My Airbrush Setup

Summary

Trying out a DIY spray booth before investing in a better setup.

1. Find a cardboard box
2. Setup compressor and airbrush
3. Mix the paints
4. Spray and pray

I already had plenty of appropriately sized cardboard boxes from the house move.

I got out the Harbor Freight airbrush setup (a compressor and starter airbrush) This type does not have a tank to fill so it is constantly running while in use. It supplies sufficient air to spray the paint. The brush comes with an adjustable air nozzle. The accompanying bottom bottles also have an adjustable nozzle. I had to play around with the upward and forward positions of these to get a decent spray pattern.

The next important item is the paint itself. Since I am using acrylics, they could be mixed with water to get a good flow consistency. It took me a few tries, but I was able to get some good flow. You can start with a 1:1 ratio (1 part acrylic paint to 1 part water). I used a plastic drink straw to act as a pipet to transfer water from my cup to the mixing bottle.

Takeaways:

1. The spray box needs some type of vapor suction. When I was spraying, even at the slightest strength air flow, there was paint overspray everywhere. I could see it in the lighting. I didn’t need that in my lungs let alone my filming equipment. Version 2 box will have some sort of ventilation/air suction with a filter element. The air will be diverted outside somehow.
2. Lighting could be better. Even if I don’t film, I think version 2 spray booth will have some windows covered in a light defusing material like wax/parchment paper. The light source will be just outside these “windows”
3. Holder for the airbrush in-between sprays. I found that laying the airbrush on its side is not good and messes with my creative flow. I was hanging the brush off the box lid for now.
4. I like the box format of this booth as I can simply pack everything in there and move it around as needed. This is until I make a more permanent setup in my current workspace.

Happy crafting.