a quick note on paint guns, airbrushes and compressors.

I highly recommend using a HVLP paint gun for primer, large area base coats and clear coats. The big advantage of the hvlp gun is less over-spray, less product use and ease of use. The price range of is less than $50 for a HVLP gun from an on-line retailer like harbor freight to a high end professional gun like the Sata MiniJet. I use the Sata Minijet 4 in my shop along with the Sata micro air regulator - that's a $400 investment but it can shoot color and clear coats with a glass like gloss. Regardless of hvlp gun you use it's important to get an air regulator that installs on the grip of the gun. You want to run the gun with as little air pressure as possible to prevent as much over-spray as possible.


For airbrushes again there is a price range of about $50 for a low end Badger- to $100 mid priced Iwata - to $300-$400 for a top end professional Iwata or Peak. Most builders will do fine with something in the $100 or less price range - The Iwata Eclipse is a great choice - I prefer gravity feed but most airbrushes are available in side and bottom feed configurations. I am shooting the Kustom Iwata CS, Peak Mojo and Moflo Airbrushes.

These are available from:

http://bearair.com/

http://dixieart.com/

http://www.learnairbrushstore.com/


Compressors come in a wide range of pricing and usage - Get what you can afford and don't skimp here as there are a million uses in your shop for compressed air. The Iwata PowerJet is a great choice http://dixieart.com/Iwata_Power_Jet_Air_Compressor.html - but a bit pricey. I also use a 26 gallon upright shop compressor, drives my hvlp guns, airbrushes, and 3" pneumatic buffer. I think I paid less than $200 for the unit.