Joker wrote: I'm considering using an airbrush to paint my wooden lures and have no idea on the use of air brushes or paints.   Questions Can an ordinary compressor be used, if so do I need a conversion fitting? If not, can you get compressed air in an aerosol can? Are the cheaper syphon type airbrush ok to use? or do I need gravity fed What paint do you use water based vs solvent type Is there special airbrush paints that you need to use - if so where do you get them, cost? What is the clean up procedure     Any help given appreciated

• First off you will need to check out the SCFM ( Standard Cubic Feet per Minute ) requirments of the setup you will use before choosing a compressor, If you already own a compressor and is of decent size you will be fine...Water traps!! I cannot express how important this part is...it will be the difference between success or failure.
• Don't muck around with aerosol canned aired, alot of pro's use Co2 tanks but this is probably out of reach for most of us and not viable, if you don't already own a compressor you will find lots of uses for one anyway.
• Either a syphon or gravity fed brush is good, you will also need to decide on a single or double action brush aswell.
• To shoot waterbased you will need to increase the PSI to the brush and waterbased paint requires a huge amount of air flow to dry as there is no flashing off so a heatgun or hairdryer is helpful, auto paint will need to be thinned to the consistency of skim milk and you can shoot with much less PSI.
• Plenty of special airbrush paints out there most are an adjusted volume i.e. 200ml not 1L, thinning and doing this consistently will really help with your finish.
• Clean up usually consists of back washing the airbrush also done at colour changes. Use a cleaner i.e. acetone, thinners etc that is applicable to the paint you are using...avoid pulling your brush apart to much also save it for a rainy day...

Have a look around when buying a brush, think about how often you will actually use it...An Iwata sitting in a cupboard is of no use. Also consider what type of finish you require, as a $30 airbrush from SCA may suit your needs and it means less money outlayed and more to spend on paint etc...