Test & Review Of Harbor Freight's New Airbrush And Compressor Combo - Is It Worth It ? 

I bought this nail gun as we were planning to renew all the fencing in our back garden. As this involved 19 double slatted fence panels, 10 of which needed to be cut down in size, we knew there would be a need for a great ru-vid.comUgkxHQsUrwNr5GQrnx9V4xDdUr56qxwuiBHt deal of re-stapling the wooden slats to the wooden framework. Each alteration required the re-stapling of 62 wooden slats with double staples. Prior to starting the work we ordered sufficient additional staples as per the instructions with the gun.The gun performed fantastically throughout the entire project with no jams of misfires. The adjustable power was excellent allowing the staples to be fired into the 8mm slats to the correct depth. For the price paid this was a bargain and it proved itself to be so reliable and versatile making an arduous task much quicker and professional. I cannot recommend this product highly enough and it will be used on many other projects in the future.

Just picked up this kit and I'm excited to get started in the world of airbrushing. I wanted to let people know that if you signup for Harbor Freight emails, periodically, you will get a coupon for 25% off any 1 item. It lists in the exclusions that compressors do not apply. I found that this exclusion is referring to the large shop compressors. I was able to pick up this kit for $75 + tax. Keep an eye out for these coupons.

Hello...Just a quick lesson for you ,,,The air brush is a replica of an (IWATA), If you want a fine line spray, you need to remove the first end cap on the front,,this will give you a finer line. note: there will be 2 pieces of end cap,,you only need to remove the first one..Good Luck..

It's about time someone honestly reviewed an inexpensive product fairly. You dont have to hundreds for decent airbrush and compressor.

Bought this a month ago. It has worked great. New to airbrush and for $120 this set has done everything I’ve wanted. I live in an apartment so we can’t have a noisy compressor. This thing is very quiet. We also had the problem of a leaky, quick connect. Our solution was pipe tape( ptfe) and not tighten it onto the hose fitting too tightly. Too tight buckles the o-ring. So pleased with the set. Good review that I agree with.

I kinda like it. I always wanted to try airbrushing my models. To be fair, I am nowhere near as dedicated as you guys are with the hobby. I mean, I didn't even know half of this stuff even existed until I started browsing some of you model builders on YT, and I've been randomly building model cars since I was about 10. Don't judge me...

I have had the same basic compressor for about 8Years with zero issues at all

Awesome video very detailed testing of this airbrush/air compressor from Harbour Freight. I was about to purchase this but I wasn't sure. Now I am sure because of your you-tube channel. Anyways be safe out there and have a blessed day. Aloha from Kansas

Great review! Looks a lot like the generic "Hseng" air compressors which sold under a lot of brand names. I picked up a very similar one from Aldi Australia under the brand name Ferrex - the compressor is pretty much identical except for the airbrush holder and it came with a cheap siphon airbrush and rubber hose, but the entire kit was $80 AUD. Local hobby store sells them too and there's some variants with tanks.

What a POS. One week of being used and the compressor will not run - AT ALL! My guess is they have put in a cheap piece for garbage one off switch. Highly NOT recommended.

Great video. I just purchased this and it was delivered today. Tomorrow I am going to break mine out and plan to do a video on it as well. I was curious what was already out there and your video is absolutely awesome. Thank you for sharing it. I am not an airbrush expert but it looks like you are very skilled and experienced. I look forward to learning more from your channel. Liked and subscribed!

Thank you for an honest, quality review. I've been watching your videos and looking to get into the hobby. Harbor Freight often gets a bad rep but it seems like the quality of their products has improved over the years. I may consider this as my starter kit before getting into the more expensive airbrushes.

The quality of any brush or spraygun comes down to how well the holes and countours of the nozzle are milled and drilled out. There are some chinese clone brushes that look great, but must have been made on worn tooling because the nozzles are full of divots and unevely drilled holes

That is Trowa I believe. Gonna pick one of these up tomorrow. Thanks!

Thanks for the review! I recently got the bug to start customizing my action figures and I wasn't sure about getting a Harbor Freight airbrush as entry level equipment. I'm glad you included a good pressure level and cleaning instructions.

For fine lines it's recommended to use a needle size of 0.2mm. You can use a 0.3mm with good results just lower the air pressure and remove the needle cap. Spray close using a light touch of air releasing a minimal amount of paint.

Thanks! Very helpful. Particularly in the different examples of application. Made feel good about my purchase.

I found that the leak in the connector can also be fixed by adding another rubber washer for 79 cents from ACE.

Great review! Thanks for this. I have recently got back into the model building world with my oldest son and was looking for a good starter airbrush for us to work with. He is really into cars and that was what I used to build when I was a kid. I appreciate your presentation of this. I just ordered it and will give it a go on our next build as I think this will be a perfect starter airbrush kit for better quality finishes. Thanks!!!

Turns out my ol' lady had a paint shaker tucked in the very back of one of her drawers....must've been a different design.... maybe its an immersion type that stirs up big cans of paint... might be why it smells funky too. great vid as always.

Thanks for review of Harbor Freight’s air brush. Just getting back into model building and never used air brush prior. Reviews as yours help the novice along with pros- well call it as one sees fit. Will check out Harbor Freight next week, improved merchandise has better quality along with savings. Thanks again.

I have the Harbor Freight airbrush and compressor kit from when they were selling them under the Central Pneumatic brand. Nothing fancy, but it works.

I came across your RU-vid channel a month or so back. Your tutorials are very well made, organized, precise and to the point. I particularly like your emphasis on cleaning & maintaining your equipment. To me a very important point that cannot be understated. Love your work, keep 'em coming!

When you turned the pressure down to 10psi, it started splattering because of the pulsating due to lack of an air tank to buffer the pump/compressor. I run one of those el cheapo $58 Master Airbrush “adjustable” pressure tankless pocket compressor w/ double action airbrush. Also use, again, el cheapo $35 Master Airbrush pistol grip double action airbrush. They all work great, except for the “adjustment” for pressure, it doesn’t really work. But it’s actually amazing how small/thin/fine lines I can spray without the telltale dotting you get from tankless compressors. The 6ft braided hose helps a little

And thank you for being so thorough and showing this harbor freight airbrush and air compressor 👌👍👍👍👍👍

Barbatos Rex WoW I actually just bought this set/up, I agree with everything you have found here, thank you Rex!

I'm very new to airbrushing and picked up two air brush kits from Harbor Freight based on your reviews. The Avanti kit is on sale through 1/17/22. Picking one up tomorrow. Thanks for all you do.

I don't like tankless compressors, they don't provide consistent pressure for big projects...also Harbor Freight air brushes are crap...I got several of them, they're junk...just get a decent real compressor & decent air brush & you'll wind up with a lot fewer frustrations...

ONCE AGAIN, BARBATOS REX SHOWS US THE COOLIES STUFF FOR MODEL WORK!

You weren't kidding about the amount of special Q-tips that come in a box. I bought a box and It was so full it wouldn't stay closed they had to put the box inside of a plastic bag to keep the Q-tips from jumping out! More to the point of this video our local harbor freight hasn't had an airbrush in the 2 months i've been looking. Maintenance guy at work does scale models for cash and though he much prefers his Iwata he said the harbor freight brush he has was surprisingly decent. I don't do many scale models anymore but I wanted one for priming minatures and for terrain pieces but they seem to be always out. Great video Rex!

Trowa (I forget how to spell it) Barton. I haven't watched Gundam Wing in *decades*. So, yeah, thanks for making me feel old.

Thank you very much for doing this review, I really appreciate it. Really shocked on how well it performed.

Based upon your review and recommendation I took a run to the local Harbor Freight. Picked up a combo set. Caught it on sale for $95. and change, not bad. Tested it out. Seemed to work fairly well all things considered. Did use an aftermarket quick connect. I recently came upon some of your You Tube videos. I have been a modeler for a number of years mainly in the railroad area but have done other things a well. Have been using airbrushes for the past 35 yr. Primarily Binks and Badger hooked up to larger shop air compressors. Like your videos. They are good for the novice airbrushes as well as seasoned users. You have pointed out some tips I was not aware of. Never hurts to share tips and pointers with others in the avocation. Have a question with regard to the old Testors enamels. ( I remember when the were a dime a 1/4 oz. bottle) You mentioned using them in your airbrush. Didn't catch the ratio of thinner to paint. I would suspect a 50/50 paint to thinner or there abouts. In the old days used Floquil... If you have a chance let me know about the mix ratio. Thanks.

Thank you for doing this video. I bought the same one with my Christmas money and so can’t wait to get started. I’m gonna do models and t-shirts. Thank you so much. Have a great day.

Great review! Just about to buy this setup and was wondering how well it worked. Thanks for taking the time to do a review!

Never buy anything at Harbor Freight without their 20% off coupon. :) Though at $100 I'd much rather just buy a decent airbrush and a cheap compressor. Plenty of those on Amazon. Pay $20 more and get one with a tank.

Lol! Thats the second time I saw a fitting get launched across a room! Awesome review

Legitamite review, thank you! I have made my purchase with your help. First timer here and will start with the Avanti.

Would you recommend another compressor less noisy by any chance? Appreciate your input 👌 Much blessings 🙌 Ty

Can you put a link to that quick release airbrush holder in the description, please? I can't find it anywhere I search.

Bought mine about 4 months ago and I have no issues with it. I use it for both models and art work. The regulator is very serviceable as is the moisture trap. The brush itself is also of good quality. I recommend it to my friends. For the money, it's a good value.

I just bought one of these and I'm happy with it. I just used teflon tape to prevent air leaks but I ordered that Grex connector as a back up.

This might seem like a dumb question but just realize that its coming from someone who has never used an airbrush to date. So here goes, I have a craftsman air compressor that I purchased for my nail gun set is it possible to use that compressor with an air gun it has like about a 3- or 4-gallon tank on it to hold air so it probably wouldn't come one very often. This is providing of course fittings are available to step down from the hose on my compressor to the hose on an airbrush. any feedback on this would be applicated.

What can you paint on with this ? Will the paint stay on clothes, plastic, metal? Can I paint on anything?

Anyone know of different size needles and nozzles that fit this airbrush? I remember reading somewhere that there's a brand that most hobby stores sell that fit it but I cant remember what brand or model its for and can't find the post I read it on.

I just bought this same beginner’s kit and I really like it so far and I will try removing the front cover to the tip to see if it get a finer line,thank you for the review 👍

What kind of paints do you recommend? Any specific kinds? We bought this same product and having terrible with paint.

That looks like a regulator not a gage... maybe it has a gage on it...

Thats a harbor frieght air brush??? Looks EXACTLY like my Timbertech airbrush. Looks like its the same factory, different seller/branding.

Just found your channel. Nice! What setup would you recommend for painting Lexan R/C car bodies?

Thank you I just picked this kit up it's the 1st time I'm gonna try Painting with just about anything. Other than I Spray can. 🤫🤯

Could you provide a link for the single airbrush stand with the quick release that you showed in your video reviewing the Harbor Freight compressor. Just the single stand would be fine Thanks Richard

Thanks for the review. It's really helpful. Could recommend what to buy to add to it for those just starting out?

That compressor is a repackaged Central Pneumatic compressor that Harbor Freight has been selling until this year. What's the model number of the Tooty Compressor you have. Your link just takes you to page of compressors.

I can't hear the compressor over your fan.

I have that combo do not over tighten and it won't leak

I just bought a portable compressor and air brush combo off amazon, and I can with that exact same air brush, I just used it for the first Time and I'm very new to this hobby, but so far the air brush seems to work well, I like the idea of havin a portable compressor it seems like It would run better on wall power which you can do. And for 90 bucks for the combo isn't a bad entry price for getting into the hobby aswell. I got mine on sale for 65 so really can't complain

Hey Robert,this is funny I'm in Portugal azores in my home town for 2 weeks and still watching ur videos and my wife says ,,really Evan across Canada I do still enjoy ur videos u come with me every where but just a suggestion I'm fron faial azores ilha Azul u should give ur blue paints Azul for blue

00 is great. I don't know how I stumbled upon this video at 5:30 am. Thanks for testing it with primer also. I am going to be painting some M16 furniture green and maybe some other small jobs and I think this combo meets my needs prettu good. I think it's worth mentioning that over a blower fan I can't even hear the pump, big deal. Nice vid

I have the older HF airbrush kit. I didn't care much for the tankless set up, as it changed the pressure instantly so much. My buddy gave me an old junk 2gal air tank I think it was just a tire tank, but I mounted the compressor to it and plumbed it into the tank. Now I can get a pretty decent amount of air before the compressor has to kick back on. May still be a cheaper alternative if someone wants a little more air capacity.

Any tips on putting craft paint through these airbrushes? I'm trying to paint on a tight budget. I've watched you other videos show you use them, but am having real difficulty getting the paint to come through consistently.

Appreciate the video! My girlfriend got me one of these for christmas and I'm really into it so far. My model group and I were talking about what an amazing grunt the Leo was earlier this week lol. Wing was great. Those shakers are amazing too. That's next on my list.

Wow I just bought this yesterday, great timing YT recommendations

I quite liked the video, thanks! What was the holder/stand you use to organise your airbrushs? The one that is like a quick release. You mentioned where you got it but it goes so fast that I can not understand what you said.

They are on the web sight. It would work great for a full primer coverage for me. Thanks for sharing. I like to see reviews before I spend the money because I'm limited. 🙂👍

Actually what. You need? Is. A little stable air pressure? I think shut off use the air in the system and then starts backup. It's not very stable

i had the same airbrush for about 2 years now and this year i bought similar chinese compressor, onlt i got the tank version , and it came with a bit more advanced airbrush with 3 needle/jet sizes in my case the air was leaking next to the compressor so i used teflon tape to seal the threads, quick release was working fine in my set though compared to my previous plastic tankless compressor that came with the first airbrush it is a gamechanger for the price i get my set i think they are very begginer friendly, but the more you pay the better set because money not only give you a tank, but also lower screw for air pressure release at the airbrush and few extra needle sizes i never had any airbrush training but the more i paint with it the better the trains i make gets one drawback with the gun though, it often not like acrylic paints , some of the paint stays in the nozzle cup and with time clogs the output. i might be thining them at the wrong ratio but the overal i say that is a very good airbrush my came with plastic air pump in a set for about 30-40$ and the tank compressor with a better airbrush set was about 120$ but the price might vary, my set was unbranded with the importer/shop stickers as the only indication what it was

No shit! Now I want to watch House. I’ve only ever seen a couple episodes. I loved scrubs back in the day so I figured I would like house. Never bothered though. Thanks for the info!

Ive just bought an AS06 Diaphragm Compressor with Bleed Valve Regulator can i change this bleed valve regulator to the one in this video as my compressor is a continuous running one

In other news, I happened to get a 25% coupon from harbor freight in my email today. I’ll be taking brush soon!

The old harbor freight combo was and is to this day my airbrush. I’ve never bought another except some lesser quality brushes online but totally serviceable. I’ve greatly enjoyed it and while I’m no expert, it suits me.

Thanks for the great review! Just getting into airbrushing. I think this kit will do me well, and watching you will help me learn tips and tricks! Thanks again!

No matter what I set my air pressure to, when in use the needle goes down to ~20psi while airbrushing. it will go back up when I stop but won't stay at anything over 20psi while continuously in use. Am I doing something wrong?

....keeping pressure in the tank, while not in use, prevents inside of tank from rusting, due to any moisture that usually builds up.....

If the Avanti brand is the same one I'm thinking of this should be good. They do air handling systems. Yes, its nice to see Harbor Freight step its game up.

I just bought this today and I am not getting an even spray - it is spraying and paint is coming out then no paint comes out then a blob of paint drops out. I hate it already. What am I doing wrong? Any guidance you could provide me would be appreciated. I followed your instructions for set up. I have it set at between 20-30

Just got done unboxing this thing. Low and behold the compressor doesn’t shut off. I followed the instructions… no leaks, holds pressure. Have to take it back to harbor freight and switch it out with another one. Kinda pissed about it.

To buy another compressor because it doesn’t have a tank is silly when u can put a tank on the avanti, just bought one, on the way is a .9liter tank. Great review

Do you plan on doing a review or assembly-painting video for the Iwata space ship? That thing looks amazing

Blow air WHILE changing the regulator!! 😮

Awesome review! I usually shop harbor freight for my tools. I will definitely be looking into this in the near future! PS You were correct on the Gundam series, but that's Trowa Barton, not Heero. Trowa pilots Gundam Heavyarms 😜

As far as sound. One is on the carpet and the other is on a resonating plastic table. I do love the tank setup. I wonder if my gigantic 5ft tall shop compressor could just be regulated to run my airbrush and not have it come on all night.

Thanks for the great review. This is a great value for the price. I've used my cheap hardware store airbrush that's similar to this one for almost 40 years. It's been a trusted workhorse for a long time. There are some aftermarket needle and tip sets that interchange. If you're wanting to do fine lines. As well as bigger needle and tip, for heavier coverage. If you're new to this, that can save you some money. Hobby Lobby I know carries some, from Badger and Iwata.

The modo mk-12 straight out of the bottle is suited for brush painting. They recommend a 1 to 3 thinning rate on the bottle for airbrushing, I personally use about a 1:2.5 paint/thinner with a .3 procon and around 15-20 psi.

Pro tip, they ley you use the 25% coupon on this! Picked mine up for $75 dollars!

Just wondering if you ever find a product you review that is crap? So far you’ve been pretty positive about everything you review.

Great tutorial review on their Airbrush. I've been contemplating painting my h.o.scale flex track and whether to get this airbrush kit or just use spray paint in a can. The advantage to the airbrush is doing weathering of the sleepers as well. Thanks for sharing this video and I'm viewing it from Delmar, Delaware.

@Phoenix RC Crawler I'm having a thought....

How do you clean the water trap?? And what paints are you using? Mine the paint needs to be water thin to work and requires countless layers.

I have a 4 foot model ship I want to paint some trim approx 3 cm wide Can I dilute household interior latex paint enough to air brush this trim? Appreciate it

Thanks for the video ❤

Check your harbor freight mine has this for 97.99 till the end of March

Thanks, this was helpful! I picked this Avanti kit up a couple of weeks ago after checking out this video. I'm a total beginner. I paint mostly Warhammer/40K minis. So far so good after a couple of sessions. The cleaning videos on this channel were also very helpful. So far, I have used Vallejo matte black primer and some CItadel air paints. For today's session, I will be using the needle limiting knob and cranking down the pressure to 30PSI.

why arent you using the dual action airbrush as such. the press on lift off, press back on is not testing the airbrush.

Great review. Can you share with me the model number of your Tooty air compressor?

Just bought one today and tired it out. Leaked in the same place. Can anyone direct me to the correct coupler that doesn’t leak?

THE BADGER 150 IS BEST ... GET ONE USED ON E-BAY FOR $50.00 AND FREE SHIPPING.

Thank you for you insightful video. I enjoyed seeing the professional results you have obtained (and what others can also obtain) with a modest airbrush kit. Also, the external tank is a MUST as you pointed out. Eventually a newcomer like myself would want to work up to an airbrush with the external tank. Thanks again for your video.

A tank would add usability.

You da man!! I'm following you with mine I just brought home. Thanks.