Which gun to get first?

[Torquewrench]

I've got a nice full sized Sata gun. But to be set up for custom stuff I'd like to get a mini jet style jamb gun and an airbrush. In a perfect world I'd just go out today and buy a Sata minijet($300) and a Iwata eclipse($150) and dive in. But funds are tight so I can't score both right now. I'm struggling with what to get now. Project wise, I'm planning on flaming some mailboxes and a fridge to learn on and still end up with something sellable. But I've also got a couple of complete car repaints coming up in spring. So I'm confused as to what to get. Here's some options, what do you guys think?

1. Get the Sata Minijet to help with the cars and make do with it for flaming
2. Get an Iwata eclipse and go without a mini gun.
3. Get a cheap mini gun and an Eclipse.
4. Get a cheap mini gun and a cheap airbrush.

Right now I'm sort of leaning towards 3.

 

[tooter]

U CAN GET A ASTRO MINI GUN IT IS THE SAME AS THE SATA MIN JET BUT WITH OUT THE NAME AND PRICE I PAID 84.00 FOR MIN A FRIEND HAS A SATA MINI JET AND HE WISHE HED BOUGHT A ASTRO MINI

 

[Stretch]

Those guns are on special at Spraygunworld.com for $72. I've never used one so can't comment on their quality and I have no ties with the site, just an observation.

-Stretch

 

[rex]

That sounds like the best deal to me.If you want a brush buy the one you want,detail guns are cheaper to throw away if a cheap one gives up,but you'll get a good amount of use out of it anyway.

 

[TWISTED]

check bearair.com they usually have the eclipse under $100. I get my airbrushes at a craft store. I think I paid $69 for my eclipse with hose and jars. If you will be using automotive paints I would suggest getting the seals from coast airbrush. The normal seals in the eclipse break down real fast from the solvents in the reducer and paint.
If you are just using the mini for a jamb gun and not for any major paint work a cheap one will be good until you can get a better one.

 

[Torquewrench]

Thanks for all the input guys. I think I will go with a cheap mini gun for now and make sure I get a good airbrush. I hope to break into doing custom paint on bikes, so I may need a top of the line mini gun sometime. But hey, since I've got a good buffer to fight any clear problems, I'm sure I can make do for a while.

Thanks for the sources, and the reminder to get coast seals also.