First, you really don't need porcelain-specific instructions to learn or use an airbrush. The basic techniques are pretty much the same no matter what you do. The problem (with books) is that some really enjoy making a mystery out of the whole thing and allow as to how airbrushing is next to alchemy. Ha! Others take you through convolutions that leave you exasperated and worse.

There are basically two types of airbrushes - single action and double action (designs can vary greatly). The Paasche H-5 is an example of the single action. Badger's model 150 is an example of double action. With either airbrush, I would suggest no less than a medium needle (hole through which the paint flows). In the double action airbrush the trigger pushes down to control the amount of air and pulling back controls the amount of paint that flows through. In the single action airbrush the trigger goes only downward and controls the amount of air. A knurled bolt/screw/thingy on the rear of the airbrush controls the amount of color.  The single action takes some folk everywhere they want to go; the double action is a lot more versatile and worth the little bit of extra time to learn if you ever intend to do really fine work with it. I use both but actually prefer the double action. Others differ.

The air unit is what will create the hardest choice and possibly the most expensive. I think the little cans of propellant are a pain in the gazebo. The absolute quietest is a tank of CO2. With the proper controls and a source of supply this is very portable. The air compressor can be an inexpensive model that makes a lot of noise (and some dance) but does the job. They are not for heavy duty work but few of us do heavy duty stuff anyway. You can even get an adapter to use your spare tire (the one from the car not around your waist).

You do not accomplish much by buying cheap and thinking you'll upgrade when and if you take to it. It hinders your progress. A cheap brush is frustrating and those cans of Propel often do better if put in a can of warm water to keep them from freezing up when used. Go to somebody's house and let them give you a demonstration to determine if you like it and then do your own thing. There probably WILL be air brush folk around. The T-Shirt artist, the automobile art artist, the ceramist artist, any artists can help you learn and every thing is applicable.

You can build you a spray booth out of a cardboard box, metal or wood. Just put a furnace filter in the rear and some kind of fan that sucks air through same. I've often thought that a hood effect over the kiln and table with fan and vented to outside would be a fine thing for artists who paint, spray, fire, etc. Many hobbyists do not wear masks of any sort but it surely would be recommended.

How to paint with the airbrush on porcelain or whatever?
I like an airbrush with a metal cup attached to the side or top. Other folk may different greatly on this. You can mix your powdered paint with glycerin to a rather runny consistency. You can have this in a small container or tile or whatever. You can take a regular water color brush (pointed) and pick up some of your paint mixture and place in the metal cup. It may be too thick for the process. You then dip your brush into clean water container and fill brush with water (you'll get the feel of how much) and then dip brush into the cup on the airbrush that contains the paint. Then you swish it until it is mixed. Continue this until you feel comfortable with consistency (very thin). Then spray away.

Others will tell you to mix a large amount of paint to the right consistency and strain same as you pour from one jar into another. You can do this if you like or if it appeals to your compulsive nature. I do not and in my limited use (and I stress limited) I've not had a problem. If you're concerned about having the absolutely same hue on the piece you're painting then you'd better make a larger quantity, or possibly less and strain and whatever. Most of our work is not that critical. Now, the pain about airbrushing is that you'll spray on about THREE times the amount that is recommended for just brushing. More coats are sometimes necessary. And you can do this one over the other. You'll get the hang of consistency to avoid runs and sputtering. Folk recommend straining the paint to avoid spatters. If that is either an issue or fear of yours then it would be good to strain the paint. I live dangerously perhaps but my teacher said that straining was over-rated and I concur (because you can be lazier). Keep two containers of water handy, even three. Get brush and air brush clean with one container and dip clean water from the second. Using glycerine and then water makes the process water-based and makes it much easier to deal with and to clean, and cleanliness is definitely next to Godliness.

DON'T let paint dry in your airbrush. You can keep running clear water through it until it is clean (after you finish).

Books I own. There are obviously many others.

1. Mary Gilbertson, TAME THAT AIRBRUSH by Daisy Books (excellent on painting ceramics and thus very applicable to china or porcelain or what have you).
2. Badger publishes, BOBBY AND CRAFT GUIDE TO AIR BRUSHING (fine book).
3. October 1989 issue of "The Artist's Magazine"
4. Paasche published "Twenty Two Airbrush Lessons For Beginners by...."
5. Fern Cummings wrote "Give'm The Air" for the ceramic hobbyist
6. Art Carney - different articles in ceramic and IPAT magazines some years back.
7. Richard M. Goldman & Murray Rubenstein, AIRBRUSHING FOR MODELLERS
8. Dale Boyd, T-SHIRT AIRBRUSHING
9. Badger published vol.2 of AIRBRUSHING TECHNIQUES FOR CUSTOM PAINTING
10. Maynard Clark published THE ART OF AIRBRUSHING FOR CERAMICS AND CRAFTS

Disclaimers: I am a VERY novice porcelain painter. I am NOT an accomplished air-brush user, but I've done some of both and I think the airbrush ought to be used for much more than just borders - though that is a great and smooth use for same. With some resist applied you can add background colors, color washes, borders (as we've mentioned), and even do much of the painting when you become accomplished and get a fine needle.

I end with the advice of Mother Skunk: "Let us spray."

Peace,
Jesse B. (that's a male Jesse)
Woodbury, New Jersey