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Looking for an airbrush that would handle bursts and clear on guitars. Any help appreciated. I would like to keep the airbrush at $100 plus shipping maximum. I have one of the bleeder style hobby compressors and also could bring one small tank compressor down to the basement shop if the tank is necessary. Thanks, Mike T.

I got a little HVLP gun (mini-size) at Princess Auto for somewhere in the $15-20 range. I bought a couple, because that's really cheap. They spray as well as anything else I've found in that range and you can't beat the price!

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

I am with Bob here a mini gun will be a better choice. and air brush will be a bit to small for anything other than spraying a burst and even then it will be very touch in distance and triger settings to be very consistant with. A Mini conventional or HVLP gun is a much beter choice I think.

Now all that said if you don't have acess to at least a 2hp compressor you will always have some lack of air issues. Small compressors also really build up moisture in the lines quickly so a good filter and water trap is key.

What media do you plan on spraying?

Mike, since you didn't mention HVLP you might look for a small conventional gun, also known as a "jamb" gun. And to overcome the small compressor issue, I (years ago) picked up a couple of empty freon tanks from an auto ac repairman, ganged them together, and made up a reservoir that my tiny compressor from a 1930's Nash-Kelvinator reefer could fill in about a half hour. Then I could spray for 5 - 10 minutes before taking another half hour break.

Dan

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Dan
http://www.acme-archtops.com

DeVilbiss 503 works for me.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Thanks you all for good leads.Mike T.

Speaking of airbrushes........
I use mine to spray aniline dye/alcohol solution for touchup work.
Anyone have any recommendations on how to prevent spitting when trying to do ultra fine areas?
I normally use a tiny bit of lacquer in with the solution to give better "stick" and perhaps the lacquer is too stiff?
Is an ultra-fine needle/nozzle the answer? I see some as small as 0.2MM.
How does one filter the material for something this fine?
Thanks
Nelson

First trigger pull in to a “snuff can” (a large can or oatmeal tube filled with tissue that is when most spits will accrue. So spray in to the can first then move to the work

the main cause of spit is not using the air on first and air off last rule. Allway start each spray with a momentary air only trigger move and exit with the same any you eliminate 90% of spitting at startup. What happens is if you do not apply air only first the media hits the mixing chamber to early and is not atomized properly . It then coats the inside of the mix chamber and when you start next time you have too much medial for the air flow.

(mix chamber) that resessd area where the air flow mets the media flow out side of the tip

Great info! Thank you.