Best airbrush spray booths according to redditors
We found 58 Reddit comments discussing the best airbrush spray booths. We ranked the 10 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 58 Reddit comments discussing the best airbrush spray booths. We ranked the 10 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Welcome to the subreddit! I think I can answer a couple of your questions about paint. Some people swear by doing it outside when the weather is nice, especially in the cooler months, where humidity and dust aren't as prevalent. I personally paint indoors. I picked up a paint booth from Amazon for under 80 bucks and it works great! I just vent the fumes outside through a partially opened window with the vent the booth comes with.
Paint booth from Amazon
As for preparing the body. I've always been told to wash and dry the parts involved first with soap and water, then allow to dry completely. You can accelerate this with a dust free cloth or hair dryer, pick your poison. Then sand the body with a 600 grit grade of sandpaper, rinse again, and wet sand (body and paper are wet with 1000-1200 grit) Once that's done, you're ready for priming. Model builders who are way better at this than me typically recommend 1-2 coats of primer, the color depends on the body color. So for bright colors, use a white primer. For darker colors, use a grey primer. After you've primed a couple times, its time to take the body and sand it again, with 1200 grit. Get it all smooth, then shoot the color. First three coats are mist coats, sprayed 10-12 inches from the model, very light coats. After that comes 2 or 3 wet coats, sprayed closer to the model, careful not to overpaint or you'll get dripping or pooling in some spots.
There are lots of forums for modelers, including this one. The mods here put together a painting FAQ you can see on the right side of this page. I like your truck! Looks great! I hope some of these answers help.
Want to get into airbrushing but not sure which kit to get - was hoping someone could recommend one to me
So far I'm interested in these two
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001TO578Q/?coliid=I1SXGU2NC07752&colid=R7SNPP6EN7WU&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071J4M3X6/?coliid=I1XQMNT8SQI7FQ&colid=R7SNPP6EN7WU&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Also wanted to get this airbrush booth and was wondering how frequently I would have to change filters and how difficult it is to do so (ie. is it easy to find replacement filters and is it difficult to take apart and put back in)
https://www.amazon.com/F2C-Airbrush-Extractory-Portable-Powerful/dp/B01N7KS6WD/ref=pd_sbs_201_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01N7KS6WD&pd_rd_r=VEZEEP5S6M236Z4M1K9M&pd_rd_w=lqEqi&pd_rd_wg=HcIxM&psc=1&refRID=VEZEEP5S6M236Z4M1K9M
>I'm considering spraying outdoors in a large plastic rubbermade, and then whisking the whole thing indoors and setting it front of my downstairs bathroom heater between coats.
That's pretty much what I did at first, until I ponied up $80 and bought this. You can probably build one from hardware store parts for around the same money. It's set up in a spare bedroom and ducted out the window. Works great.
If you're going to spray outside, be really careful when you heat up your spray cans. I actually stopped heating mine due to overpressure. Typically, I'd set the can in warm water (from the tap), no more than 110 degrees, hand-washing temperature. I was shaking and spraying a model when POP! the bottom of the can went from concave to convex (this is a design feature of all aerosol pressure cans). Thought it was just the can, but a few days ago, similar situation. Heated the can not even to 100, just lukewarm water, and heard a couple of small pops when I was spraying - sure enough, two places on the bottom are dented outwards.
Just minimize the time outside - keep the model and can inside, shake the can, get the dust off the model, run outside, spray and run back inside, then cover the part to keep the dust off while it dries.
Master Airbrush Brand Portable Hobby Airbrush Spray Booth for Painting All Art, Cake, Craft, Hobby, Nails, T-Shirts & More. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BMUH8L6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_FFfmDb096SQ20
This is a similar one my wife got me for Christmas last year.
No smells that are noticable so far.
Since returning to the hobby, I haven't had many weeks when I didn't pick something up.
holy tools Batman!
Starting from the top right we have:
RB Productions handle bender (I don't build armor!)
RB Productions parallel bending jig
RB Productions angled bending jig
Iwata Eclipse HP-CS dual action airbrush
RB Productions R10 photoetch bending tool
Iwata airbrush cleaning station
RB Productions Scribe-R file (3 scribers)
RB Productions Nano saws set
Sticky pencil (not pictured)
Spray booth (not pictured) http://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush%C2%AE-Portable-Airbrush-Painting/dp/B00BMUH8L6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1422474906&sr=8-2&keywords=spray+booth
it's been a fun few months.
If you were to purchase one of these airbrush kits is there any other equipment that you need for the kit?
Also if this spray booth will anything else be required?
Want to make sure I get anything I need for a gift I’m giving.
The box behind it is a Master spray booth (folded up into briefcase form). There’s also a patio door and a HEPA filter out of frame.
I’m running pretty much the same rig. Got a 26 Gallon Quiet Compressor (Kobalt) and a set of harbor freight guns. I’m spraying inside my shop using this spray tent. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011L3DVVO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_0-ITBb7967E6B). I also run a JET air filtration system in the shop before and during spraying. It does a great job of keeping the dust down.
Great job on the flake too. Flake is pretty hard to get it to go straight to the buffer. I usually put enough to bury the flake then level sand with 600, spray a top coat, then can take it right to the buffer. I did a purple flake bass recently with a metallic purple base. Came out really nice.
Does your son already have a minipainting setup and you're looking to give them something to add to that, or are they new and getting into the hobby?Re-read your post and realized I spaced out and missed the part that you have given them a mini to paint in the past.
Do they have an airbrush? An airbrush set would be a very nice gift to a painter that doesn't have one and has probably been considering it but put off because of the cost of getting one.
This one is quite cheap and portable. which could be good since they're going off to college. It's a very basic set good for beginners. The compressor has no tank, so some people people turn their nose up at it because it's not perfect but I think it works fine for a portable option. I have this exact same one and I'm very happy with it because I don't paint vehicles or big warhammer armies - I paint 3-5 minis a month and use this to base, layer, and varnish with and you don't need fine-tuning air regulators to throw down some primer.
Alternatively, here's a less portable set with a full size air compressor, tank & regulator combo. Very good price and if your son gets more into airbrushing and later upgrades to a nicer high-end airbrush, they won't have to upgrade from the mini compressor as this tank and compressor as this one should do just fine with any brush.
If your son already has an airbrush set up, they might appreciate a spray booth.
I don't know what your budget is, but's here something any minipainter would love to have orbital shaker paint mixer for agitating paints without wearing out your elbow. Its definitely a luxury item lots of minipainters wish they could have (I know I wish I could afford one!)
I'm not OP, but it looks like an airbrush station which is purchasable on Amazon. Something like https://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush-Portable-Painting-T-shirts/dp/B00BMUH8L6/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=airbrush+station&qid=1566241870&s=gateway&sr=8-4 . Hope this helps!
I recently bought a setup about a month ago so if you are in the US, I'd recommend the following:
I have the compressor, the hose, and the booth and they've worked great for me so far. Honestly, you save on shipping vs. the Master Brand and mine came preassembled with the regulator installed. The Master Brand ones are notorious for having regulators that you screw in and they end up tilted to the side. In fact I think people in this sub have pointed this flaw out (there's a better link with pictures, I just can't find it). Items were shipped promptly and got here in one piece. You also get the discounts if you buy a certain amount from them.
I actually have an Iwata NEO that I got from Amazon for about $40ish. I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I like airbrushing or not. Honestly, I wish I had gotten the PointZero brush just as a cheap intro dual-action brush.
I think someone on this subreddit once pointed out that an airbrush is like a regular brush, just powered by air. They weren't kidding. It takes time to master. If you have the money to spend on a fancy >$100 airbrush like the Krome, then less of your time will be spent trying to master the idiosyncrasies of your brush. But it doesn't change the fact that it takes practice to be able to lay down really smooth, thin coats consistently.
I don't know how busy you are as a student, but it can be time consuming to set everything up, test your spray conditions, mix your paints, actually paint, and then clean everything up. If you find you like the process, then you can invest in a better brush in the future and keep your old one for laying down primer or base coating.
But there's nothing wrong with OOB snap builds if you find that's your thing.
edit: for link formatting mistakes, and also to say that I'm not very experienced yet, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
edit 2: My other regret is not considering compressed CO2. I live near a welding supply shop and a restaurant supply shop that both sell compressed CO2 cylinders. A 10 lb tank with high pressure regulator would have been around $120 and then some for converters or extra regulators. People on the fine scale forums claim that a 10 lb tank could last months for airbrushing and it's only $17 to refill at either shop. Would have been perfect too for carbonating beverages for homebrew purposes. Just another option to consider. Definitely do not buy the Badger compressed air cans. They don't last long enough.
Thanks! I've looked at a few spray booths, specifically this one. Any recommendations?
I use this http://www.amazon.com/Best-Choice-Products%C2%AE-Airbrush-Extractory/dp/B004ZH7RSM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420160560&sr=8-2&keywords=spray+booth when airbrushing. Works well for what you pay for it, suction is good and the filter catches most particles. Make sure you get a spare filter or two, they get clogged pretty fast.
Here's my Airbrush History
That's pretty much it from my personal experience... If you have any questions let me know and I'll try to answer it for you.
Best part is the total for my Airbrush/Compressor Combo's I both bought under $100.
COPY PASTED FROM MY RESPONSE ELSEWHERE
I bought this.
Link
Like, fumes from glue or paint?
The glue fumes from say, Tamiya Extra Thin can kind of start to get to you in a small area, but I found once I had a fan on, it wasn't bad.
As far as painting goes, there are purpose built spray booths for airbrushing, with fans in the back for extracting fumes. Something like this is what I have, although it's a little pricy. I think it's worth it because (the one I got at least) has LED lighting built into it so its really nice for visibility. Although if you were crafty, you could probably make something out of cardboard or wood, PC fans and a length of dryer hose, and there are tutorials on youtube if you wanna go that route. LED lighting strips are also pretty cheap if you wanna rig it up for extra visibility. Anything that has a fan to capture the vapor and some where to vent it safely would do.
At the very least, you should get a Particulate Filter to wear while you're painting, and maybe gluing if you're worried about those fumes. Something like this should be fine. I found mine at the local Lowe's but basically any hardware store will have something similar. Just don't get the little masks like you see nurses wear, those don't really cut it.
Airbrush Booth - You really shouldn't breath in the fumes. If you are painting indoors, you should use something like this to capture and filter the overspray/fumes. This is in addition to wearing a mask. You will see people in youtube tutorials not wearing masks and not using a booth - it's really bad practice if you care about your brain cells. I like the one below, but the fan is louder than the compressor.
80$ on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush®-Portable-Airbrush-Painting/dp/B00BMUH8L6?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe_385040_128020140_TE_3p_dp_1
$20- Paint mask/respirator - See notes above. I use one designed for spray painting.
https://www.amazon.com/3M-07192-Paint-Spray-Medium/dp/B0002STR22/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469825823&sr=8-1&keywords=Spray+paint+mask
Airbrush - I recommend starting cheap until you get a hang of it. It's easy to damage parts. It's been a while since I've researched, so I apologize for having forgotten the terms. You want an airbrush that is fed from a cup on top (gravity fed?), a trigger to control the air separately from the paint (maybe called dual action?), and needles .2 to .5mm. This airbrush came with a quick connect (to snap on and off of the compressor hose), which is a big convenience. They are cheap if you need to buy separately.
$30 https://www.amazon.com/PointZero-Precision-Airbrush-Valve-Crenelated/dp/B004KNDQMM?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe_385040_128020140_TE_3p_dp_1
$10Airbrush cleaner fluid and brushes - to flush the airbrush and clean it after use.
$10- Airbrush cleaning pot - You spray cleaner and excess paint into this.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005H46T0O/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
90$ - Compressor with Tank - The separate tank is key, it will maintain constant pressure very well and provide good steady flow. This one is pretty quiet as compressors go, but still noisy enough that you need to work behind a closed door.
https://www.amazon.com/PointZero-Portable-Airbrush-Compressor-Oil-less/dp/B004KNDQCM?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe_385040_128020140_TE_3p_dp_2
$10 - Airbrush hose- https://www.amazon.com/PointZero-Airbrush-Braided-Air-Hose/dp/B004KNAH7E?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe_385040_128020140_TE_3p_dp_5
All in, it cost me $250 before paint.
The lack of window could be a problem. Airbrush cleaner is probably the worst offender in terms of fumes if you're using acrylics. You mentioed paint on varnish, if ever going to spray you'll need ventilation.
This may not help much bc of the window situation, but i got one of these and it works great. Im in northern NJ and its pretty cold in winters... window a crack with that hose out isnt bad at all
https://www.amazon.com/AW-Portable-Airbrush-Paint-Powerful/dp/B00Y83Y510/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1549659414&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=portable+airbrush+spray+booth&dpPl=1&dpID=41RN9T--cVL&ref=plSrch
So I have decided on getting a spray booth.
Does this one look alright?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004ZH7RSM/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1481355048&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=spray+booth&dpPl=1&dpID=51DA5SIaCrL&ref=plSrch
DIY is basically plywood, an HVAC filter and flex duct, a big computer fan rigged to a power supply, and some elbow grease.
This is the other option. Which I see has started to come up in cost:
https://www.amazon.com/AW-Portable-Airbrush-Extension-Powerful/dp/B00Y83Y1C8/ref=zg_bs_12898811_6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=D7375TY52WY9C1JCG2M3
You can do the DIY for half of that, really. You might even have some of the materials at hand, and it doesn't have to be wood. I've seen people do them out of cardboard, but you'll have to worry about all the dust cardboard attracts.
https://www.amazon.com/AW-Portable-Airbrush-Extension-Powerful/dp/B00Y83Y1C8/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=model+paint+booth&qid=1563384851&s=gateway&sr=8-3
​
I've been using this for a year now. Love it.
You probably have dust from the ceiling falling on your wet paint. Get a big clear plastic container and cover your parts after painting so they stay clean.
Long post incoming....
So, I don't think I've seen many airbrush discounts. Badger did a nice promotion where you could buy any airbrush for $55 for their 55 year anniversary this summer, but other than that it's kind of hard to find discounts. As far as Prime Day, I doubt they're going to have discounts on airbrushes, that's a pretty niche product they don't really get into. If you want to get started with that, I'd do something like this:
You then need a cleaning pot, some cleaning fluid, and an airbrush hose All told, that's like $300.
Then you need paint, paint brushes, a hobby knife, super glue, a mini hand drill, some small drill bits, sprue cutters, basing materials (cork board, model railroad ballast, etc) and I find a pair of tweezers helpful. That could add up to another $200 in materials (and obviously can cost way more, paint is expensive). So of your $550 budget, you would then have $50 remaining for models... which will buy you one model kit. So if you're looking to get started for $550, I'd probably forget the airbrush for now, and just get paints that can be used with one later. I recommend Vallejo paints. The eyedropper bottles work great for airbrushing, and you can just thin them with water. I haven't met one yet that doesn't work. A paint set like this would set you up nicely for doing an Imperial Guard army.
As far as what army to play... Guard is fun, but if you like the modern military aesthetic, Space Marines might be more what you're after. The new Repulsor Executioner tanks look awesome, and the new Primaris marines are great looking models... some of the best GW has produced. The Guard kits are looking kinda... dated IMO.
This spray booth might be what you need.
http://amzn.com/B00BMUH8L6
The hose can be closed in a window to vent most of the fumes. I would still recommend taking precautions to guard against mist getting on other things in the room but I use this booth in my basement and vent it like a dryer and it work fine. It is not overly large and it closes up into a compact form for storage.
I haven't used one, but a No-Spill Paint Cup may help.
Spraying indoors is usually a bad plan. If you really want to, you can buy a spray booth or build one.
I'm looking to get a spray booth for airbrushing. Amazon has a bunch of those fold-up all-in-one booths like this in the $90-$120 range. I'm wondering if anyone can vouch for their effectiveness. It just needs to do an OK job venting lacquer fumes from an airbrush, I won't be using any spray cans with it.
If those things are junk, I'm wondering if anyone has built one of those DIY plastic bin type booths, and can recommend a good, budget-priced fan to use.
I just picked up a spray booth from Amazon surprisingly cheap and does a good job at not letting the strong smell permeate the space. this is the one I bought
Non-mobile: this is the one I bought
^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?
Hm. Either way your link was caught in reddit’s spam filter because it has affiliate Tag information in the link.
Use this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BMUH8L6
So, I was thinking of starting my airbrushing career with this. I only plan on using Vallejo air colors with a respirator mask. Do I need to get the venting tube?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002KSQHB6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(inexpensive, also includes moisture trap)
​
This is the same version I use, pretty useful in a small house. I do use this spray booth to help with overspray, and I use a basic respirator for the air particles. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I1YI09O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
​
Hope this helps!
Only thing I recommend is picking up some drop cloths to make clean-up easier; it's not nearly as bad as spray paint, but some particles will still cover the ground. I bought this to use with it, and it's greatly reduced dusting.
if you can go near a window or a door you can use this https://www.amazon.ca/HomeRight-C900051-M-C9000051M-Small-Shelter/dp/B01I1YI09O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1549987646&sr=8-2&keywords=painting+tent
​
Depending on what you thin your paints with/what you clean your airbrush with: Yes.
(Personally, I try to avoid inhaling atomized windex, but that's just me.)
There are commercial grade solutions to this, such as this paint booth here that I use and love personally, or you could build your own solution with a cheap fan and $5 of tubing from the hardware store.
I can't say the product is terribly durable but mine is still going two years later, crack a window and point the hose outside
Folds up nicely if you are in a small space, put a sheet of cardboard down under it overspray tends to sneak thru the seams where it folds sometimes
https://www.amazon.com/Airbrush-Spray-Extractor-Crafts-Figurines/dp/B004ZH7RSM
Open a window, it should be fine. If you are really concerned you should get a spray booth. Example.
>is there any advice you guys could give me so that I end up ruining the finish on my kits?
Why certainly, just spray with tar thinned with engine oil, i garuantee you will end up ruining the finish on your kits =D
On topic though since i'm not much of a DIY-er and looking for a spray booth myself, i've found they don't have to be very expensive.
Example 1
Example 2
Those have a hose that you can hang out the window making ventilation no longer a problem.
Disclaimer though: i'm still looking and haven't actually used any of these nor done much research into them yet so they might be utter crap, but hopefully some fellow modelers will have experience?
What kind of paint are you spraying? If it's not acrylic, he's probably right.
There's also this thing:
https://www.amazon.com/AW-Portable-Airbrush-Extension-Powerful/dp/B00Y83Y1C8
...but in general, airbrushing in the garage may be a better idea in general, just for the sake of not ever spilling paint on the carpet or whatever.
Are you using a respirator? It's worth every penny. They are easier to breathe in than you think and saves you from dangers like these. If you are using a respirator and still getting dizzy it's time to replace the respirator or filters.
If you also have someone else in the house, also build or buy a spray booth to filter and expel the air outside.
Spray booth with a filter. Something like this on Amazon
I couldn't have said this any better - about a year ago, when I was gearing up to for my gunpla projects, i bought the cheap AW Portable Spray Booth for $50 USD and it worked great at first. But after continuous use, one day the blower wheel broke (some of the 'fins' had broken off). I opened it and cleaned it and used it for a little while longer until the whole thing exploded - could not locate a replacement for the part.
Since then, I've thought about building one myself, but for all the reasons you just listed, and my space limitations, I've held off on deciding if I should build or buy.
I'm no stranger to the master airbrush brand - I started off with the cheapo $50 airbrush kit w/ compressor ~3 years ago, and upgraded to the $100 compressor and a Iwata airbrush last year. Overall, I find that their products are good for beginners to get started, to see if its something they really want to pursue. But is it worth a $100 for what is essentially a high cfm fan in an enclosure?
I dont regret buying it, mostly because it works very well with my space limitations, but I will definitely be building my next one. I just needed something that worked, and didn't cost $400 or needed to be in a dedicated space. But there is no doubt in my mind that I spent $100 on a 120mmx120mmx38mm fan enclosure, with a switch.
But its a damn good enclosure lol I look forward to doing some actually spraying tomorrow with vallejo.
Hey! I was in a similar situation a few months ago with around a $200 budget as well. Here's what I got:
Airbrush: Iwata Revolution - It's a great airbrush and is almost always on sale on Amazon for under $100. It's easy to use, easy to clean, and is solvent safe, meaning you can spray more than just acrylics.
Compressor: Master Airbrush - I wanted something with a tank on it because I didn't want it to run the entire time, and this one fit the bill. It's super quiet (I can even run it at night), and it comes with a moisture trap, which is super important. It also comes with a hose!
That brings everything to about $200, so there's not much wiggle room to fit other stuff in if you draw a hard line on your budget, but definitely consider:
Spray Booth: Master Airbrush- This thing is amazing. I love it. It's compact and super easy to use. It folds up super tidy and even has a button to retract the cord.
Cleaner: Iwata-Medea Airbrush Cleaner - comes in different sizes, but it's been wonderful when cleaning out my brush between paints or when I need to do my monthly field-strip.
Thinner, Retarder, and Flow Improver: Vallejo products!- I love the Vallejo Auxillaries. They're easy to use, pretty cheap, and widely available depending where you live.
They make small painting tents exactly for this purpose. They allow airflow but not dust/leaves.
I own this one and like it.
HomeRight Large Spray Shelter C900038 Portable Paint Booth for DIY Spray Painting, Hobby Paint Booth Tool Painting Station, Spray Paint Tent https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B011L3DVVO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_CNhWCbCNCH324
I even did sanding in it this last winter on my deck with a small space heater inside.
I got this.
Amazon has a spray booth for about 80 bucks that is very compact when put away. This is enough for most people but if you want to be extra careful, use a respirator.
I get by with a few hundred:
Even better, once you've got a 20-30 gal compressor, you get to experience the joy of air tools!