Air brush recommendations

Paasche H model. Easy to use and clean.  Makes a great first airbrush. Usually can be had on Amazon for less than $70.00.

I second Dave's recommendation. I love mine. Easy to use/easy to clean. I think I paid about $70 for mine. Get a compressor with a moisture trap -- it'll make your life a whole lot easier. I got a Pasche model D300R compressor as it was complete with a pressure regulator and moisture trap for about $160. I got it at a shop that sells airbrushing and tattoo shop supplies in Anahiem, CA several years ago.

A question about the use of air brushes.  I’ve seen vented spray booths as associated equipment for a spraying operation.  Is this something required for air brushing?  I’d like to try air brushing but I don’t have a place for a vented operation.  I could fashion a booth but it’s the venting that’s the challenge.   Your thoughts would be appreciated.  Thanks,

Bob

I do have a spray booth vented outside. At the time I used a lot of Flouquil and later Scalecoat 1 paints that are both solvent based. I paint with acrylics also that are water based. I use the booth because it’s there. I think as long as your in a decent sized area and stick with the water based acrylics your probably fine. Wouldn’t hurt to wear a good quality mask. 3M makes a good one with replaceable cartridges. I painted all the rails years ago to weather them with no issues out in the layout room.

Thank you Dave.

The wife does the Amazon thing so I will look into it.

Harold

@Bob Golfs posted:

A question about the use of air brushes.  I’ve seen vented spray booths as associated equipment for a spraying operation.  Is this something required for air brushing?  I’d like to try air brushing but I don’t have a place for a vented operation.  I could fashion a booth but it’s the venting that’s the challenge.   Your thoughts would be appreciated.  Thanks,

Bob

Bob, I’ve wondered the same thing. If I’m going to spray paint my track then I guess as long as I have a quality mask on I’m ok?

Rod, always wear a paint mask designed for painting. As stated above 3M makes a nice one. No matter what type of paint you use, even acrylic, there are paint fumes in the air, and you don’t want to breathe these in. You can see it in the air as you paint, although it’s light, so the mask does it’s job.

Thanks guys!  Appreciate the advice!

I was lucky enough to find the large (compatible with O scale) Pasche Spray booth on eBay right after I got the compressor. It's out of production and it cost me about $300. At the club, we constructed one inside a steel shelf (boards and an exhaust fan to outside the building). You definitely want one if you can get/make one to keep dust off your model and direct the fumes elsewhere.

Also, as Jeff said, it's a good idea to wear a mask, especially if you're working indoors. You can make a turntable from a lazy susan base (available from Home Depot and other place) so you can turn your model easily while painting without handling it. Get some nitrile gloves, too.

For the booth, I splurged a little and got one of these:

https://www.pacepaintbooth.com/24-inch-mini-plus/

I find I use it for a lot besides paint: I like to be under the hood when I work with solvents, or even chalk (nothing like a snoot full of powdered chalk, bleh!) The fan seems to push plenty of air.