Very Cheap Airbrushes. A Recipe For Frustration?

[Matt Bacon]

I must admit, I've never really understood why they are called "single action" and "dual action". In one, either the paint's spraying or it's not. In the other you have control over how much paint is spraying. I've never come across a brush where you can actually modulate the amount of air flowing AND the amount of paint with the trigger. In a "single action" brush it's effectively an on-off switch, and in a dual action brush it's a volume control. There are "preset" mods which effectively turn your dual action brush into a single action, or put a limiter on how far you can pull back the trigger which stops you turning it up to more than four, for example. And I think the answer to your "ideal" @Bainford is the new Harder and Steenbeck "Ultra 2024":

https://www.everythingairbrush.com/product/harder-steenbeck-ultra-2024-airbrush/

It sports a clever "preset" system with locked in settings for six stages of painting from priming through to the finest highlights. Nothing you couldn't do with a regular preset handle with infinite adjustment, but just turning the collar to dial in a different point on the spray gun to fine brush continuum repeatably is great for newbies. And frankly, for £90, it's pretty good value for money as a starter airbrush that'll last you the next 20 years...

best,

M.

Edited Friday at 05:51 PM by Matt Bacon

[Bainford]

51 minutes ago, Matt Bacon said:

I must admit, I've never really understood why they are called "single action" and "dual action". In one, either the paint's spraying or it's not. In the other you have control over how much paint is spraying. I've never come across a brush where you can actually modulate the amount of air flowing AND the amount of paint with the trigger. In a "single action" brush it's effectively an on-off switch, and in a dual action brush it's a volume control. There are "preset" mods which effectively turn your dual action brush into a single action, or put a limiter on how far you can pull back the trigger which stops you turning it up to more than four, for example. And I think the answer to your "ideal" @Bainford is the new Harder and Steenbeck "Ultra 2024":

https://www.everythingairbrush.com/product/harder-steenbeck-ultra-2024-airbrush/

It sports a clever "preset" system with locked in settings for six stages of painting from priming through to the finest highlights. Nothing you couldn't do with a regular preset handle with infinite adjustment, but just turning the collar to dial in a different point on the spray gun to fine brush continuum repeatably is great for newbies. And frankly, for £90, it's pretty good value for money as a starter airbrush that'll last you the next 20 years...

best,

M.

Matt, that is indeed a fine looking airbrush. Well designed pre-set trigger adjustments make dual-action airbrush use as simple as a single-action. Five years ago I bought the Harder & Steenbeck Infinity CR, the most lovely airbrush I have ever held in my hand. It atomizes exceptionally well and lays paint down beautifully. It has a trigger pre-set feature as well, though appears somewhat different than the Ultra 2024. Nonetheless, I find it easy to use. Though it has more adjustability than my old Badger, with the clever trigger pre-set function, it is no more difficult to use. In some ways, it is easier.

[Bugatti Fan]

The Harder as Steenbeck 2024 looks like a brilliant high quality airbrush and not overly expensive either.  German engineering at its best.

Paul Fitzmaurice's Little Tools who used to do the UK model show circuit normally had some H&S Airbrushes rigged up for demo on his stand and remember them being very good but also expensive. This new H&S 2024 Airbrush will be a good more affordable instrument now added to the range.

I can see many buying this airbrush probably using it for life if it is a first time purchase.

 

[NOBLNG]

Anyone tried this brand?🤣🤣🤣

[Keef]

Since we’re speaking on airbrushes, my wife got me a paint booth for my birthday last month so I wouldn’t “keep opening and closing the garage door” everytime I went outside to paint something.

I was looking on Amazon for a good compressor and airbrush to start using and have narrowed it down to this setup. Anyone have any opinions or suggestions for a beginner?

[peteski]

Keith, I just want to mention that there is a thread with plethora of recommendations about getting your first airbrush and compressor.  It is a but overwhelming, but that is what happens every time this type of question is asked in a forum with thousands of members.

I had an older (and loud) compressor with a 4 gal., tank for some years but last year, on @Ace-Garageguy recommendation I bought at Harbor Freight a very quiet Fortress compressor with a 2 gal. tank.  Now that's the one I use.

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-gallon-135-psi-ultra-quiet-oil-free-hand-carry-jobsite-air-compressor-64596.html  I bought it around last Christmas and it was on sale.

[Bainford]

2 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Anyone tried this brand?🤣🤣🤣

That's my planned upgrade once my Aztec wears out.

[Rodent]

Since you are painting in your garage......

This is my garage compressor, a 4.6 gallon Husky that I bought used from a colleague. It is very quiet, airs up the car and bicycle tires nicely. Has enough capacity to use a blow gun. Oh, yeah...it is very quiet.

I have an airbrush hose with a pressure regulator and two water traps that attaches to the standard air hose. It works well, and I can "open the garage door" and paint on the driveway if I want to. I don't have a paint booth.