Starter tat set up for small parties: What do you think?

[thereallara]

Hi, I'm a face painter and would like to add airbrush tattoos to the party business. I'm on a ridiculously small budget but hope I can get something useful anyway. I'll upgrade equipment if I can afford to do festivals or larger events later.
What do you think of this as a starter system?

Compressor (has to be light weight, portable, quiet, and um...cute)

From Airbrush Depot:
A) Super Quiet High Performance "Salon II"
Airbrush Compressor Model TC-18
http://www.tcpglobal.com/airbrushdepot/compress.aspx#abdtc700

B) Model TC-06 High Performance Diaphragm Airbrush Compressor
(same web link as above)

C) Or, not being able to afford a better one; should I go with a co2 tank?

Air brushes:
http://www.harborfreight.com/professional-6-color-airbrush-kit-with-holder-95923.html

Professional 6-Color Airbrush Kit with Holder
Item # 95923 Manufacturer: Central Pneumatic
Bad idea or Ok for light use?

Really wish I could just get this Graftobian set from sillyfarm! http://www.sillyfarm.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=1974&parent=249

As for the paints, I was looking at Duratat or Temptu. Not planning on using them on the face, only for body art.

Thanks so much for any advice you can give me. I really appreciate the help.

[AndyW]

Hi and welcome, know doubt some folks with experience here will pop in, however there are a lot of threads on good start up advice.

[Stang]

Go to General Airbrushing and check out my tool box. I have an Iwata 850 compressor, badger 155 airbrushes, a 12 port manifold and a homemade pvc airbrush holder. I think any small compressor would work. I use a bigger one for bigger events but for and afternoon party there shouldn't be a problem. I took a screw driver holder for a peg board and mounted my manifold to that, drilled two holes in the side of the box so I can hang the manifold on the side. everything I need fits in that box and I can pull in and set up in 15 minutes.
I've heard Temptu had good inks. I was using Airbrush Body Art but their customer service is terrible. Ordered $300 worth of inks and stencils July 27, they took my money but still waiting for my stuff.

[Neil]

I always tell my students to buy the best equipment they can.The cheap Chinese stuff will just turn them off of airbrushing.I dislike Diaphragm compressors because they heat up quickly and their fore have a relatively short life.Harbor Freight airbrushes are cheap knockoffs of the Badger 150 which isn't a great AB for tatts.Good inks can be found by Badger(Totally Tattoo), EBA,Tribal inks, Etc.I have instructions on my website on building a manifold with a bottle holder attached.Harbor Freight does sell a 6 gang manifold with quick connects at a good price

Neil
www.getpainted.com
Painting America one body at a time

[thereallara]

Thanks Neil, this is exactly the type of advice I was hoping for. In general cheap tools are more of a headache than anything, I know!

[asiancop]

Don't get one of those salon air compressors ever... it does not have an automatic shutoff and will easily overheat. I got one in a kit when I first started airbrushing and it died the first time I did a whole body paint... I have a much better compressor now, but I bought a backup at Harbor Freight for $70. It doesn't have a tank but it can hold some decent psi. It's not so good for the low PSI under 20 though but the nice thing about harbor freight is there store warranty, which covers the compressor for 2 years even if it dies as my fault.

[Fishboy]

Don't forget to use a moisture trap. The further down the line from the compressor the better. I have mine after a 25 foot coil of copper tube that I keep in a cooler with icepacks. basically a home made condenser. I couldn't spray more than 5 minutes without it down here.

Some people really like CO2. Just remember that it can attract mosquitos and you will need to make sure there is a place nearby to get refills. With CO2 it's probably not a bad idea to have two tanks to make sure you never run out mid gig.

[bigwater]

CO2 can get cold real fast too and freeze either the gun or the skin of whoever you're painting. Go slow and easy if using CO2 as your boost.