Air Brush Paint

Here's another newbie question. My compressor does not have an adjustable pressure, and doesn't have a PSI guage, so I don't know if it would have low enough pressure to use Graftobian? The pressure feels comfortable to use on skin, and I have experimented using distilled water over skin surfaces to be sure. I probably wouldn't want to use it for foundation, but I can get pretty fine lines.

You can get an intermediate pressure control. But I think pressure control is really a must one way or another.

yes a controler is very important ... some paints wount spray right at a low pressure and you dont want to go over lik maybe 30 psi due to air in blood not saying it will but you never want to find out the hard way i never spray over 30 on skin usally 20 for the paint i use

Hmmm... I've got 3 iwata airbrushes in the basement and a compressor. Interesting idea. With a good cleaning this might be another thing to try.

I posted elsewhere the same question but seeing as some of you know about airbrushing I though I'd ask here too.
I am really keen to buy a near new airbrush system..It is a SoDu XL2000 airbrush system with a TC5000 compressor..Dont want to buy a dud first off...Can anyone help...Have you seen them..heard about them..Any good?? Please and thankyou..

I did a quick search and that said that it was $2,000- is that right? That seems crazy high

I would say buying a good single air brush and good compressore with hoses should run you under $500. If you get a co2 tank and forgo the compressor (My preference) it would be like $300. I SWEAR by Iwata but do make sure the nozles are at least .5 for face and body painting.

The guy bought it new for $1,200 and is selling for $500..They were going to start a temp tattoo business..Not sure what happened..but I thought $500 sounded good to me...
What is a co2 tank?

Compressed CO2 in a tank. Typically used by restaurants for making carbonated drinks.

Regulating your air pressure is very important in airbrushing if you are using air or co2 (gas). In order to control the varied weights of the makeup of paint product you are using combined with the type of airbrush, and for rendering certain effects you have to control airflow.

In re to ABA Airbrush Body Art - given you are in Australia and they are based there use it. Many of the long time airbrush tattoo and body painters used and have been happy with ABA for years. Here in the USA we have experienced supply issues, causing many to do to EBA, but those who can get it will use it.

Iwata Eclipse ($140 if you shop around) CO2 tank ($199 Maybe less) Regulator ($70) LEaves you $100 for product... There are cheaper brushes, and cheap compressors as alternative to co2.

Those are ONLY my preferences.

Dickblick.com is one of my favorite companies, often have free shipping or discounts for certain $ amounts, and stock a good collection of airbrushes.

Five hundred will just barely get you started so...

Actually with only $500 I am suggesting in my classes for students with limited budgets to look at the new Iwata Neo's. They are made for spraying at less pressure than the Eclipse and other models. Therefore they are less heavy duty. For face art and tattoos you do not need an airbrush to handle 70 psi - hence the new Neo which works up to 40 psi. I have 21 Eclipses and 1 revolution, and now 3 Neo's. I will be adding at least a dozen more brushes this month which will be Neos and/or EBA brushes.

Check out coastairbrush .com and trendytribals.com who both have Eclipse BCS's for less than $100. Coast has the Neos at $60.

Still you need at the minimum hoses, manifold, an airbrush holder, bottles adapters, compressor ($200) and or Co2 (buy or rent cylinder) and a Co2 regulator. I like the European Body Art regulator pricey at $140 but very nice. and hen you need makeups and stencils and rails/templates along with displays, carrying gear and a work station/table.

I was looking at the Neo and thinking of trying one. Are they any good? I REALLY like the drop in nozzle on the eclipse- the Neo and revolution nozzles are SOoooooooooooooo tiny.

Ahh the nozzles. Yes, those can be tricky if you don't keep one type of makeup running and keep them clean. One big reason I really prefer the Eclipes. If one can afford it I do highly recommend the Iwata Elcipes BCS.

Our small Neo's will get light use. One reason I'll go with the EBAs is they are Iwata knockoffs and I get a good price. And while those brushes can go for the long haul ours will go in a kit used for about three weeks out of the year during Grad season and then an occasion triple or quad booked summer day.

When I say one type of makeup I mean not going from airbrush alcohol based aka "inks" to water or hybrids aka "paints" I do consider a big difference between the varied hybrids and water base makeups. Switching between any brands or types without a nice clean brush can give you a pain in the neck.

In face and body painting the makeup is considered FX as opposed to beauty makeup which too may come in vibrant colors. So not all FX airbrush makeup is good for face painting or tattoos. Some is good for body art but not really face art. This has to do with the need to layer, color depth, and cost effectiveness.