air brush or small paint gun for small parts?, need recommendations Options

[anthony]

I've been painting the bumpers on my girlfriend's Toyota truck and it's been driving me insane*. I found some nice satin laquer at Orchard (much much cheaper than the wurth stuff) and it looks good but the rattle can keeps spitting out large droplets periodically ruining the finish.

I was thinking of either buying an airbrush or a small detail paint gun. How about something like this:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Disp...f?itemnumber=86

or something like this:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Disp...temnumber=47791

I've never used an airbrush before. Is it big enough for painting something the size of a bumper or say engine tin or wheels?

My other criteria would be something I could use in the garage without making a huge mess and getting paint on everything else.





*Painting the bumpers on the Toyota is a long story. I was just going to install them but when I took the bumper out of the box it was a medium grey. The valence I got for the car is satin black. If they had both been the same color I would have just installed them as is. I hate working on other people's cars. :-)

[djm914-6]

Paasche does make a nice gun, but Iwata is better for quality. Still, the most expensive small airbrush will not paint a bumper well. You need more than a 2" spray pattern. Most quality airbrushes will spray automotive paints if thinned properly.


Another thought for the typical CSOBOSC is a better technique. Buy a $3.00 spraycan handle at your local hardware store, Lowes or Home Depot. This gives you better control and less fatigue. Next, shake the can well for 30-40 seconds. Let the can sit in a bowl of HOT tap water (not boiling) for 1 minute. COntinue to shake for another minute then spray. The hot water will help build up the air pressure in the can for a smoother spray and less blobs. Don't try to get every last drop of paint from the can of blobs will appear. If your spraying for a very long time, remember to shake occasionally and even let the can set in the hot water again.