Harbor Freight $10 airbrush

[John]

This video showed up in my feed today -- I've been researching air brushes ..  could be a useful tool for things like weathering track, or spraying cheap acrylics .. 


https://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools-compressors/air-spray-guns/air-brushes-kits/quick-change-airbrush-kit-93506.html

[mu26aeh]

I've never had much luck with the siphon feed air brushes but hey, $10 ?  Wouldn't be the world if it didn't work well

[dem34]

If you're just dipping your toes go for it. Though with weathering thats usually the point where the value of a Dual Action airbrush comes in since you want finer color control for that.

[peteski]

John,
That "airbrush" is basically a toy.  It is just like the old perfume atomizers women used to apply perfume. Only thing going for it is ease of cleaning (since all the parts are exposed).

Yes, it will spray paint, but you don't have much control over the process. Similar to what you get with a spray can nozzle.  And as others have mentioned, to do weathering it is really beneficial to use dual action (internal mix) airbrush.  There should be many fairly affordable airbrushes like that available.  Also remember that you also need a source of pressure controlled clean and dry compressed air.

I don't really weather, so I have been happily using my Badger model 200 for probably over 30 years.  But few years ago, there was a blowout sale at Michaels, and I got a bargain on a dual action airbrush. Still in a box - I have not used it yet.  But I have used dual action airbrushes at friend's house while working on his layout.  Yes, I did some weathering with it. 

[sizemore]

It would work "OK" for large format stuff based on the spray pattern. How much paint it puts out will be your biggest issue, it's a lesser equivalent to a spray bomb, even with cheap acrylics. However, most low dollar single-action airbrushes are, until you get into the detail brushes or super high-end stuff.

For a dollar less you can get HF "clone" of the Badger 350 (https://www.harborfreight.com/34-and-3-oz-airbrush-kit-62294.html) which might give you better control of the spray pattern and amount of paint. If you wanted to cut your teeth on airbrushing in general, HF "clone" of a Badger Anthem or 150 (https://www.harborfreight.com/deluxe-airbrush-kit-95810.html) would allow you to paint track and smaller items like shells for a few rounds. It would give you enough control to get a decent finish, and last long enough to learn before it fails.

The largest problem with both "clones" is that they aren't completely interchangeable with Badger parts or fittings. At the price point its cheaper to replace than to maintain. Once you buy two or three of them, you're right in the line of the mid-grade Badger or Paache brushes.

Most paint guys will recommend a dual-action, internal mix, syphon or gravity feed airbrush for ideal control and paint flow for all areas of paintwork whether large format or small format (detail work). You'll get the Ford and Chevy debate between Badger and Paache. And they'll fit into two categories, Badger Anthem/150 or Paache MIL/TS/VL series brush. Both are roughly the same, and feature fine, medium and large spray heads. Biggest issue with the 150 is the new versions lack the flow adjustment screw, I believe the Paache TS is in the same boat. Biggest issue with both is keeping them clean and replace any worn seals or heads.

HTH,
The S.

[peteski]

. . .
 Biggest issue with both is keeping them clean and replace any worn seals or heads.

HTH,
The S.

I don't find cleaning my (siphon-fed internal mix Badger 200) airbrush much of a chore.  Here is my cleaning procedure:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=41067.msg511017#msg511017
My cleaning procedure does such a good job keeping it clean that I only take my airbrush apart for a deep cleaning about once a year.
At that point I replace only one seal: the one inside the spray head.  It is made of Teflon and once compressed (when the head is tightened) it will not spring back to original size.  The other seal is the needle seal. It is also teflon and I dont' think I ever replaced it.
There have been multiple (what airbrush to choose) threads on TRW. Here's one:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=46070.0

[Chris333]

3 pipette Pete 

[peteski]

3 pipette Pete 

That's me! 

[nkalanaga]

Scenery work?  I cab see using it for coloring and weathering rock castings, or ballast, tinting ground cover, etc.  Jobs where you want to cover an area, and perfectly even paint isn't needed.

[John]

I don't plan on getting one -- I have an older siphon feed already that I got a long time ago and don't use .. I'm looking at picking up an Iwata

[JeffB]

I don't find cleaning my (siphon-fed internal mix Badger 200) airbrush much of a chore.

Same here...  I have the Badger "Patriot" 105 and I don't have a problem cleaning it.  I don't understand the issue some modelers make of it frankly. 

I got back into airbrushing after a 3 decade long hiatus (did a lot of it in my younger model building years) last year.  Couldn't find my old Badger 200, so I bought the 105 on clearance, taking a chance that I'd be rather clumsy with a dual action airbrush.

Anyway...  Regarding airbrushes.  I suppose there's two schools of thought on getting into air brushing.  The first would be to minimize the investment and buy cheap tools (like any HF purchase).  The second being to find a deal on a decent tool and go from there.

IMO (which isn't worth a lot), the first option (cheap) leads to frustration and will likely turn the new user away from that skill (in this case airbrushing).  If you continually fail at trying to use the tool, you know it's cheap, but with that comes with the uncertainty that you're unsure if it's your inability to master the skill, or your equipment sucks.

The second...  Buying and learning on something that's half decent to begin with will give the new user a better chance of success and learning the skill.  Plus you have the fact that you generally won't question the tools you're using (i.e. are they the problem?).

Airbrushing is a great skill to have for any model builder...  While spray cans (the nozzles and perhaps the paint itself) have come a long way in the last 20-30yrs (the rattle can primers from Rustoleum and Krylon are particularly good), you still can't beat the fine application you get from an airbrush.  They're also a must for weathering, though you could probably get by with brush applied washes, filters and the like.

Spare yourself the grief of using low quality tools and try to find a deal on a half decent airbrush.

JB

[amato1969]

+1 on the Badger 105!  I use it with fine or extra fine needle for most all N scale work.   It is super reliable and very easy to clean.

I also have a 25 year old Paasche H (single action) that is great for larger jobs, but really needs to be taken apart after a paint session.

  Frank

[thomasjmdavis]

Next time I'm in the vicinity of the local Harbor Freight, I will stop in and pick one of these up.

I may be in the minority here, but I'm all in favor of having several similar tools, and using them for specific things. I have a Paasche VL, with several sizes of heads and needles, that I use for most of my painting. I can't imagine that this little gadget from Harbor Freight will replace it. But that said, I also had a cheap Testors plastic airbrush that I used for jobs like spraying "soot" around my urban areas, and mud on trucks- and it's worn out and needs replacement. I can see the the ability to have 5 colors available in clip on bottles when working on scenery or weathering to be a big time saver. Easily worth the $10. And if I need to replace it in a couple years, it won't break the bank.

The one word of caution I would have is that while in my experience, a high quality airbrush can be pretty forgiving if accidentally attached to too much pressure (and don't try that at home on purpose), I would be really careful not to do that with a $10 cheapie.

[sizemore]

I don't plan on getting one -- I have an older siphon feed already that I got a long time ago and don't use .. I'm looking at picking up an Iwata

Jealous.

The S.

[Chris333]

My airbrush is almost 30 years old now.