Ultimate Guide to Airbrushes - Beginner guide

This is the only video you'll ever need when you're about to start your airbrush journey! Welcome to the party!
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0:00 Intro

*[Chapter A]*
1:03 What Is An Airbrush and How Should I Use It?

*[Chapter B]*
2:41 What Should I Buy and What Do I Need to Get Started?
3:00 Which Air Brush Should I Buy?
3:13 Gravity Feed Dual-Action Air Brush
3:53 Range of Brands and Prices
4:29 Low End
5:50 Low Price Mid Range
8:21 Mid Range 120-150$
10:04 High End
11:33 Summary
12:23 Compressor
12:53 Cordless Compressors
13:21 Single Piston Engines
14:51 Oil Piston
17:02 Hoses and Connector
17:35 Spray Booth
18:43 What Else? Paints and Thinner

*[Chapter C]*
20:07 Basics of Using An Air Brush
20:59 Mixing Paint
21:58 Air Brush Control
23:50 Setting The Pressure
24:40 Spraying For The First Time
25:40 How Do You Know If You've Got a Good Flow.
25:43 Spider Webbing
26:30 Speckling

*[Chapter D]*
27:31 How To Clean Your Air Brush and Not Break It
27:55 Dismantling
29:15 Cleaning Tools
29:50 Never Leave Paint Inside The Air Brush.
30:10 Rinsing Airbrush
31:40 Cleaning Cup
32:56 Clogs
33:57 Cleaning When Your Done Painting
35:45 Deep Clean

*[Chapter E]*
38:18 What Are Your Next Step To Get The Most From Your Air Brush
38:45 Blending Between Layers
40:28 Shade Don't Highlight
41:21 Inks and Contrast for Blending
42:52 Don't Replace Your Regular Brush
43:47 Use Small Pieces of Paper
44:38 Squidmar Evolution Air brush
46:58 Ending
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Harder & Steenbeck Ultra 2024 Beginner Airbrush:

Vallejo Paint Starter set

Airbrush Flow Improver:

Interdental brushes

Compressors

Airbrush hose

Isopropanol Alcohol

Cotton buds/cotton swabs

Air brush cleaning kit

Water bottle for cleaning:

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Emil On

Videos edited by Maxime Dader & Viktor Westermark

[RuthlessMojo]

Thanks Emil. This was a very comprehensive and informative video. One thing I might mention is that if you’re using any paint or ink in your airbrush you should use a mask or respirator. Even non toxic paints and inks can affect your respiratory system if inhaled. Especially if you have asthma or some other respiratory issue. I can attest to this first hand because I have respiratory failure. My lungs cannot absorb oxygen as well as normal or get rid of carbon dioxide. I got this because of particulate exposure. Trust me when I say you don’t want to mess with your respiratory system. Always use protection when dealing with fine particulates.

[scottfields]

just bought your airbrush yesterday, honestly had no idea who you were checked out your art and was blown away. as a beginner i appreciate how informative and helpful this video is keep up the good work man your passion shows and has obviously done you well

[PrintTech-D]

Comparing a screwdriver to a hammer instead of a drill is a crime.

[idontwanttopickone]

21:00 - Mixing paint. The best advice I have seen (especially for a beginner) is to mix outside the cup in a clean container until you know what you are doing (so you don't damage your airbrush) and the mix should be thin enough that when you drag it up the side of your container it flows back down the side straight away. It shouldn't sit on the side in a droplet. Use a brush or whatever you are using to mix with, coat it with the mixed thined paint and touch the side of your container briefly. If it runs straight down the side then you are good to go. If it sits there in a droplet, it could use a little more thinner.

Also, not sure if you mention it, but there are some good recipes out there for thinner and cleaner that are cheaper and worth looking at if you want an airbrush without spending tons.

[LordNerfherder]

Finally some competence, not salesman/clickbait garbage. This is so hard to find on the internet nowadays. Love you.

[darkpanda]

This video is absolutely perfect. It's what I've always wanted to know as a beginner. I always got different and suggestions but this honestly gives me the simple things to follow and visuals.

[bvshmaster]

I’m such a fan of this channel based off of this video. Alas, the no name compressors regulator didn’t work so I’m waiting on a replacement, but this video has helped me breach into airbrushing.

[Pallidum]

I got my HS Evolution about 15 years ago and I'm still using it. My husband got an HS Infinity last year. It's really a testament to the quality and design of the HS airbrushes that they're still going strong. My only real regret is spending several years learning how to use the airbrush myself because we didn't have these resources back then.

[wafflesca]

1978 through 1992 I was a technical illustrator regularly using an airbrush to produce renderings or to retouch b&w photos, your video is an excellent educational resource, I’m absolutely fascinated by the new inks/paints ! I think I’ll get the airbrush back out and try them. (Haven’t used it in 30 years) Thanks for the inspiration.

[Smitty]

I've been through a few cheap $100 - $250 compressors since I've started in the hobby a few years ago. I bought a IS.875HT Smart Jet Plus Tubular Studio Compressor. This thing is amazing. It's not too loud. Is small, compact and never misses a beat. Not cheap, but not too expensive. Highly recommend it.

[graefx]

*Chapters*
[Chapter A]
1:03 What is an airbrush and how should I use it

[Chapter B]
2:41 What should I buy and what do I need to get started
- 3:00 Which air brush should I buy
- 3:13 Gravity feed dual-action air brush
- 3:53 Range of brands and prices
- 4:29 Low End
- 5:50 Low Price Mid Range
- 8:21 Mid Range 120-150$
- 10:04 High End
- 11:33 Summary
12:23 Compressor
- 12:53 Cordless Compressors
- 13:21 Single Piston Engines
- 14:51 Oil Piston
- 17:02 Hoses and connector
- 17:35 Spray Booth
- 18:43 What else? Paints and thinner

[Chapter C]
20:07 Basics of using an air brush
- 20:59 Mixing Paint
- 21:58 Air brush control
- 23:50 Setting the Pressure
- 24:40 Spraying for the first time
- 25:40 How do you know if you've got a good flow.
- 25:43 Spider Webbing
- 26:30 Speckling

[Chapter D]
27:31 How to clean your air brush and not break it
- 27:55 Dismantling
- 29:15 Cleaning Tools
- 29:50 Never leave paint inside air brush.
- 30:10 Rinsing Airbrush
- 31:40 Cleaning cup
- 32:56 Clogs
- 33:57 Cleaning when done painting
- 35:45 Deep Clean

[Chapter E]
38:18 What are your next step to get the most from your air brush
- 38:45 Blending between layers
- 40:28 Shade Don't Highlight
- 41:21 Inks and Contrast for Blending
- 42:52 Don't Replace Your Regular Brush
- 43:47 Use Small Pieces of Paper

44:38 Squidmar Evolution Air brush

[rennyNOTkenny]

Great video! I’m at the point where I’m about to make the leap and add an airbrush to my arsenal. Very informative 👍

[sletthaug]

This video is top tier, so great. I am about to start my own airbrushing journey after using only brushes for years, and this is exactly what I needed!

Great work as always :)

[dragonet]

Bought a Airbrush 1 year ago and never regretted it, I'm not a big painter and the airbrush has another massive perks, it's actually quite fun to use, helps motivate me

[franklinmckenzie]

Great video. I've watched it multiple times. I just ordered a Harder and Steenbeck 2024 Ultra. I'm pretty excited about it.

[mr.midnight]

This video is very very helpful for beginners. I started airbrushing a few years ago and fell in love painting 3D printed mini figs, I do wish I saw this video at the beginning tho since it would prevent much mistakes I have made handling an airbrush. Now my old cheap ones has broken, I’m thinking of getting your Harder Steenbeck Evolution. I like the golden black finish a lot and I hope I could use it till dawn without it breaking!!!

[victor-emmanuelchauvet]

thx for this video, i have a small budget so i brought a cheap one for the base colors and for vehicle too. i will train then invest in a better one after. it help me a lot to understand and not make any mistakes a the beginning

[fishntrips]

I am sooo excited, I am a beginner and missed the Squidmar Ultra but have managed to order a Black Squidmar Evolution, I nearly cried. I cannot wait to get it and thanks for the inspiration and great videos Emil, as someone who is slightly older starting to paint minis it has been great.
Regards Jason

[bacawaka]

I get some people think acrylic paint is non-toxic, they are referring to the medium, but they are made from heavy metals and other stuff that isn't good for you, especially if you breathe it in. Wear a mask when you spray.

[gavnjackson]

This clear and informative presentation is a perfect introduction to the many aspects of equipment choice, handling, and effective use of a modeller's airbrush. I'm new to the airbrushing experience, and it helped me no end by confirming / correcting the choices I was about to make. Many thanks.