To begin airbrushing, you need to purchase an airbrush, an air source (like a compressor), and applicable airbrush paint. The wide selection of airbrushes can easily overwhelm beginners who are unfamiliar with terms like “double-action internal mix” or “single-action.” By doing a bit of research, you can find an airbrush that perfectly fits your artistic needs.
Understanding the Airbrush System
Before buying, it’s crucial to understand the different parts of an airbrush system:
The Airbrush: The handheld tool itself.
Air Hose: Connects the airbrush to the air compressor.
Air Compressor: Controls the air pressure supplied to the airbrush.
Nozzle: Located at the tip of the airbrush, it directs the flow of air and paint.
Needle: Works in conjunction with the nozzle to control paint flow.
Nozzle and Needle Sizes: These come in different sizes depending on the paint application.
Fine Nozzles (0.15mm to 0.3mm): Emit less paint, ideal for very fine detail work (e.g., commercial illustrations).
Wider Nozzles (0.35mm to 0.6mm): Release more paint over a larger area, suitable for broader coverage (e.g., murals).
Airbrush Types
All airbrushes use either a single-action or double-action air/fluid control mechanism. Choosing the right one is a matter of personal preference and the intended application.
Single-Action Airbrush
Control: Simple; pushing the trigger down simultaneously sprays paint and air. The amount of paint is typically controlled by a separate knob near the tip.
Mix: Often called an external mix airbrush because air and paint mix in front of the needle.
Pros: Great for beginners due to ease of control and maintenance; less complex and generally lower cost. Ideal for coverage rather than extreme precision.
Cons: Not as precise as a double-action airbrush.
Double-Action Airbrush
Control: More complex but offers greater control.
Pushing the trigger down controls airflow.
Pulling the trigger back controls paint flow; pulling further back increases paint volume and widens the spray pattern.
Mix: Called an internal mix airbrush because air and paint are mixed behind the needle.
Pros: Ability to shape and craft very fine lines; chosen by freehand artists and t-shirt artists for added precision.
Cons: More expensive than single-action types and more difficult to master due to full control over paint flow.
Airbrush Feeds
The airbrush feed mechanism refers to how paint is supplied to and mixed with the air. The main difference between these methods is the capacity and how easily colors can be changed.
Gravity-Feed
Design: Has a color cup on top of the airbrush.
Mechanism: Uses gravity to supply paint.
Capacity: The cup is typically fixed, though some models have interchangeable screw-on cups for larger volumes.
Application: Generally used for fine to medium detail work with nozzle sizes ranging from 0.15mm to 0.4mm.
Suction-Feed
Design: Uses a bottle attached underneath the airbrush.
Mechanism: Air pressure from the compressor siphons the paint out of the bottle and mixes it with the airflow.
Capacity: Ideal for artists who need to quickly change between different colors by swapping bottles.
Application: Ideal for larger area coverage with nozzle sizes ranging from 0.35mm to 0.6mm.
Side-Feed
Design: Features either a gravity cup or suction feed bottle that connects to the side of the airbrush.
Mechanism: Combines aspects of both gravity and suction feeds.
Versatility: The cup or bottle can be rotated 360 degrees and locked into position, making them ideal for airbrush artists working at difficult or extreme angles.
Budget vs. Branded Airbrushes
The simple answer to which quality airbrush to choose is: buy the best airbrush you can afford.
Finespray (Budget) Airbrushes
Value: Offer good value for money for those on a budget.
Purpose: Allow beginners to “test the water” with airbrushing before investing in a higher-performance model.
Limitations: Generally have restricted spare parts availability. Often use rubber internal o-rings suitable only for water-based paints, as solvents can degrade them, leading to air leaks.
Branded Airbrushes (e.g., Gaahleri and Harder & Steenbeck)
Quality: Leaders in their field, producing top-quality airbrushes for all budgets.
Precision: Tighter machining tolerances result in more consistent and repeatable results.
Support: Full range of spares available and a wide array of accessories to alter airbrush performance.
Compatibility: Many branded airbrushes use PTFE (Teflon) nozzle o-rings, making them suitable for use with both water and solvent-based paints.
Our Advice: Buy an airbrush that best suits your intended application. Budget airbrushes are useful for beginners to try airbrushing before committing to a more expensive model.
