Airbrushes are used for a wide range of applications. Whether you’re a cake decorator, a painter, model maker, or makeup artist, the best airbrush that matches your task will assist you in making quick work of your project.

Believe it or not, the first airbrush, or version of it, was invented way back in 1879 and was known as a paint distributor. It has certainly come a long way since then.

We’ll explain how different types of airbrushes work, and guide you on choosing the best model for you and your needs.

Airbrushes Under Review

REVIEW

IWATA HP-CS Eclipse Airbrush Kit with Compressor All Round Best Airbrush Kit

No the cheapest kit available but pretty good value for good quality airbrushing gear.

The kit contains everything you’ll need to get you airbrushing straight away. If you’re a beginner and have some cash to spend then you won’t need to upgrade after this purchase.

The Iwata HP-CS Eclipse Airbrush is an extremely versatile airbrush that can handle pretty much any application. It comes with just one  .35 mm nozzle set and needle but his will tackle fine and wide patterns at varying volumes with both water color, acrylics and solvents.

If you’re a complete beginner the duel action trigger will take a little getting used to but once mastered gives ultimate control.

The gravity feed cup has a lid which makes life easier if you need to airbrush at different angles as the paint won’t spill out of the cup.

Included in this kit:

• The Iwata HP-CS Eclipse Airbrush
• Air Compressor
• 12  Color Paint Set
• 6ft Hose
• Holder for 4 airbrushes
• 50 x 1oz Plastic Mixing Cups
• 100 x Mixing Sticks
• Airbrush Quick Disconnect
• Cleaning Pot with Cleaning Solution

Specifications

Feed	Gravity
Action	Duel
Capacity	1/3 oz
Best for	Anyone

Badger Air-Brush Co. Sotar 2020-2F Airbrush Best Airbrush for Fine Detail

Sotar, which stands for “state of the art results” certainly lives up to its name. This Gravity Feed Airbrush was designed by professional artists and illustrators, and it’s meant for very fine detail work.

The Sotar 2020-2F airbrush comes with a 1.5-ounce color cup. This enables you to use the airbrush for a prolonged time without having to refill with more color. Even better, it can be used with an array of fluids ranging from low viscosity acrylics to inks, dyes, reduce paints and watercolors.

Another thing you’ll love about this airbrush is that it’s incredibly easy to clean. The needle is set up in such a way that allows you to detach it without necessarily removing the rear of the airbrush. All you need to do is loosen the chuck and pull it out. Overall, the airbrush is quite easy to take apart when you want to give it a thorough cleaning.

The PTFE needle is another component that contributes to the ease of cleaning. It’s impermeable to the majority of solvents and paints. This feature reduces the likelihood of such compounds accumulating in the airbrush and causing clogging.

Its self-centering technology is another bonus. This helps to position the paint tip at the centre and lock it in place while also allowing for easy attachment and detachment.

Specifications

Feed	Gravity
Action	Duel
Capacity	2ml cup
Best for	Artists. Low viscosity fluids

PointZero Airbrush Kit with 3 Guns Best Beginner Airbrush Kit

If you’re looking to use the airbrush for a variety of applications, the PointZero Airbrush Kit that comes with 3 airbrush guns is a decent versatile option.

The first airbrush is a premium model that has a pre-set 0.3mm needle. The second is aimed at fine-detail work, and it comes with a low-profile gravity feed. The nozzle size of this second airbrush is 0.2mm.

Lastly, we have a single-action airbrush accompanied by a siphon feed bottle and a nozzle of size 0.8mm. With all these airbrushes, you’ll be able to tackle most projects thrown your way.

The best part is that you don’t only get the airbrushing equipment but also detailed tutorials to help you get started. The manufacturer provides up to 7 downloadable ebook guides and a DVD titled “Master the Basics”.

Specifications

Feed	2 x gravity | 1 x siphon
Action	2 x duel | 1 x single
Capacity	1 x 7cc | 1 x 2cc | 1 x 22cc jar
Best for	Beginners

Master Airbrush G233 Master Performance Pro Set Best Budget Airbrush

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly airbrush, the Master G233 Performance Pro Set is an decent option.

For the price, it has a great selection of features, some of which are found in its higher-priced counterparts.

Bear in mind that this is not going to be of the same calibre as a high end Iwata or Badger, when it comes to quality of product the old adage of you get what you pay for is very true. If you are a beginner and working with a very limited budget then this may be what you’re after.

There are different needle sizes: 0.2mm, 0.3mm and 0.55mm. These needles help you achieve the higher precision you’d want for certain applications such as artwork. However, it’s suitable for different uses; from temporary tattoos to cake decoration.

The G233 has a cutaway design on the handle. This enables you to flush and clean air channels in a breeze. Another perk of the airbrush is the fluid control knob that it comes with. This makes for easy adjustment of the trigger and it offers precise control of the paint flow.

Specifications

Feed	Gravity
Action	Duel
Capacity	1/3oz cup
Best for	Tight budgets

Iwata-Medea Revolution CR Best Value Airbrush

Iwata is a renowned brand that you can always rely on when it comes to hand-operated tools. Their Medea Revolution CR is a good example of the quality of craftsmanship they provide.

This is not their top of the range airbrush but is still Iwata quality.

This is not the cheapest airbrush on the market but we feel it offers great quality at this price point and so therefore is considered best value for the money.

This airbrush is equipped with a generous 0.5-mm needle. With such a big needle, you’ll be able to spray heavier or thicker paints with ease. Plus, its paint cup is coated to prevent the airbrush from flaking and easier to clean.

Also, the Revolution CR sports a versatile spray pattern that makes it suitable for both wide applications and precision work. You can use it to paint the fine details in a variety of media.

Specifications

Feed	Gravity
Action	Duel
Capacity	1/3oz cup
Best for	Majority of applications

Badger Air-Brush Company RK-1 Krome Airbrush

Some manufacturers of airbrush kits fail to provide storage cases. Luckily, the Badger RK-1 Krome Airbrush includes a lovely black storage case made from sturdy aluminum material.

The key highlight of this airbrush is its 2-in-1 design. It has a fine needle and an extra fine tip. You’ll also find a ⅜-ounce mounted color cup and a fine spray regulator for the 2 needles.

And unlike the Revolution CR that does not have any hose adapter, the Krome kit comes with one. The provided adapter fits a standard ¼-inch hose.

The airbrush itself looks nicely polished with the chrome finish. All its parts are well-constructed, and the tool feels light and balanced in your hands.

Another distinct feature of the Krome airbrush is the cut-out pattern on the handle’s rear. This is so designed to allow easy removal of the needle without removing the entire handle.

Specifications

Feed	Gravity
Action	Duel with micrometer dial
Capacity	3/8oz cup
Best for	Most applications – especially detail work

Paasche VL-SET Double Action Siphon Feed Airbrush Set

Popular with hobbyists and professional artists alike, the VL-SET by Paasche Airbrush is another tool worth considering.

It features a durable and versatile build that makes it suitable for tasks such as painting shirts, vehicles, and more.

The airbrush, which uses a siphon feed, is great for spraying thick fluids such as solvent paints. It comes with 3 different head sizes, increasing your chances of finding one that’s perfect for your needs. The 0.55-, 0.7- and 1-mm head sizes are also interchangeable.

Another noteworthy feature of the VL-SET is that it serves both functions of a single and dual-action airbrushes concurrently.

Specifications

Feed	Siphon
Action	Duel & single
Capacity	1/4oz cup | 1oz bottle | 1oz storage bottle
Best for	Varied, but mostly large area coverage

What Exactly is an Airbrush?

We’re pretty confident that if you’ve arrived at this page you know what an airbrush is, but just in case:

On the surface, an airbrush sounds like a sophisticated device. But it’s simply a tiny air-driven tool that looks like a pen. It can be used to apply a variety of fluids such as ink, food dye and paint, on different surfaces.

Based on the type of application you’re using it for, you’ll need to program the air-source to spray at different PSI (pound-force per square inch, of air pressure).

The most common application of airbrushes are in industries that utilize coloring products. These include cake decorating, tattoo work, artistry and even makeup. Important to note is that there are different types of airbrushes, some of which are better suited for specific applications.

Airbrush Buying Guide

The type of results you get from a particular airbrush depends on several factors. Without knowledge of these aspects, you could end up buying the wrong airbrush for your work. To help you make the most of this tool, here are the main things to consider when selecting an airbrush.

Control Type

All airbrushes come equipped with one trigger. What makes them different is how this trigger operates. We can classify airbrushes into 4 types based on the control technique:

Double Action or Dual Independent Control

The trigger of a double action airbrush serves two key functions: it controls the airflow and the paint volume.

Once you push the trigger down, air is thrust into the airbrush. If you pull this trigger in a backward direction, paint starts flowing out. The further you pull the trigger, the higher the amount of paint that is delivered.

With this mechanism, you have utmost control of the amount of paint being released from the airbrush. This means that you’re able to regulate the quantity of paint you’re applying on a given surface.

The only drawback of this tool is that it takes a little bit of getting used to. But once you’re mastered the technique, you can move through your projects fairly quickly thanks to its dual working mechanism.

Automatic or Double Dependent Control

As implied in the name, this type of airbrush uses an automated system. Thus, it eliminates the need to push down the trigger in a bid to release air.

The one similarity it shares with the double independent model is that its paint flow is also regulated by pulling back the trigger. So even though the airflow is automatic, the paint flow isn’t.

Pistol Grip

What makes this airbrush different is that its trigger has a unique shape. Its trigger is located right below the airbrush body, and it resembles a paint spray gun.

Single Action

If you’ve operated an aerosol can spray before, the single action tool works in a fairly similar manner. With this airbrush, the trigger is only used to control airflow and not the paint flow.

When you press the trigger, air starts passing through the chamber and atomizes the paint. If you want to stop the airflow, all you have to do is release the trigger.

So which component is used to control the flow of paint? Well, this is regulated by altering the depth that the needle has to travel to the nozzle. You’ll see a screw on the airbrush, this mechanism adjusts and limits the needle depth.

It may seem like the double-action airbrushes are superior to these single-action models. But this isn’t necessarily true as each one is better suited for specific applications.

In this case, a single action airbrush is great for general use where you want to paint one broad and thick coat of paint. In fact, it’s the best airbrush to use in situations where you want to spray one solid even color.

Feed

This refers to the technique used to feed paint into the airbrush. There are three main methods to pick from:

Gravity Feed

This airbrush has the paint cup located at the top of the airbrush. The paint cup is the element that directs paint to the airbrush. Gravitational forces come into play to draw tiny amounts of the paint to the mixing chamber where the atomization process happens.

Siphon Feed

This one works in an entirely different way from the gravity feed, in that the cup is located at the bottom of the airbrush. It’s equipped with a tube that runs through to deliver paint. With this airbrush, small amounts of paint are channeled to the top of the tube to be “siphoned” into the mixing component.

Gravity vs Siphon

The benefit of using a gravity feed is that it’s able to deliver the paint to the airbrush regardless of the amount of pressure. It can work at low-pressure levels just as effectively as it can in high-pressure levels. The fact that it can go as low as 8PSI makes it more suitable for precision work.

Siphon feed airbrushes also have their fair share of advantages. The paint bottles in these airbrushes are designed to accommodate a considerable amount of paint. This may not seem like a big deal when you’re tackling small projects. But if you have a large project, the larger capacity will come in handy.

Side Feed

These airbrushes are the happy medium between gravity and siphon feed mechanisms. Put simply; they consist of a side siphon feed bottle or a side gravity cup. The majority of these airbrushes include both cups and bottles

Internal vs. External Mix

In an internal feed, the atomization process of the air and paint occur inside the airbrush. This leads to a more accurate paint pattern.

By contrast, an external feed has the air and paint being atomized externally. This results in a larger and more circular spray pattern.

Using an Airbrush

The first step is to load your airbrush with a fluid/paint of your choice. Next, test the tool by spraying the fluid on scrap paper. While this step is often overlooked, it’s crucial as it gives you an idea of the consistency and color.

If you’re a beginner, when airbrushing a test, keep the airbrush approximately 8 inches away from the application surface to get the best outcome. This will avoid the surface getting too wet too quickly.

You can experiment by holding it at varying lengths and angles or by using different paints. If you don’t get the results you’re looking for, keep testing. Practice makes perfect.

How to Clean an Airbrush

Buying a high-quality airbrush can cost you quite a bit. The easiest way to protect that investment is to keep it clean between uses. But bear in mind that the only areas that should be cleaned are those that come into contact with the paint/fluid. Here are the steps to follow:

• Unscrew the airbrush’s needle chucking nut.
• Gently pull the needle back so as to open the airflow.
• Put a couple of drops of your preferred airbrush cleaner inside the color cup.
• Place the airbrush at an angle of about 25 to 30 degrees, so that it’s pointing down.
• Then, use your finger to seal the needle cap. Press down and pull back the trigger just a bit to initiate a back spray effect. Doing so will remove any obstacles that could be blocking the nozzle.
• Using a cotton swab or makeup brush, clean the needle cup.
• Pull back the needle and reconnect it to the needle chucking nut.
• Run large quantities of the cleanser through the airbrush to the point it comes out clear. This is an indication that there’s no leftover paint.

This is a basic cleaning tutorial that you can employ after each painting session. But if you want to do a deep clean, you’ll need to disassemble the whole tool. Be sure to adhere to the instructions given by the manufacturer.

Once disassembled, start soaking the nozzle, nozzle cap and needle cap in a suitable cleaning fluid. Then using the same solution, clean the needle gently. With each of these parts clean, you can start reassembling the airbrush while adhering to the given instructions.

One question that users ask is: how often should I clean their airbrushes?
You should clean this tool after each session. But if you’re using different colors in the middle of a session, you’ll need to clean it then as well. This will ensure that your airbrush is good working condition and help to extend its life.

While you’re at it, use the appropriate cleanser. If you use the airbrush with food dyes, then the ideal cleaners would be dish soap and water.

Safety Tips When Using Airbrushes

Safety is a significant factor when using an airbrush. As described later in our article, some types of paints used with tools release toxic fumes that can pose health hazards. In fact, fumes being released from some of these paints are potentially harmful. You should always carefully read the safety instructions supplied with any fluid being atomised.
Apart from the risk of inhaling potentially harmful vapors, some paints are a fire hazard if handled improperly. The compounds used to make certain paints, make them highly flammable.

Here are a couple of tips that will help you mitigate these risks:

Protect your Eyes

This isn’t discussed very much in reference to airbrush work but you should definitely consider it.

I personally had a bad experience in my early years of airbrushing creative artwork. I was spraying guache paint through my airbrush onto CS10 artboard and working with my face very close to the painted surface. Paint had dried onto the frisket film surrounding the artwork and the pressurised air blew tiny particles of dried paint into the air.

A small amount went into my right eye and caused irritation. No amount of eyewash would get the particle out which had strangely adhered itself to my eye. Only a visit to the local physician got rid of the problem but my eye suffered for weeks afterwards.

You must realize that when you are using pressurized air, the potential for particles to affect your eyes are elevated.

Work in a Well-Ventilated Area

While spray booths provide a controlled environment where you can airbrush from, the practicalities of using one as a hobbyist are small. Nevertheless, the area you’re spraying in should be roomy and have adequate ventilation to minimize the risk of inhaling any fumes.

Invest in a Face Mask

I am a huge advocate of wearing face or painting masks when you’re doing any sort of painting. This is a good habit to get into regardless of the type of fluid you’re using.

What you should keep in mind is that the majority of paints consist of one or more chemicals. Inhaling or consuming these harmful compounds in any way should be minimised as much as possible.

FAQs

What kind of paint can be used with an airbrush?

Although any liquid that has the right consistency can be used in an airbrush, these fluids are generally classified into one of five groups:

Acrylics

This is the most common, and also the easiest kind of paint to use with an airbrush. Better yet, it can be sprayed on an array of surfaces ranging from fabric to canvas and acetate.

The benefit of using an airbrush with acrylic paint is that it sprays it evenly on the surface being applied. Since this paint has a short drying time, you won’t have to wait too long between coats.

You can even achieve a transparent coat if the paint is thinned properly. You can purchase ready mixed acrylic paints.

Inks and Dyes

With regards to texture, inks and dyes are the thinnest paints you can use with any airbrush. (Watercolors are thin, but this dependent on the amount of water you mix with them). As a result, you’ll find that small movements on a duel action airbrush will release a lot of pigment. 

Practice makes perfect here.

These compounds result in bright, vibrant color. Plus, they can be used to make transparent overlaying patterns, which can then be applied on different surfaces such as textiles.

However, there are also food-grade inks and dyes.These are applied on cakes or used to make edible decorations such as sugar paste flowers.

Oils and Enamels

If you want to get really intense and long-lasting coloring results, oil-based paints are your best bet.

That said, it’s not easy to use them with airbrushes. This is primarily because this paint has greater viscosity, which makes it difficult for you to spray with ease. It also increases the likelihood of your airbrush getting clogged.

The silver lining to this is that these problems are avoidable. By thinning the paint with turpentine or mineral spirits, you can achieve the right fluid consistency that you can use with your airbrush. You’ll typically need an to look for an airbrush with the ability to spray thicker  fluids.

Urethane

These are even more durable than oil-based paints. However, they’re more toxic compared to acrylic paints, so you should adhere to the safety tips we provided earlier and provided by the manufacturer of the paint.

Usually, you’ll find these types of paints being used for heavy-duty work like painting cars, motorcycles or boats.

Watercolors / Gouache

Used by artists and illustrators. If you’re looking for a paint that has the least viscosity, watercolors and gouache are the paints of choice. While this attribute means they’re easy to use, it presents two challenges. One, they’re not opaque, and two, the surface is susceptible to damage from water drops or scuffing.

This was my medium of choice as a commercial artist back in the day. In most cases the artist uses the white of the board as highlight areas and builds the color up around it.

This creates the freshest looking artwork, as using white paint for highlight areas can look extremely unnatural on certain subject matter.

Most airbrushes can spray water color with no problems but typically you’ll want an airbrush with a fine needle and nozzle set to get the fine lines usually associated with working in this medium.

What is the ideal air source for an airbrush?

Buying an airbrush solves one part of the painting equation. The other part is figuring out the ideal source of air. With the air source, you have 3 options to choose from.

You can use simple materials like a disposable air can. Or, you can invest in something that’s more advanced and long-lasting like an air compressor.

Air Can

If you ask most people about their first airbrushing experience, they’ll probably tell you that they started off with air cans. The good thing about air cans is that they’re cheap, making them suitable for first-time users.

But once you’ve gotten the hang of airbrushing, you’ll need to look for a more permanent solution, especially if you plan to engage in this activity for long. With a can, the most you’ll get is about 10 minutes of continuous air.

If you’re using the airbrush for a long-term project, such an air source causes inconvenience as the air supply will keep running low. Also, the cost of replacement cans can quickly soar. Even if its upfront cost is low, the long-term expenses of using air cans can run very high.

Another challenge with using an air can is the fact that it doesn’t provide any form of pressure control. Since you don’t have any control over your airbrushing the technique, you won’t get optimal results.

Let’s not forget that moisture can easily build up on the exterior surfaces of the air cans. When this happens, it could wreak havoc on your paint job.

Air Tanks

While they’re certainly better than air cans, they’re not the best solution. Sure, they hold more air than air cans. But ultimately, the air runs out. And if this happens when you’re in the middle of a project, it could slow down your project, or worse, ruin the final results.

Air Compressors

Air compressors are, without a doubt, the best air source for airbrushing tools. They cost more than air cans and air tanks but will cost less in the long run if you’re going to take this up seriously as a hobby.

Compressors are typically powered by electric motors. They then use a piston or diaphragm to compress the air. We advise buying one with a storage tank.

The additional storage tank has benefits. It eliminates the need to leave the compressor on all the time, which in turn, reduces noise pollution caused by running the processor.

The stored air in the tank allows for a nice controlled and consistent air pressure.

What is the Best Airbrush for Beginners?

The answer to this question would depend on the intended use of the airbrush. If you just want to try it out as a hobby and not sure if you’re going to take to it, you’re not going to want to break the bank. This is why we suggest a kit like the Pointzero. It has 3 different airbrushes, each tackle a different application, plus a compressor. You have everything to get you started.

If you take to airbrushing and get proficient, you’ll likely want to make an investment into an airbrush of higher quality. At this point you’ll understand the nuances of airbrushing and the limitations of budget quality gear. Your experience will also have narrowed down the type of airbrushing you enjoy the most.

What are Airbrush Best Practices?

When you’re starting out, airbrushing may seem quite challenging. But these few tips will take you a long way:

• Always clean your airbrush, and particularly your nozzle when finishing and before starting. This will minimise any spattering or blocking.
• Check the compounds used to make the paints you’ll be working with. Ensure you’re not allergic to any one of them. To err on the side of safety, invest in a quality mask.
• Research and train yourself on how to assemble and dismantle the airbrush before you start cleaning it. This way, you can piece it together correctly when you’re done cleaning.
• If you’re spraying non-water based fluids set up your work area in a spray booth and a well-ventilated space.
• If you’re new to airbrushing, start with water-based paints before moving on to more sophisticated types.
• If you’re prone to skin conditions, wear gloves when handling the airbrush; whether you’re cleaning or using it.

Wrap Up

An airbrush is a very versatile tool that can be used for painting tasks, cake decorating, tattoo work and more. However, purchasing the right one can be a little tricky depending on the application, so you should try to choose wisely.

If you’re looking for a kit then we recommend the Iwata at the top of our list.

If you’re looking just for the airbrush alone then we like the Badger Sotar 2020-2F or the Iwata-Medea Revolution CR.

Happy spraying.