3D Printing Forum

I've been thinking to buy an airbrush for a while.
I currently have nothing yet: no compressor, no accessoires.
I was wondering: What should I look for?
What are the caveats etc.

I don't need the "extra pro" stuff but I'd like to avoid the cheap stuff as well, just good material for occasional use.

I'm kind of in the same boat

I have been looking at this one. It does require that you have a compressor, which I have. Unless you go for a kit, but then the price goes up.
http://airbrushshop.daveart.com/neo-for ... brush.html

It seems to get good reviews when I have looked around, and it is also sold by the guy who makes all those awesome masks for all the goalies (so what could be wrong?). And I noticed today that they are 15% off

But I also looked at this one. It comes complete with a small compressor. It is slightly cheaper than the Iwata but comes with a compressor also.
http://www.revell.de/en/products/airbru ... 39199.html

Both of them would probably be good enough for me to start with. But whenever I look at airbrushes I always tend to come back the the "cheap" Iwata model. Maybe that is a sign that I should by that one

Here is my input, as occasional user -- I used it mainly for RC car bodies, sometimes for 3D print when I don't have the right color to print with ans some other occasions. I am definitely not a specialist...

You need to look for a 'double action' airbrush -- that is: where you can control the air flow and the paint flow separately.
You also probably want to select a 'brand product', as you will need spare parts (needle, sealing, ...) and if you have a 'white label' product you will be out of luck (Some brands: Paasche, Iwata, Badger, ...)
I have an old, classic and relatively cheap Badger 150 -- this is all I need for my occasional uses.

Compressor is a bit tricky as a good/silent compressor might be expensive. The point is that you need a constant air flow, cheap compressor don't have an air tank and can't provide stable pressure. I don't have a recommendation here, I just have an household compressor with a 25l air tank that I use for other duties and which works perfectly for the airbrush. The only downside is the size and the noise, but again for what I do it is more than enough.

Accessories: the only thing I have is a moisture filter...

I read somewhere that you can't just use any compressor as it needs to have special requirements pressure wise etc? IIRC a regular one blows way too hard for an airbrush. Any ideas there?

Put a regulator before the airbrush. I would also second the need for a tank.

You definitely need to be able to control pressure, but most compressors have a regulator (If you buy one, just check that you can operate in 2-5 bar / 30-70 psi range)

If you use a compressor you want to watch out for moisture. I bought a Testors brand airbrush and used my 35 gallon air compressor (loud!) for the project I was working on

Yup, a regulator that also takes care of moisture, or a separate moisture filter, is a must.

And as Phil said, avoid the non-branded models. I bought one when I was young and spare parts was non-existent