I'm fairly new at airbrushing but have finished one playfield restoration using an airbrush. I too, read quite a bit from many places. Lots of good information and advice. Some people will say the one you selected is garbage and you should buy much better, higher quality. Ultimately, you'll need to decide which is better suited for your specific needs. Are you planning on using this new tool rarely or quite a bit? Will this be used on pins you'll keep or ones you intend to sell?

Here's a link to the one I bought. I chose this one after reading Cliffy's restoration of his Jumping Jack machine. He was also kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions about airbrushing. I am extremely happy with my purchase. I am also thankful that I have now been exposed to another facet of restoring pinball machines.

http://tinyurl.com/7clbpwo

It's a Chines knock off of a Iwata Eclipse, and not a very good one either. That air compressor is a diaphram type with no storage tank, there for will pulse causing painting problems. Your better off getting the Harbor Freight version and a pancake air compressor. That way when you need parts you can get them.

I just found a nice setup in CL cheap. Check there. And yea, if you ever want to clear coat something that compressor won't do it. If you get the pancake compressor when your ready to try clearcoating all you have to do is pick up a detail gun and your ready to go.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=airbrush

Check these out before you commit...

All you need is a regulator, 1/4 to 1/8 adapter, hose, airbrush, paint and your set! Oh and practice...

don't forget the forty dollar dual cartridge respirator, you are putting tiny toxic microparticles in the air that you probably don't wanna breathe...

Nice catch! +1

I have a 3M 3800 series full face and a 3M half mask. Every time I take them off I'm surprised how dirty the air is we normally breath and don't even realize it.

True, very true. I have a 3M 7500 series half-face respirator and the air always smells different after I take it off.

85vette, I can't recommend the Azteck 470 or 1000 highly enough. I've used lots of airbrushes in my day, Badgers, Paasche, all I can say from experience is the Aztech is just freakin' amazing and so so easy to change colors and clean. These are double action too which makes feathering and super fine lines much easier. Single action brushes shoot paint the instant you press the trigger. With double action you can get air going first and slowly or quickly feed in paint. Good luck!

Do you recommend the sets with the compressor like listed above or do you prefer a pancake compressor and is there a benefit to either other than the pancake can be used for a lot of other things?

Most airbrush compressors use a diaphragm instead of a piston and that causes a pulse as the diaphragm moves up and down. That makes it hard to do any fine lines where you need steady air so the paint flows evenly. A airbrush compressor that has a storage tank helps this problem but does not eliminate it all together. There are piston type airbrush compressors but the cost is ridiculous.

A home/shop type compressor is recommended because of the wide verity of uses like others mentioned above. The cost/value of a home/shop air compressor far out ways what a good airbrush compressor cost.

When looking at a home/shop type compressor consider your surroundings, is noise going to be a issue? If not you can save some money by buying a 'direct drive' compressor where the pumps are connected to the motor and are really noisy.

A 'in-direct drive' where the pump is not hooked to the motor is much quieter but cost more and more maintenance is needed. If you're going to be in the same room with the air compressor I recommend a in-direct drive all the way if not the noise and vibration will get on your nerves and affect your work.

I currently have one of these:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00915310000P?prdNo=14&blockNo=14&blockType=G14

I don't know that I would want to do too much work with that motor going too often. How much pressure do you need for airbrushing and do the guns have regulators? Can you fill a tank like mine and then run off the stored air or will you need to maintain pressure? I'm not against buying another compressor if there is something that is quieter and would work better for airbrushing.

That compressor will work fine for airbrushing, it's noisy but will give you plenty of air for painting.

Anywhere from 20 to 40PSI. Depending on the paint your using.

No, you will need to get a regulator and filter/drier/moister trap. I have approx 110 PSI into my regulator/filter and approx 40/45 out to the airbrush. When you start spraying air from the brush you will get a pressure drop of around 10 PSI at the regulator so I'm really spraying approx 30/35 PSI.

Here is the style regulator/filter I use: ebay.com link: Airbrush Air Compressor Regulator Water Trap Filter

You need a moister filter and keep you tank drained. Compressed air builds condensation and will ruin a partly finished paint job if it gets through your airbrush...

Yes to keep steady flow.

Double action is the only way to go!

I'm thinking you might have it a little backwards there. Those tanks listed in those kits are usually 1/5 or 1/6 hp compressors and some have tanks, others are on demand. Going with a tank like mine or a pancake you have a much larger storage. I might be wrong but I assume it would be better for large areas than those compressors in the kids.

I use (and prefer) a tank compressor. I use a Rigid dual tank compressor. Don't let people scare you about diaphragm vs piston, oil vs oiless. Get a decent oil/water separator and regulator as you'll have to have those no matter what type of compressor you use. I wouldn't use a little baby tankless compressor as that's all it would be good for. Plus kicking on everytime you pull the trigger would be beyond annoying in short order

Any brand of gun that you can specifically recommend?

quoted from my original post above-
I can't recommend the Aztek A470 or 1000 highly enough. I've used lots of airbrushes in my day, Badgers, Paasche, all I can say from experience is the Aztek is just freakin' amazing and so so easy to change colors and clean. These are double action too which makes feathering and super fine lines much easier. Single action brushes shoot paint the instant you press the trigger. With double action you can get air going first and slowly or quickly feed in paint.

Cool, thanks for all the info.