Hello From Kentucky

[cnunn46]

New to the forum and wanted to introduce myself. My name is Cory and i'm 26 years old. I have been fishing since i was old enough to hold a rod and after looking at facebook pages of custom painted crankbaits i've been inspired to give it a try! I haven't ordered anything yet and would love to have any advice before i make a costly mistake. I don't have a ton of money to start so i'm just wanting a beginner grade airbrush. I found some airbrush/compressor kits on amazon for around $80. I know it most likely isn't the best quality airbrush but am curious as to if it will at least be enough to get me headed in the right direction? If not is there anywhere to find a good used one? I really appreciate all of the help and look forward to making some baits. Thanks

[mark poulson]

Cory,

Welcome to the Dark Side!

As for the airbrush kit, all I can say it, like fishing tackle, the more you pay, the better the equipment is.

Cheap air brushes (I own several) are not as well made, and can make painting very problematic.

If you are just starting, I don't want you to get discouraged because you can't get the results you want, and give up.

Buy a decent air brush, so that won't be a weak link in your system.  

Get a gravity fed brush, so it's easy to load and clean.

Learn to keep it clean all the time, not just once in a while.  The paint passages in an air brush are really small, and can get clogged up easily, making painting a nightmare.

A compressor with an air tank will let you paint with a consistent air pressure.  Cheap ones like from Harbor Freight are fine.

Get a longer hose, so you aren't constantly catching it on something and spilling paint.

Get a combination regulator and moisture separator to put inline before your air brush.  That way, your paint will stay clean, and you can adjust your air pressure.

Start with dedicated air brush paints, because they are meant to be shot through an air brush.

Practice on a piece of white cardboard, so you can see how the air brush works and sprays, and on a piece of PVC pipe, so you can get a feel for painting on a curved surface, which can be wiped off after each practice session.

Then go for it!

[cnunn46]

Cory,

Welcome to the Dark Side!

As for the airbrush kit, all I can say it, like fishing tackle, the more you pay, the better the equipment is.

Cheap air brushes (I own several) are not as well made, and can make painting very problematic.

If you are just starting, I don't want you to get discouraged because you can't get the results you want, and give up.

Buy a decent air brush, so that won't be a weak link in your system.  

Get a gravity fed brush, so it's easy to load and clean.

Learn to keep it clean all the time, not just once in a while.  The paint passages in an air brush are really small, and can get clogged up easily, making painting a nightmare.

A compressor with an air tank will let you paint with a consistent air pressure.  Cheap ones like from Harbor Freight are fine.

Get a longer hose, so you aren't constantly catching it on something and spilling paint.

Get a combination regulator and moisture separator to put inline before your air brush.  That way, your paint will stay clean, and you can adjust your air pressure.

Start with dedicated air brush paints, because they are meant to be shot through an air brush.

Practice on a piece of white cardboard, so you can see how the air brush works and sprays, and on a piece of PVC pipe, so you can get a feel for painting on a curved surface, which can be wiped off after each practice session.

Then go for it!

Thanks for the help! So you said I could get the compressor from harbor freight. Could I get the hose, combination regulator and moisture separator from there also?

[Bois d'Arc]

Started out buying a kit from TCP global for small $.  Switched to Paasche airbrushes and used a standard air compressor from Husqvarna (loud) for a while.  Ended up with a Senko compressor (very quiet, wife loves me again) and Iwata airbrushes.  Its a progression that I think most lure folks go thru.  If I could redo everything I'd probably just grit my teeth and pay $$ for a kit from Iwata. 

[cnunn46]

alright so i need to get a iwata gravity fed air brush. as far as compressors go.... i would like to stay under $200 for a complete kit. what would be my best bet for a quiet compressor? what is the lowest psi capacity compressor i should go with? 

[RayburnGuy]

Hi Cory,

 

Welcome to TU.

 

If you have a Hobby Lobby close to you they carry Iwata airbrushes as well as some of the more popular brands of airbrush paint. Print out their 40% off coupon and you can get a good deal on a great airbrush. Paints that are made for airbrushes have the pigment ground to a much smaller particle size than craft paints. This allows them to be shot easily through an airbrush.

 

The search feature located at the top right corner of the page can be your best friend when your just starting out. Pretty much anything you can ask has been asked and answered numerous times and all this information is stored in the archives. If you run up on something you can't find, or don't understand, don't hesitate to ask. More than a few of us have learned everything we know about building lures right here at TU.

 

good luck,

 

Ben

Edited April 5, 2016 by RayburnGuy

[cnunn46]

Hi Cory,

 

Welcome to TU.

 

If you have a Hobby Lobby close to you they carry Iwata airbrushes as well as some of the more popular brands of airbrush paint. Print out their 40% off coupon and you can get a good deal on a great airbrush. Paints that are made for airbrushes have the pigment ground to a much smaller particle size than craft paints. This allows them to be shot easily through an airbrush.

 

The search feature located at the top right corner of the page can be your best friend when your just starting out. Pretty much anything you can ask has been asked and answered numerous times and all this information is stored in the archives. If you run up on something you can't find, or don't understand, don't hesitate to ask. More than a few of us have learned everything we know about building lures right here at TU.

 

good luck,

 

Ben

Thanks. I'm 100% new to this and probably the worst artist on this earth but I thought it would be cool to learn something new and throw baits at a fish that they've never seen before. I really appreciate the help

[aulrich]

It's pretty straight forward to paint a fishable bait especially if you are painting premade blanks(carving your own baits adds some complexity to the learning curve). The basic stuff does not take a lot artistry, though the sky is the limit and if you are prepared to take the time who knows. In general people are way more creative than they think they are.

The University of YouTube is your friend there are a number of good tutorials out there.

[cnunn46]

yeah, i've already watched my fair share of youtube videos. i feel like i'm going to start off with easier patterns like black back and silver body or blue, silver. Or solid body and a different color back and solid body with a splatter back. Do you guys find it harder to paint a bait with rounded sides like a wiggle wart or flat sides like a spro little john? 

[AZ Fisher]

Hey Cory, I also did the TPC Global from Fleabay. Stuff worked okay at first but it dosen't take long to figure out I wish I bought good stuff to begin with. If I had it to do over I would buy a Iwata Revolution brush and high quality quiet air brush compressor. These are not cheap, but that's what I would do now. Right now I am using an Iwata Neo from Hobby Lobby, about 50$ with the 40% off coupon and a $50 Harbor Freight general purpose compressor THAT IS VERY LOUD!!! If I totaled what I spent to get to this point I could have bought the good stuff to begin with.

  Once you get started and catch a fish on a bait you painted, well, there's just no turning back. You're done. Hooked! It's just like a drug. Before long you'll be watching every Youtube vid for airbrush tricks. You start noticing how bad alot of production are painted and really appreciate a high quality job. Bait color combinations are everywhere you look.  You'll start getting on wait lists for new lure blanks that are coming out. You'll be standing in a store somewhere and see something that would make a great scale stencil, I wander away from the girlfriend all the time. I had the GF approach a younger gal about where she got a comb that she had. The comb had really cool curved tines that made a good stencil. She asked me one time,"Would you like a balloon too?"  I'm standing there like a dumb ass, staring at this kids mylar balloon, wondering to myself if I could cut it up and foil a bunch of baits with it, then paint them. I just get "The look" now. I'm telling you it's like a sickness. I started out watching Dakota Lakes vids on the Tube and now I'm painting $$$ swimbaits off Ebay and custom work for buddies. Everyone above had great advice, the search function and Youtube will get you a long way. Like Mark said,"Welcome to the Dark Side!". The most important thing is to have fun!!

[BobP]

Tool compressors are very loud but most have air storage tanks that keep them turned off for fairly long periods.  I use a 6 gal 135 psi compressor and it cycles on about twice during an afternoon painting session.  Definitely wouldn't want it inside the house!  Airbrush compressors are much smaller and quieter but not noiseless and they run all the time you are shooting paint.  I've had a couple of them and recommend buying one that advertises at least 45 psi.  The advertised psi on airbrush compressors is typically the maximum pressure it can produce.  A moment after you pull the trigger on your airbrush, the pressure cycles down to about half the rated psi of the compressor - and that's what you'll end up shooting continuously.  Personally, I want at least 20 psi continuous for some of the paints I shoot and when cleaning out the brush between color changes.  That's not to say that a Chinese 30 psi compressor that shoots 15 psi continuously can't be used to paint crankbaits.  It can, but you'll need to walk a careful line between thinning your paints enough and getting the paint effects you want.  Frankly, I just prefer to blast away at higher pressure and avoid the thinning hassles.  It's like, yes, you can put a 4 cylinder motor in a muscle car.  But bigger and faster is always better, even if it's sometimes too much.

[cnunn46]

You guys have me chomping at the bit to get started! I really appreciate everything and I only have two more questions. After searching I couldn't find anything on these topics. What size of pvc should I practice on? And I have a soon to be 8 month old son and was curious if painting in a spare bedroom was harmful to him? I know a gun that small wouldn't put out much fumes but his safety comes before these baits. If there would be to much fumes would a simple exhaust fan be enough? I really don't want to do it in my garden due to the fact of it getting so cold in the winter and so hot in the summer.

[RayburnGuy]

It's like, yes, you can put a 4 cylinder motor in a muscle car.  But bigger and faster is always better, even if it's sometimes too much.

 

For those of you who didn't know, Bob was Tim "More Power" Taylor in a past life.

 

Ben

[tendelta]

Paint fumes are a big health concern to every in the house, lots of preventive measures must be in place. You can do a search of airbrushing  here, you will find a great deal of information and advise for safety and how to paint and color schemes of numerous patterns. Safety of all must be first priority.

Reno Replogle

[Bois d'Arc]

A friend and fellow tackle maker from another forum introduced me to the Senko model PC1010 for airbrush painting.  Its simply awesome...super quiet, twin air tanks, accurate gauges, its small and lightweight with a carrying cradle as its base.  I'm sure there are other equally great compressors, but this is my favorite.

[riverotter]

where in ky  ya from. I have painted a few baits and might can help you out if you run into some troubles. as far as airbrushes go iwata or badger. I have tried them all it comes down to ease of cleaning. most will spray good if there clean. cheap brushes just clog way to easy paint dries in places it shouldn't causing all kinds of problems. something with a .3 needle will work very well for detail and base coat. any smaller and your going to have trouble with thicker colors like white.

[SW Lures]

You have got some great ideas from these people so I'll leave that subject a lone. If you take your time and be patient you will be surprised in what you can do.

This comes from someone who has just started carving in the last year. Painting is another story, but that can happen to.

Just ask these people they will help,

Dale

Edited April 22, 2016 by DaleSW

[cnunn46]

where in ky ya from. I have painted a few baits and might can help you out if you run into some troubles. as far as airbrushes go iwata or badger. I have tried them all it comes down to ease of cleaning. most will spray good if there clean. cheap brushes just clog way to easy paint dries in places it shouldn't causing all kinds of problems. something with a .3 needle will work very well for detail and base coat. any smaller and your going to have trouble with thicker colors like white.

Shelbyville. Yes I'm think I'm going to go with a iwata brush.

[FrogAddict]

Please don't buy a cheap airbrush like I did. It's simply wasted money. Buy a good quality airbrush the first time.

 

I almost quit painting I was so frustrated with my cheaper airbrush. It would spatter, get clogged, was horrible on any details and just make painting very frustrating. I bought a good airbrush (Iwata Revolution) and now I enjoy it again. Yes, you need to clean and clean again but the way the better airbrushes are made makes this easier.

[mark poulson]

Here's something Rayburn Ben shared with me that makes cleaning your air brush much easier:

 

http://www.coastairbrush.com/search.asp?pg=1&stext=air+brush+restorer&sprice=&stype=&scat=

[FrogAddict]

Mark,

 

I use the Cretex brand restorer when my brush starts to get bad. It works like a charm. One note of warning: don't leave in a plastic cup overnight, it will eat right through it.

[SW Lures]

I clean mine simular to Mark. But don't do a total cleaning to much, it takes a toll on the brush.

I totally agree with Fogaddict about a brush. However I also understand about financial means. Buy what you can and save as hard as you can.

Dale

[RayburnGuy]

Here's something Rayburn Ben shared with me that makes cleaning your air brush much easier:

 

http://www.coastairbrush.com/search.asp?pg=1&stext=air+brush+restorer&sprice=&stype=&scat=

 

The restorer lasts a really long time too Mark. I'm still using the same stuff I bought a couple years ago. I filled a small wide mouth glass jar with the restorer and just rest the front end of the airbrush in the jar. Any gunk that comes out of the brush sinks to the bottom and remains out of the way as long as you don't shake it up.

 

I probably only use it a couple times a year or if when the brush starts spraying funky due to improper cleaning. It sure has saved me a lot of headaches.

 

Ben

[riverotter]

the restorer is awesome. when it gets real dirty I just strain it through a coffee filter into another container, and your good to go again.

[cnunn46]

So what do you guys think about this package? Everyone is saying go with the revolution so that's what I'm aiming to do. The details on this says the compressor is quiet but does anyone have any first hand experience with it? Like I've said most of my painting will be done once my son is asleep so I'm needing a compressor that isn't going to rattle the walls when it kicks on. I just figure with me being new it might be smart to buy a ready to go package than to try and piece everything together. Thanks everyone for all of the replies.

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001PI6H3K?psc=1