Malynor Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 Michaels normally runs a 40%-50% off one item coupon here, once or twice a month. However, even with the coupon, prices at Michaels don't really compare with what I can find elsewhere -- They're an emergency place for me to go when I need something generic, when I'm willing to pay the extra so I don't have to wait for something to come on order. (anything I order usually takes 3-5 days if I order Canadian, or ~10 days from the US) I did look online for them, but the Canadian Michaels site is full of turds and doesn't let you see most of the stock, or any of the prices. There's no airbrushes or compressors online; while I know that the local store does have a tiny section of airbrushes/accessories, most of it is special order only cards though (a hook with a card on it with a price and a picture of an airbrush/compressor - and they'll order it in for you). Last time I asked about them (probably a year or so ago now) no one on staff knew anything about them, and I wasn't going to entrust that type of money into something from Michaels without knowing more aboot it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leader of the Rats Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 WHy not just use the cans of compressed air you can buy at hobby stores? I used them before to paint a skull on a friends motorcycle tank and it seemed to work pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qwyksilver Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Cost. Over time, the cost of those cans adds up. Plus all the extra waste. Plus, as a can run out of air, the pressure starts to drop. Yes, it is manageable, but if you're going to be airbrushing a lot, some sort of compressor makes sense. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EngineerJeff Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Ugh.. I can tell you from experience that those small cheap compressors (pancake style) will work fine for airbrushing if you've got a good regulator, but man-o-man are they noisy! I used my Craftsman compressor for airbrushing,(and for airing up tires, other chores), for over 10 years and finally made the jump to the Badger 910 a couple years ago. I wish I had invested in a good airbrush compressor years earlier! I still use my pancake compressor, but now it stays in the garage and the noise doesn't bother me as much! I stayed away from those cans of air. I feel they are waste of money I did a video review of my Badger 910 a couple years ago. This baby is nice and quiet! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg of Coot Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I still stand by my decision to switch over to a CO2 tank. Much cheaper to buy than a hobby compressor. Totally silent. Lasts a LOOONNNGGG time. Inexpensive to re-charge. The Egg 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
czebas Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) I still stand by my decision to switch over to a CO2 tank. Much cheaper to buy than a hobby compressor. Totally silent. Lasts a LOOONNNGGG time. Inexpensive to re-charge. The Egg If it works by all means. I bought an oil lubed silentaire and its tremendous. But I work late at night and I seem to only get the itch to airbrush at zero dark thirty. I had a GMC 6310 syclone for awhile and it wasn't silent but it quiet enough had a 6 gallon tank. I most recently bought a rolair jc-10 before my silentaire and it was serviceable but tended to vibrate. I bought a badger 910 at michaels and it wasn't too noisy but it... wait for it... leaked like a pig that had gotten into the refried bean patch. Edited October 27, 2015 by czebas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishnjeeps Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I bought the Amazon compressor with tank and it works well enough. That said, it takes a long time to fill the tank and a short time to run the air low. Once I start airbrushing, the compressor will stay running the entire time as though the tank isn't there. Also, something to keep in mind is that the quick disconnects are interchangeable mostly. A badger end will fit into an Iwata end. You really just need one for your hose then get a male end that fits each airbrush. The only difference between the various brands are the thread size to connect it to the hose or airbrush. Hopefully that makes sense. I can try to take pics later if its confusing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knarthex Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Ugh.. I can tell you from experience that those small cheap compressors (pancake style) will work fine for airbrushing if you've got a good regulator, but man-o-man are they noisy! I used my Craftsman compressor for airbrushing,(and for airing up tires, other chores), for over 10 years and finally made the jump to the Badger 910 a couple years ago. I wish I had invested in a good airbrush compressor years earlier! I still use my pancake compressor, but now it stays in the garage and the noise doesn't bother me as much! I stayed away from those cans of air. I feel they are waste of money I did a video review of my Badger 910 a couple years ago. This baby is nice and quiet! Thanks for the review! Led me to some others that were useful as well. The Campbell Hausfeld I use is great, but loud.... George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazylich Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I still stand by my decision to switch over to a CO2 tank. Much cheaper to buy than a hobby compressor. Totally silent. Lasts a LOOONNNGGG time. Inexpensive to re-charge. I would have done this, but I know myself: I would have happily airbrushed away until the tank emptied, and then it would take me frustrating weeks to get around to getting the thing refilled. So, I bought a Sparmax (with a small tank on it, so it doesn't run continuously) and have been happy with it - it doesn't make more noise than a TV, vacuum, or neighbors grandchildren. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malynor Posted November 2, 2015 Author Share Posted November 2, 2015 So the compressor arrived on Wednesday, and the airbrush on Friday. Looks pretty sharp: The airhose was still stuck in Ontario in customs limbo (it happens from time to time that somethings take more than the normal 2-3 day delay that customs puts on something), and I was starting to think that the Nov. 4th expected delivery date was optimistic. Until I checked the tracking this morning: Hopefully I'll be airbrushing away tonight... or at least learning what not to do when airbrushing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knarthex Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 I was chicken when I first got mine, sprayed a lot of water onto newspaper to see what psi was good, how far from the surface I should be, where to start and stop the airflow and the paint. I then did it with Blue Windex, as I could see it a little better. Then, and only then, (ABOUT 2 WEEKS Of fiddling), did I finally use paint. I thinned a paint that I almost never use, and started on some more newspaper. I did the same distance / psi tests until I was comfortable, then I base coated some minis. So good luck with your brush! And if you run into problems, we are here! George 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willen Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 I run into a lot of newbie problems. I am happy to think I am an ok airbrusher now, so ask away. I even filmed some noob instructional videos that I never got around to editing. But again, ask, here, by PM, whatever, always glad to be useful. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisler Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 I was chicken when I first got mine, sprayed a lot of water onto newspaper to see what psi was good, how far from the surface I should be, where to start and stop the airflow and the paint. I then did it with Blue Windex, as I could see it a little better. Then, and only then, (ABOUT 2 WEEKS Of fiddling), did I finally use paint. I thinned a paint that I almost never use, and started on some more newspaper. I did the same distance / psi tests until I was comfortable, then I base coated some minis. So good luck with your brush! And if you run into problems, we are here! George Holy Cow! Just put some paint in there and go. Start at 50;50 and try it out. If it clogs, clean it out you have to learn that skill anyway! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissMelons Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 :( /stares at airbrush set up But its so scary!!!!!!!!!!! I've an army I plan to use it on. Several armies actually. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisler Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 :( /stares at airbrush set up But its so scary!!!!!!!!!!! I've an army I plan to use it on. Several armies actually. Its not scary, its a brush. It makes a little noise. You can't really determine the right PSI using just water anyway, its to thin, it beads. You can practice all you want but you need to practice with paint. Get some pre-mixed stuff from Hobby Lobby, Michaels, your local FLGS. Badger has pre-mixed paints that work great right out of the bottle and they are big bottles. The craft stores usually have the paint used on T-shirts, try that. Just don't let it sit there, you can't learn how to use it if you don't turn it on and shoot some paint with it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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