I am looking to buy a Paasche Talon Airbrush but I am not sure what compressor I should get. Can someone tell me which ones that you use.

Is it going to be used for other things around the house?

Mike

one with variable pressure, that can do down to at least 10psi

Great question, mysonbronson. I know nothing about air brushing supplies but would like to start playing with it. Mike, can you use your compressor for other things or do you need to exclusively use it for food? If I buy one of those compressors that Home Depot or Lowe's sells for nail work, can I also use it for cake decorating? Will the air brush attachments work on that type of compressor?

not sure if this will be helpful, BUT....

visit www.airbrushcity.com

i attended one of bronwen webber's air brush classes....
she recommended the 144 AC 2G airbrush kit....
i believe if you visit the site you can find the specific compressor, too.
they are running a special this weekend but in general their prices are great!

i found it hard to navigate the site....

sally

I have the KopyKake compressor and love it. It's small and portable and made for cakes. Of course, that's all i use it for. I know what Mike's talking about. My best friends husband has a huge compressor in the garage and bought those attachments for us when we first started playing with the airbrush. He had a really long hose that we could connect and run into the house.

Thanks everyone for the reply.

Mike I am going to be using it for just cakes. Did you ever hear of the Iwata compressors? If so which one would you recommend? I was thinking of getting the PowerJet Compressor. Does anyone else have this one?

Mike - do you know of any for just cakes? I am completely at a lost.

Thanks Mike. I just got off the phone with someone from an art supply company and they recommended the Iwata Smart Jet. Hopefully someone on here has this or used it and can give me some feedback.

The iwata smart jet is a good compressor and it will work for what you want. Iwata is the Mercedes of airbrushes. But they don't work well with pearl dust) Their compressors are great. Just don't get the Iwata silver jet- it runs at 18 but for long work, it just doesn't keep up. You can use the airmaster red compressor is one of the best compressors.

A compressor that runs low low psi doesn't work for the Talon. If you had a single action, it could work with a low psi- but for the talon or any other double action you need between 12 and 20) psi. The Talon will work best on cakes with crusting icing at about 18 psi- (no it won't blow holes if you know how to use it) You can get an art compressor- but they have vibration that I personally can't stand. But if that is what you start with, you'll never notice it. My favorite is a craftsman tank compressor (like mike- mine is a garage one). As long as the compressor you get has guages to control the psi that it puts out, it will work.

As for brushes, I think Americolor has a double action but other than that, the other "cake airbrushes" are single action. They are not made any different than other brushes. Except for the aztek, most brushes are nickle plated brass. The KK is also marketed as a Tattoo airbrush-it isn't anything different except it is a single action. I think if you are ordering the Talon- you will be amazed- I know several KK users that tried the Talon and it totally changed their perspective on airbrushing- now they love to airbrush. The Talon feels like a KK but has a cover on the cup so you don't spill it, and it doesn't have as many problems.

I teach cake airbrushing (I was a graphic artist and I airbrushed professionally) and I've used about every name brand out there. I think it is the best one on the market right now for cakes.

I forgot the water trap part- The only place I really noticed the need the water trap was in Sierra Vista Arizona during monsoons!!! Go figure. (sounds backwards but it's true!) You can tell if you really need one if your brush spits water alot- usually it is only in rainy weather anyway.

If you have a tank compressor-you shouldn't need one. The water collects in the tank- It has a screw on the bottom to drain the water out that it collects. Just unscrew it and get outta the way! (pop the emergency air valve first so it doesn't spray water at you at 110 psi!)

Double action? Single action? Lots of information to absorb, but thanks for it. I need a compressor for the house I'm restoring so as long as I can use it for both purposes I'll probably get the compressor and then work on the airbrush after that. Thanks guys.

Thank you galliesway. I picked up the Iwata smart jet. Everyone on here is so helpful.