What Airbrush should I buy?

Hi all! I've been using my friend's airbrush (which cost him around £100) and I love it! I don't have lots of money for a fancy one but what's the least you can get away with spending for a good airbrush that does the job, smoothly and evenly and doesn't have too many clogging problems etc. I'd love to know what you recommend (and possibly where in the UK, or online I could get it). Many thanks.

The kit with the AS186 compressor and the H&S Ultra* airbrush, for £160, from everythingairbrush would be an excellent start. The compressor is pretty quiet and has a 3l tank. The airbrush is the entry level Harder&Steenbeck model, they make excellent stuff. You could buy some cheaper crap off ebay, but expect it to be just that i.e crap!


*not the Ultra x!


Scroll down a bit.
http://www.everythingairbrush.com/acatalog/Harder___Steenbeck_Kits.html

darkmark wrote:

The kit with the AS186 compressor and the H&S Ultra* airbrush, for £160, from everythingairbrush would be an excellent start. The compressor is pretty quiet and has a 3l tank. The airbrush is the entry level Harder&Steenbeck model, they make excellent stuff. You could buy some cheaper crap off ebay, but expect it to be just that i.e crap!


*not the Ultra x!


Scroll down a bit.
http://www.everythingairbrush.com/acatalog/Harder___Steenbeck_Kits.html

Thanks for the reply dude! Although is there really no airbrush under £100 worth getting? I really don't have that much of a budget for this :/

Quote :

The kit with the AS186 compressor and the H&S Ultra* airbrush, for £160, from everythingairbrush would be an excellent start.

I second that, Ultra is great airbrush, always was fine and loyal to me =)

I also recomend compressor with tank.

Quote :

I really don't have that much of a budget for this :/

Better save a bit, trust me, with first airbrush its really better to be learning how to handle paianting not how to handle a device. If you are experienced you probably can go away with cheap ones.

You might want to look at Badger, Iwata and H&S airbrushes. Just avoid chinese ones.

The set up I suggested really is a bare bones minimum. You can buy compressors without a tank, but you won't get the best air supply. Poor air supply = poor end result. Cheaper compressors tend to be noisier too, do you want to work with a jack hammer next to you?

You want your first airbrush to be easy to clean and maintain. H&S ones are super for this, but Iwata's neo, or Badger's Patriot 105 are worth mentioning too. Remember you'll need replacements parts at some point, that's why cheap Chinese knock offs are a bad choice. If/ when something goes wrong you'll end up having to buy a whole new airbrush instead of just a needle or washer.

Saving a bit longer to get something that will give joy rather than grief is well worth it IMO. However, you know your budget, time frame etc much better than me.

edit: if you want to go real cheap the I've seen someone use RDG Tools equipment and produce some great results. Do get the kit with the tank though! 85 squids, jobs a good'un

http://www.rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/AIRBRUSH_KITS_AND_SPARES.html

Okay thanks for the advice guys! I'll look into saving enough to get a good one. Is there much resale value if I ever stop painting and have a £150 item hanging around (if I've kept it in good condition etc).

The £85 kit linked, I think, comes with an AS 186. Email RDG to check, but if that's the case then the kit really is great value. You could buy the kit now, muck about with the cheapy airbrush while you save for a better airbrush somewhere down the line. Note compressors and airbrushes are very separate things!

I haven't got a clue how much 2nd hand kits sell for, but I do know lots of people off load their stuff after very little use. If you can afford to write off the cost then get 1. However, if its just a whim have a serious think about it for a few months before you dive in. Nothing worse than buyer's regret.

edit: nice review with some good tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQLJnD2mWMY