Equipment Recommendations

[bfolksongs]

Hey Experieced Artists!
Can anyone give me their take on the Iwata Airbrushes? I have been hearing good things about the product. I need to know which one is best. I want something that shoots a larger spray pattern. What product would be best for shooting the base coat on motorcycle tanks? Thanks

[mayhem]

I dont know how wide they spray but I have heard they can get pretty detailed...

[aixguy]

I don't do this type of work, but this has been asked before.
You will need a mini gun for base coating.. (small version of full size paint gun) and sufficiant CFM to power it.
I am not saying you can not use and airbrush, but it would be fairly hard to impossible to get a GOOD finsh.
Others that do this work will probably point you to the correct guns..

For shooting base coats a bike Sata Mini jet or full size gun would, will work best
The Iwata RG3 has a round spray pattern, not what you want
I believe you buy an oval head for it but why bother just get a full size HVLP

[cbrunson]

I have a cheap badger external mix hobby airbrush that works great for small parts. The spray pattern is about half the size of your average rattle can with a lot less overspray. It works great for occasional use, but if I painted a lot of bikes, I would have a full size HVLP just for the time saving. I think you would go nuts trying to base coat with an airbrush.

[barshark]

I have to agree with the group. You can cover bigger area's more efficiently and don't have to worry with cup/bottle reload halfway thru a coat.

[codepunk]

My vote is for a full size gun, I don't however use anything fancy just some el cheapo 20 oz guns from harbor freight. I was using detail guns for bike work but it had no effect other than taking me twice as long to get something done, I also find the full size guns easier to clean.