That beginner airbrush everyone mentions for starting out is not always the cheapest, because if you buy crap tools you get crap results.
There is always seems to be a question that gets asked in this hobby, what’s the best beginner airbrush to start with? Most times, when people buy the cheapest one they can find they hate airbrushing. It totally makes sense that you want to try out airbrushing to out to find out if it’s for you. But if you buy the cheapest ‘beginner airbrush’, chances are it’s not going to work well and your results won’t be that great.
Plus with all the time you waste on it, you would have been better off buying a higher quality one and been hobbying faster! So today, we’re going to look at some great airbrushes that aren’t the most expensive but will bring you great results.
The Best Beginner Airbrush is not Always the Cheapest
Just know, if you want to get into airbrushing, you should have about a $300 budget. That may seem high, but if you try to spend less, your results will really suffer. Let’s get into it!
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Harder & Steenbeck Ultra
Great choice to start with! High-quality airbrush for an affordable price. The same self-centering nozzle used on the higher rank models (exchangeable with Evolution, Grafo, Infinity).
Harder and Steenbeck ULTRA airbrush comes with 0.2mm nozzle set and a 2ml gravity cup. For an additional purchase, a 0.4 nozzle and 5ml cup available.
Double action gravity feed airbrush.
Dollar for dollar this is probably one of the best airbrushes out there around $100. This IMHO is one of the best airbrushes at this price range on the market today.
This is the airbrush I truly wished I had learned on FIRST, as I am sure with the optional upgrades I showcase in our review video, it will last any hobbyist a very long time!
Iwata HP-CS (Eclipse)
This multi-purpose, high-paint-flow, high-detail Eclipse Series airbrush covers a wide range of uses. Commonly used to spray premixed or heavier paints, it is well suited for uses demanding precise control of spray when applying moderate-to-large amounts of paint to a variety of surfaces and to various-sized areas. This Eclipse Series brush has established a new benchmark for excellence in an all-purpose airbrush.
- Gravity-feed airbrush features a unique 0.35-mm needle and nozzle combination for fine-detail spraying, but with high-paint-flow capacity
- Generous 1/3 oz. sized cup is designed with a new funnel shape, which makes for easy clean up and more efficient paint flow
- Automotive artists, fine artists and students will appreciate how well the Eclipse CS sprays heavier acrylics and Medea Textile Colors, while maintaining high-detail spray characteristics
The Iwata HP-CS is a hobby stable that was recommended to me by Kenny Boucher at Next Level painting over ten years ago. It’s easy to obtain as it is stocked by nearly every Hobby Lobby in the country and runs for around $100-$150 depending, so not the cheapest, but it will get you great results and not break the bank. Plus they also stock replacement needles, nozzles, caps, etc. that you may need from time to time.
Overall it’s a robust airbrush with average quality internal components that you really have to stay on top of to keep clean after every use. The advantage to the Iwata is that most hobbyists use it and the parts are readily accessible. Now let’s look at what we think is the best compressor for the price out there.
Tooty Compressor
Warranty: 1 year
Specifications:
- Oil-Free Design
- Compressor housing material: Reinforced Nylon
- Auto-Shutoff at 57 psi (4 bar); Auto-Start at 43 psi (3 bar)
- Compressor Regulator: 0-100 psi (0-7 bar) – Equipped with Filter and Gauge
- 3L air tank to provide consistent air flow (no pulsations)
- 6-foot power cable
- 1/6 HP
- 110 Volt
- Air Flow: 20-23 L / Minute
- Noise Level: 47 dB / 1m
- User Manual
- 1/8″ connection
- On/Off Switch
- Suction Cups on the bottom for added stability
This compressor is suitable for commercial spraying, cosmetics, nail studios and Tattoo designs, illustrations, hobbies modeling, fishing lures, and much more. The AS-316 is a great compressor at the price including a 3L air tank to help deliver consistent airflow and stop the pulsations that tankless compressors often deliver.
Every NO-NAME Brand Compressor is INSPECTED and TESTED in our warehouse in Tampa, FL before going out to the customer!
No lie, the aptly named Tooty Compressor is a great air compressor to pick up for your airbrushing needs. This lightweight air compressor has a ton of interesting design features that we will go through. First off while a generic version of an existing compressor setup, this has a newly-designed motor on it that has not been really seen before.
It also has a huge 3L air tank and won’t kick on as much which is a big bonus as well. The heat sink on top can get hot so be careful, but using its handle can prevent any issues if you have to move it when it is hot. Most importantly, this air compressor even has an on/off switch for ease of use. This runs for about $130-140 now, but you will be able to use this for years and it’s just a great product.
If You Have a Little More to Spend
If you are already going on the track of a little nicer, if you are willing to spend another $70ish for a really good ‘beginner airbrush’, you can step it up to the next level. The next two airbrushes will really make you fall in love with airbrushing!
Harder & Steenbeck Evolution AL
Harder & Steenbeck adds a whole new meaning to the term “air brush”: The brand new Evolution ALplus is Harder & Steenbeck’s first airbrush made from aluminum, giving it an almost airy weight of only 56g, just about half as much as a traditional airbrush. And its design is striking as well, with a stylish matte black finish accentuated by chromed open needle cap, cup, lever and centre ring.
The Evolution ALplus is available as a solo model with 0.2 mm fine line nozzle set and 2 ml flow cup and as a Two in One version with an additional 0.4 mm nozzle set and 5 ml flow cup. Other than that, the Al plus has all of the Evolution CRplus models’ tried and tested ergonomics, features and functionalities
My go-to for all airbrushing needs. This baby is everything I have ever wanted in an airbrush and so much more. It weighs about half of a normal airbrush because of its Aluminum barrel and high-quality interior components that are on par with the Colani. I have yet to actually “stain” the aluminum casing with my paints as everything seems to magically fall off under light scrubbing with a plastic bristled brush.
The small paint reservoir (that is upgradable) means I waste way less paint than before, and keeps the pot fresher with fewer clogs. It is also adjustable, but all I have ever used on it is the .02 mm fine line nozzle that has had no issues with any paint I have loaded into it as long as it was accompanied with a little Vallejo flow improver per the norm. Again, this is a little more than the other two, but if you’re already spending $300, what’re another few bucks?
Harder & Steenbeck Infinity
- High-Quality Airbrush made in Germany
- 0.2mm nozzle
- Gravity feed Double action airbrush
- PTFE Seals
- Cleaning brush set and blow-back cap included when buying form SprayGunner!
Special from SprayGunner H&S Infinity CR plus set with cleaning brush set and yellow blow-back cap. Infinity CRplus – Elegant chrome design The infinity CRplus features a triple coating of copper, nickel, and high-gloss exterior chrome plating. It presents itself not only in high-quality optics but it is suitable in particular for nickel allergy sufferers as well as those users who have problems with oxidation (tarnishing) of nickel alloys because of hand perspiration.
The Infinity CRplus models are available with 0.15, 0.2 or 0.4 mm nozzle sets or as Two in One variant. An innovative long-life needle seal and PTFE seals to the cup screwing and valve are responsible for safe protection against unwanted air and color output – also in the application of solvent-based paints.
Again, this one is a little more expensive, but it works like a dream! If you plan on doing a lot of airbrushing, this can be a great buy. Even though you may have never used an airbrush before, spending a little more will make learning the process easier, your minis look better, and just increase the fun overall.
Recommended Airbrushes & Supplies
Harder & Steenbeck Evolution Airbrush (left) and Colani (right) REVIEW: High-End Airbrushes
- H&S Colani Airbrush– Amazing quality for the price.
- H&S Ultra Airbrush Probably one of the best “starting airbrushes” on the market.
- H&S Evolution Airbrush (Lightweight Aluminium)
- H&S Evolution Airbrush (Chrome finish)
- Badger Patriot 105
- Iwata Eclipse Airbrush– An awesome airbrush to get you started.
- GSI Creos .18 Super fine Airbrush Great for the smallest of details.
Tooty No-Name Compressor REVIEW: More Than a Beginner Airbrush Compressor
- Sparmax Compressor– Name Brand Super Heavy duty and quiet.
- Tooty No-Name Compressor– This is a solid overall compressor that comes with an air reservoir if your airbrush didn’t come with one.
- Aspire Compressor
- Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver Makes Airbrushing EASY!
- Vallejo Airbrush Thinner Thinner is great for getting your paints to the right consistency.
- Iwata Airbrush Lube – keep your metals lubed up!
- Grex Airbrush Cleaner – The second you buy an airbrush, you should also invest in some cleaner.
- Goose Neck Bottle for Cleaning AB– Clean your AB from every angle with high powered water!
- Tamiya Masking Tape For Miniatures: 18mm Large 10mm Medium 6mm Small
Just remember, if you buy a crappy beginner airbrush for your first purchase you won’t have good results. If you really want to get into airbrushing, you really should budget at least $300 for an airbrush and compressor that will last and not frustrate the life out of you.
Have you used any of the airbrushes above? Are you still waiting to make the jump into airbrushing?
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
