New to this art

[DMarie]

Hi all, I am in need of some guidance. I am interested in starting to paint helmets & bikes and need to know where to begin. I have poured over the info on here for beginners, lessons etc. great info! What do you all use for guns and compressors? Are there any classes in NH or Mass. that I could look up? Thanks so much for your help!

[brushbyair]

DMarie, welcome to the forum. You will find quite an array of brushes are used, each seems to have thier own character, from what you describe your interests are you should look into the Iwata line of brushes, I would suggest a gravity feed brush, you will find that you will use paint in small quantities when painting helmet, bikes and even in cars in some instances. The need for a bottom feed brush in your interests is really not needed, thier biggest advatage if there is one, is the ability to carry larger volumns of paint (Bottle). Much finer detail is achievable with the more expensive + line, the MAC valve allows you to adjust pressure right at the gun rather than at the compressor, but you can still achieve the same detail without the MAC valve brushes, you just have to adjust the pressure at the compressor. As always price increases with the options on the brush.
Compressors are much in the same way, the more you want in options the higher the prices. Any compressor that will achieve and maintain 100psi will work, and those can range anywhere from $150. to $1000. Almost any home improvement store will have a compressor that will work for you. Keep in mind you will nedd to make sure that it has a regulator for adjusting the pressure, a water trap in line to prevent any moisture from reaching your brush. Beyond that the options are yours, if noise is a problem you will want to look into a silent compressor, much more costly though. Hope this helps ya, again welcome aboard and looking forward to seeing you post some of your work.

[grinnen30]

I just got an HP-CH (has the MAC valve) and I am loving it compared to my badger 155. I echo everything Brush says...

I personally use a craftsman 1.5 HP/4 gall compressor with a secondary regulator (these actually come with one...and it works fine...probably don't need the second one)...you can catch these on sale at sears or K-mart for $99...works great...a little on the loud side...but not near as bad as my 30 gallon 6 HP one...it cycles for about a minute every 5 minutes when painting constantly...I don't run a moisture trap unless I am running the line over 25 ft...then it is needed...I ran it for a while, but nothing ever ended up in the resevior unless I was covering great distances. But I would recommend testing it...my big compressor kicks out quiet a bit of water...

I also just ordered my gun and a kit from Dixie art...best prices I could find and shipping by ground was free...take 7 days from order to delivery...

For setup...you can plan on about $400 if you don't already have stuff...you can get out a little cheaper...but when you add in paint, easle, frisket, knives, erasers, and then it just keeps climbing as you find new gadgets you must have...

[Zero-Optix]

Hello
I just joined as well and already found this thread helpful! I am interested in the same thing. I do comic book art and computer art but want to make a transition form that to airbrush.

ok ill go back to lurking.