Scale Model Tips -Testing Harbor Freight's $20 Dual Action Airbrush
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- In todays video I test out Harbor Freight's $20 Dual Action Airbrush. This is a siphon feed bottom feed brush. Here I also show several different bottles you can use with this airbrush that you can also store the paint in.
This is a great airbrush for priming a large kits with.
Get the bottle labels here amzn.to/3p2tpsP
Get the bottle caps here spraygunner.co...
Get the cotton swabs here amzn.to/2N9wKZM
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I just wanted to say, thank you for all the testing and honesty in your videos. Your genuine passion for this hobby shines through in every piece of content you create. Thanks man!!!
Thanks buddy. You made my day 😉
@@barbatosrex9473 you’re very welcome. Happy to speak the truth. Keep up the great work, looking forward to your compressor video!
Thank you for taking the time to review all these products. Its really appreciated. You have some of the best no bs reviews on u tube.
Great review. I purchased one of these over 10 years ago to see if it was any good and to my surprise it worked very well to paint my model kits with. I ended up buying a large kit from HF that had 6 airbrushes and stand, hoses etc. My wife needed an airbrush for her cake decoration she dose, mostly custom colors on gum paste flowers for decoration. I found an Iwata on sale so I purchased it and let my wife use the HF one. It's 10 years old and still going like a champ. She still has the kit of 6 minus a couple she gave to her friends. Take care of it and keep it clean is the big secret. There is an angle fitting you can purchase for the hose to allow the big bottles to be used and quick disconnects for multi airbrushes.
How is that unit with the 6 airbrushes. Looks like an octopus if I recall. I like the idea of just reaching for the brush I want to use without having to hook it up. You can set the air pressure on it correct?
i screwed up my blitzer beetle with tamiya rattle cans.. so i went to harbor freight and bought all the airbrush stuff... that looks so much better than those rattle cans. sometimes rattle cans work but on that beetle body you have to get down in by the fenders and running boards,,, good channel...
I really enjoy the videos. Learning a lot but the best part is your enthusiasm. Even if something isn’t great you don’t trash things. You just tell how you feel about it.
I like the way he talks as if he knows everyone. Awesome informative I am just starting out and will be watching more
I love how organized you keep everything with the labels etc.
It's an obsession 😉 thanks for watching. Coming up I'll be showing a nice sprue/runner rack
Just picked this up tonight as a second airbrush for modeling. Plan on using it just as a priming applicator but it’s nice to see that you can get some nice detail lines as well. Thanks for the video and keep up the great work.
Thanks!
You're welcome my friend. You guys are the best out there
Thank you for the testing and review!
I sometimes wonder about the cheap stuff like this and your testing of it helps a lot.
Hey thanks, just got the Same setup, never airbrushed before. You gave some great tips to a beginner. Looking forward to watching your videos.😊
Love you’re videos , I’m big into building model cars and have never airbrushed anything and I picked up the 10$ kit and I couldn’t be anymore happy about it
I love the low-price tips and reviews. Great vids lately.
Glad you like them! I'm doing my best. Thanks for watching
Wish i found these AB vids months/years ago. Possible the best AB/Paint vids around.Thanks for all the work.
Thanks buddy and thanks for watching
Glad this came up in my recommendations. I'm wanting to get into airbrushing so badly, but always feared the cost. I paint 25-30mm war gaming and board game miniatures, custom 1/64 diecast, model cars, gunpla, you name it using hand brushing and rattle cans. I've recently picked up the 1/64 diecast car customizing deal and noticed how painful spray cans can be for the smaller metal vehicles. Finally have a HF near me so excellent timing.
That's awesome, it's a great hobby for sure. You will want to go with an airbrush for smaller subjects such as Hot Wheels. Good luck buddy and thanks for watching. Subscribe and hit the notifications button as I have many more test and review videos to come. Tonight I'm posting about painting real auto paint on model cars
Great video! Your channel has helped a ton, since I'm still new and getting into airbrushing. I actually own one of these and it does get the job done for me because I build model car kits and I rarely have to go into crazy detail. Over all I think its a decent brush especially if you just need a cheap work horse of a airbrush!
I’ve had one for a 18 months and it’s like you said “it does the job”. Nice video.
I currently am using one as my main brush since I’m a beginner but I totally agree
great review as usual, some of these low cost airbrushes are like hidden gems (for particular uses)
Probably the most informative and practical video for a returning newcomer, like me (returning to the hobby after more than 40 years). I can afford a more expensive airbrush, but I'm waiting until I know more and have a better skill level with them before I invest in a Cadillac.
When you're ready, watch my complete airbrush setup video. My main airbrush I use everyday cost $100 and it made me a better painter. I even enjoy cleaning it. It's an incredible airbrush, made in Japan of the highest quality
I was thinking about getting this because it's cheap and i am just starting with airbrushing so i am glad i found this video
Thanks for posting, your videos are very informative and helpful.
Thank you very much, my harbor air brush did not come with instructions ,had no idea what psi was needed. Gotta admit it, they do work well
I purchased this airbrush a few months ago to cerakote a rifle, but winter set in before I got around to it. (My workspace is unheated.) Tomorrow, a 68°F day, I intend to airbrush it and heat cure it.
I appreciate the review, I have a bit more idea of what to expect.
I got one of these for base coating terrain, and it does a good job for putting down a good coat of paint. Better than the spray cans. I let my 8 year old son use it, he didn't have too many issues with it.
I've had this one for years. Work good so far.
Thanks for the review I've been painting with cans for 10 years now and been thinking and try airbrush
Thanks for the video I’m New into airbrushing this is the one I bought for my first one so it’s all I know I’ve gotten pretty comfortable with it over the last few months if I ever got my hands on the top shelf airbrush I might not know what to think!😂👍
this is the one I use for all my airbrushing
I airbrushed the inner frame of the mobile pod ball using this airbrush and the result were fantastic (especially that I never airbrushed before)
Killer video!! I'm jumping the gun but so far so good! Thanks for posting! I bought this rig for my rc bodies!!! From Georgia...👋👍✌ I had to watch the entire video! 🤬 great!! Dude very educational I'll be using my rig for the first time here in the next week or so..this body is for my losi 22s drag car! My fiance sponsors both my infraction v2 and the dragster. So I feel I have to paint this 2020?? Chevy pickup in her honor. Thank you a million! I hope theres a spot to tip I wont to support your channel..
Pretty cool airbrush for the price I’m gonna get one to play with
I have one and am a total beginner...I have to admit I liked it. Now I need a "spray booth"
Might have just been mine. But had to play around with the position of the needle to get decent coverage from it. But it's also my first airbrush I've ever had
Preset adjuster to limit pre travel so you can bypass and lock in a certain spray setting much like a spray can
I love the delicate and sensitive way he inserted the needle. Would have gone even faster with a sledge hammer.
And says, "It's a pain to get in" Well no crap, when you are jamming it in.
His videos are sped up, thats why it looked that way.
I love your videos. I actually had about six months of experience with this one and I have to say that I was wildly disappointed. It was great first, but it is super inefficient with paint and the rubber seals break after four months. Then you have to do a deep clean of the airbrush every use (even between colors) with paint thinner. I ended up buying an Iwata Neo, and I might buy an Iwata Eclipse at the end of this year
You can't beat a Japanese airbrush. I love my GSI Creos Mr Hobby. Mega easy to clean too. My favorite item I own. I now own 3 of them. The difference in a great airbrush is stunning.
The screw is to set it for single-action/fine lines but doesn't go back all the way, so you can pull it back and clear the nozzle without messing with your already preset setting,
Cool and east coast accent and a voice that doesn’t sound like a mob hit man but a New York professor of fine art
I have used that for clear coat good results
I have the Whole set they sell the compressor and ab work great. I've since upgraded to a neo and eclipse hp cs. I use the harbor freight ab as a primer ab, my little neo ab is a metal color ab , and my hp cs is my main brush. Also I have and it does work upgraded and fit a neo .5 nozzle and needle and it fits and works great.
Great set up. Using certain airbrushes for certain types of paint is the way to go
@@barbatosrex9473 yes I just subbed like your stuff broseph!
Really enjoying the channel thank you and keep up the great work. jv.
At least you gain glass jars if all else fails !
Thanks for your review video
I have a couple of these and the good thing is a ton of Badger parts are interchangeable with these.
Just found out there is actually a Harbor Freight in my general area and planning on going and checking them out soon. Been watching your vids for about a month now and subbed. I only wish they weren't so long and it seemed like much of the vid could have been paired down when you were checking the universal cap against all of your current bottles. While interesting I was more interested in seeing how the airbrush performed so had to fast forward to that point in the vid.
I just sub'd to your channel your content is really valuable as I mostly model pickup trucks and cars 1/25th I have a Master Dual Action Airbrush for several months but am really intimated from using it thanks for sharing!!!!
Thanks for the sub! Don't be intimated, it's really not that bad. Once you get the cleaning process down the rest is a cake walk
Hey thank you for reviewing this . You got a sub . Can't wait for that compressor review. I paint 1:1 models by hand never tried air brushes.
Thanks for watching
Have you tried putting the needles of these cheaper airbrushes into a drill, putting some metal polishing compound on a microfiber, and running the drill on it to smooth out some of the imperfections? Might be something to try in the future.
Just looked that you replied to another comment on another video that mentioned this. Woops! Another great video! I'm pretty sure I've watched every video of yours hah!
I use it for spraying craft paint mixed with mod pog for sealing certain projects. It is cheap but works for priming as well. However, I would not use it for models if you want them to have a quality finish. I would never spray what I do with this airbrush with my quality airbrushes. Meaning this airbrush has its purpose. If you keep it clean it does spray fairly well for the price. I would also polish the needle to improve its operation.
Really glad you tested this dual action.. I have been thinking about trying one of these for times I don't want to use my Iwata... Just toss that silly paint cup.. I use the siphon feed Iwata with custom tip, needle and adjustable stop tail, and prefer to use the siphon bottles that I can cap. Sometimes I need to spray harder to clean up materials or am
doing scenery and just don't need the precision of my Iwata... hence looking for a second 'more industrial' less expensive dual action.
I just tossed my cup in the garbage. I just recently tried to shoot some floor polish through... it don't like it. Problably cause the needle is too fine. You ever tried changing out a broader needle on this HBF special? Again, thanks sharing your knowledge.
For the air holes on the caps just get some small avery dots to cover the holes.
Great review I've got both of those gun from Harbor Freight they do all right
When I turn on my fan I put a paper towel at the back. The suction holds the towel in place and catches a lot of particulate saving my filter.
Good video on the air brush!! 👍👍👍
I bought one and after one attempt at using it (painting the bluing on titanium motorcycle race exhausts). Decided I needed a better tool. The cup is ridiculous, as mentioned, and you have to keep it filled to a level that spilling is a risk. Now I only use it with the bottle when I have a large volume paint project.
The nozzle is a 0.35mm. I have the same brush. It's a generic that gets branded by companies. I'm not a fan, but kept it larger spray jobs.
Can u do a video on some basic colors that u suggest and look good? Black, red, blue, green, yellow.. pretty much just basic colors
wow ! The Stynylrez gloss black looks nothing like the results I got with it (!) I wonder if I got some from a bad batch because honestly after I did a load of test sprays I put the stuff down as just being junk. It didn't lay down well or even give a gloss, more of a satin look. Thank you for testing that, another great vid !
The secret to Stynylrez is to thin it. It says no thinking required but I found out like you the Gloss black looked awful. Then I thinned it and got good results. I always test paint according to the label first and then I adjust.
I need to paint my house and really hate having to refill those tiny airbrush cups. Now I know I can premix a couple of gallons at a time and paint for weeks. Seriously, I literally spray two drops of Alclad at a time! I think this cheap bottle stuff is going to leak when spraying and dry out when stored. You should test whether it is compatible with some of those lacquers as well. I have paint that is 30 years old that is still as fresh as the day I bought it because I store it either in the rattle can or in airtight bottles. Paint is not cheap!
Would it be possible to replace the little screw in front of the trigger with a longer screw from the hardware store, so that it can push the trigger back all the way? Might be able to simulate a single action airbrush if needed.
You can buy 10 packs of the glass jars with lids and metal tops on Amazon. I just got one of these airbrushes and ordered a pack of jars so I can keep different thinners in them
GREAT SHOW
"Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends" 😉 am I dating myself with that song reference
I noticed that you were not going to be able to use the quick disconnect on the larger bottle. Before you showed the spray booth footage. I do like all your videos. You should be a salesman for all the products that you use, I have said my times that I need that. You are great. Great lessons.
I'd like to see how the stynylrez goes through the $10 harbor freight one you tested before
Do you recommend this over the 10 HF airbrush?
Love the bottles. With the procon I also have 2 passche’s with 5he jars. 1 for primer, and one for clear those bottles would be perfect, thanks.
The same one I tried out had a defective O-ring right out of the box. When I did get it to spray, I couldn't get it to do a straight line across the paper. Primering is about all these are good for. Better off just getting the Iwata Neo to begin with IMO.
Interesting. At $20 it might be worthwhile. I use my Badger airbrush at about 40 to 60 psi. Works pretty well at those pressures.
Your videos are great
Im brand new in air brushing
Whats a good paint you’d recommend for a beginner to learn on ?
Nice review! Random question: What do you do to spray the Tamiya surface primer through an airbrush? What do you thin it with? Or add a flow improver, anything like that?
You thin it with lacquer thinner
good tips bro
my trigger popped off and the metal pull back klip. Its on again but does not pull paint.
For $20 its actually pretty good!
I'm not the best at keeping things organized, but I lost all of the red caps for the bottles within a month of getting them in rotation. I am a full time user. My projects get out of hand some times...
It's like the Grand Prix paint pitstop area! You say that the £100 airbrush is better for quality, I would like to see you just test some top airbrushes to see the difference. Now that you have a good reputation you might get some free gear... well you could try anyway.
I am trying, as I do want to test everything 😏
They are actually not a bad gun. I have one as a backup.
Where did you get the quick connects?
Just got the food dehydrator you mentioned,question, it says for break in to run it for 30 minutes but doesn’t say at what temperature.
Should I set it at the highest temperature?
Stay safe.
Just hit the power button and it will turn on at a default temp, high temp is fine, and let it run the half hour. As for the quick disconnect I use these, one is the unit and the other link is the 3 pack of end caps . If you use these links, I get credit but I think you know that
amzn.to/36S3U7d
amzn.to/3rA0tKC
The point of the cup is to turn it toward the front for working upward.
Rex- great video. I am a novel taxidermist and am repairing a deer skull for a european mount. I reattached the antler to the skull but had to use a 2-part epoxy to help fill in some gappage in the skull. I bought this Harbor Freight airbrush in order to try and blend the color of the epoxy to the skull. Can you point me in the right direction for which paints i should purchase that might be close in color? And how to thin? I have never airbrushed a thing in my life so I will have to watch some more of your vids to gain some knowledge. I can send u a pic of the skull if that would help? Thanks!
You would more than likely need a military type color palette, meaning greys, Browns and greens. Tamiya and Vallejo would be good for you. Tamiya can be thinned with isopropyl alcohol. For the Vallejo I would go with their Air line up. The Model Air paints are pre thinned and ready to spray. It will come down to the colors you're looking for. I will be doing a video on Tamiya paints within a week so look out for that
Only thing I use the cup for is running the air brush cleaner threw it
Hello, can you write me the name of the paint? the black gloss bottle
what air compressor do you suggest specially when you talk about thicker paints thanks scooter s
I'm getting in my new compressor tomorrow. I'll be shooting a video to compare the two that I have
good review! a quick question from me who is just starting, which one would you suggest the $10 model or this $20 one? thanks
The $10 one
@@barbatosrex9473 thank you.
Is it safe to store lacquer primer in the jars? 🤔
Do you have any idea how well the $30.00 Master airbrushes work, and have you done a video review of them?
Master Airbrushes aren't too bad but I would recommend a Mad Works brand airbrush. Under $50 and super quality
@@barbatosrex9473 - OK, was just wondering.
I have already had a cheap single action syphon type airbrush I bought years ago for doing scenery on my second N-Scale model railroad layout, as well as in artwork. Until this year, I used a medical type breathing nebuliser compressor on that airbrush.
About 6 years ago, my son-in-law (who's an auto-body and fender man), gave me one of his older syphon type dual-action airbrushes of which he no longer used after he upgraded to the more expensive airbrushes (needless to say, I have never used it yet).
Because I'm Retired and now getting back into both N-Scale model railroading, and also back into artwork again), I was considering saving up for several months (low fixed-income Social Security retirement income doesn't go very far after bills are paid), and possibly buying a gravity feed "Iwata Eclipse HP-CS 4207". ( I was originally going to use the compressor in my woodshop with a long hose, moisture trap, and pressure regulator atached).
Then this year (back in March, my daughter and grandkids bought me one of those $90.00 Hobby compressor's with both an air tank, and a pressure regulator atached, as well as one of those $30.00 gravity feed type dual action "Master" airbrushes (with 3 different size needles), for my birthday. I haven't used it yet, but more than likely I will when I get farther along in getting my new layout built.
So, I was just wondering how well they worked as I know you test and review a lot of airbrushes as well as airbrush and other paints and you always give an honest opinion.
Anyway, Keep up the great work. I enjoy watching your video's, and listening to what you have to say. Many thanks for a job well done. - Yes, I have become a fan of yours, and have watched many of your test and review video's.
@@ProspectorsGhost well I think you already have a decent set up there. When you factor in the 3 needle sizes with your airbrush then you're ready to go. Practice with the middle sized needle to start with. Spray black paint on white poster board and spoons. It's great practice and you'll be ready go in 1 day
@@barbatosrex9473 - OK, will do. "Thank You" for the wonderful advice.
Needle size is .35 or .30. Cannot remember and they do Not sell replacement parts, as ibe stated in previous comment iawata parrs do fit. But I WOULD NOT use those iawata parts after fit in this cheap ab and reuse in my neo or eclipse hp cs
I think they said the max operating pressure is 30psi. I've seen other videos where they tried this exact same sprayer and it didn't work until it hit 30psi.
Yours looks like it's pushing a lot of air at 30psi....
I'm a noob and haven't tried to air brush yet. What could you recommend as a thinning agent for acrylic? Something that would work across all manufacturers/brands..
Great video👍👊
Now that's a tricky one. You see, all acrylics aren't equal. Tamiya acrylic is different from Vallejo. You can thin Tamiya with lacquer thinner but you can't with Vallejo. Mr Hobby Aqueous is the same as Tamiya, it's a solvent based acrylic. Vallejo, Model Master, Humbrol, AK, Ammo by Mig don't have solvents like Tamiya does. So with those you can use this amzn.to/3cRS6pp or this amzn.to/2OjHNAq
And use this as a flow improver amzn.to/3cV37WY
Let me know what paints you plan on using
@@barbatosrex9473 wow, I didn't realize the differences would be that great. It's 11:00pm so I'll get you the manufacture name in the morning. I hope my airbrush works as well as they one you showed.
Thank you.
@@SeasparrowDD979 have a great night.
i went ans purchased this for only a primer and flake brush. that paint cup siphons down to the bottom even if it's only a drop or two just fine for me
Iawata quik release fits that cheap harbor freight ab.
The angle of the first jar you showed is wrong for the cheap $10 harbor freight airbrush and could be why it didn’t work. It needs to be 60° for single action and those were 30° for dual action only. Try the jar from the paasche with it. The plastic one you showed is the right angle but might have a micro crack somewhere you can’t see, but think of it like a straw, Have you ever accidentally bent a straw and it didn’t work after that?
Can you do a segment on special effects, such as pearl, metalflake, and so on?
Many test videos are planned. Is there a brand of pearl paints you are interested in?
@@barbatosrex9473 I have a couple old revell harley kits and want to make models of the various bikes I've had. I built one back in the sixties and used glitter under clear with, shall we say, mixed results. I watched your video on the powder and wonder if you can just sprinkle it on wet paint for metalflake effect. Also, I wonder how the stuff in an etch a sketch would work. I've been out of modeling for a long time and just starting airbrush, and the various craft stores around here are limited. Thank you for answering, I am learning a lot from your videos.
@@richmiller2711 I guess sprinkling the flakes might work. You do have to push them into the tacky paint for it to work but maybe just a few light taps would do it then shake off the rest. Then clear coat it for that flake effect
@@barbatosrex9473 thanks, I visited a big hobby shop over the weekend. All paints are pretty picked over.
How do I clean the airbrush out when I am done using it and I want to put it away? Not change colors I want to be done how do I clean it?
Check out my video on that here
th-cam.com/video/mXvnkPebzA0/w-d-xo.html
Awesome
Question about pre-thinning. If I wanted to pre-thin paints (both Primer and regular paints) using something like Vallejo Thinner or Flow Aid, how much do you usually throw into a bottle? Is it 50/50 (Paint/Thinner)?
Each paint is different and that includes paint in the same line up. You don't want to thin acrylics as much as you would a lacquer. So 60/40 paint to thinner is good. When you thin it just drag your paint stirrer along the cup, dragging paint with it. It should run down back into the cup leaving a slight trail of paint behind it in the consistency of skim milk.
Anymore of those glass jars? I use rubber cement paint and the naphtha will eat those plastic jars for lunch 🦈
have you tried using the glass jars on that $10 harbor freight quick change one?
They didn't fit. The jars I found to fit are Mr Hobby brand jars
I’m really considering that $10 one but you’re right about the glass being better than the plastic.
@@andrewgershon6088 I wouldn't let that stop you from buying it. It is only $10. So you take a little more time to clean it. And you can use it for a while to see if you like it enough to get jars for it which aee also under $10. Heck, I got a Big Mac value meal the other day that was just about $10.
@@barbatosrex9473 thank you so much for replying to my questions!
Did the airbrush come with the hose or did you have to purchase the hose separately?
The hose is sold separately but Harbor Freight has one for less than $10
Maybe I'll give it another try
I use the harbor freight airbrushes also
That 4 pack for $3 looks suspiciously similar to some glass bottles I saw the other day at Dollar General. (Yes ... they have a small selection of glass bottles with similar sized metal lids ... various sizes, quantities from 3 to 4 bottles in a $1 pack, depending on the size of the bottle)
Yeah it's exactly those. It's on the "Health and Beauty" section.
UPDATE: IT IS NOT - just tried it and the top is too large. BUT, if you go to the art supply section, there is a pack that brings two bottles with Dropper style tops, these fit perfectly.
Thank you for the video. What could you suggest for shooting automotive touch up paint from a bottle? Thin it with lacquer thinner?
If it's not pre thinned then it must be thinned. If you're using a lacquer then yes, lacquer thinner. However make sure what type of paint you are using. I use a urethane car paint which needs its own thinner type.
@@barbatosrex9473 ahh. Thank you. The brand is “automotive touch up”. It’s the 2oz bottle of touch up paint. I was hoping to just be able to use regular lacquer thinner 🤦🏻♂️
@@jamesa6272 just be sure it's not an enamel because only enamel thinner will work.