small stuff like mirrors, bolts, trim pieces, touch ups. If you're going to learn how to put that unicorn mural on the hood, don't skimp. Better airbrushes give more control than automotive guns - fingertip control of air flow and material flow - they are not set it and forget it. It's a good thing but makes the learning curve a little steep.