Hey peoples

Just curious, I'am looking to buy a better airbrush and just wanted to hear from your experience on what airbrush you prefer. I have owned only Badger airbrushes, 3 of them now, from single action to dual action and like them ok. I have heard that Iwata is the cadillac of airbrushes, any thoughts?

Thanks for your replies and Merry X-mas!

Steve

The most important part of an airbrush is the operator. A good painter can get good results with an average Airbrush, whilst anybody can make a right mess with a "Caddilac of Airbrushes". It's like darts, you have to find your own weight and shape, that works for you .

Mine is an airbrush I bought from Ohmicron, for £19.90. Dubbel action gravityfeed. All metal construction.

Cheers
Henk

I agree with Henk in that you need to find what "fits" you.
While I do not swear by it, I do thoroughly enjoy using my Iwata.

I have an Iwata gravity feed.

Seeing as how I have never used anything else its the best for me. I am getting great results with it so far.

From what I have seen you get what you pay for when buying one.

The one I use the the most is a 20.00 airbrush I bought at Princess Auto.. Its a pistol grip style, really comfortable in the hand.. Great for overall work and medium lines... For fine work, I use an aztec double action with a tan tip...

Dave

I have a badger double action gravity feed, but lately after switching to vallejo air paints ive been getting a bunch of clogging around the needle that leads it to spatter and not put out a good fine mist....its really pissing me off. I tried thinning with alcohol and distilled water but still get the same result. Anyone know what might be going on here?
Ian

Yes I too have to agree with the others, I had a simple Paasche that I used for years. Then about two years ago I bought myself an Anthem 150, paid good money for it and found that it was a pain with all the maintenance. So I gave it off and bought a new cheap and simply Paasche again. You have to find the one that feels right, one that is comfortable in your hand. Just because one is expensive doesn’t mean that it’s the best for you.

Henk

Not to rain on your parade, but first of all I didn't ask how to drive the caddie and second of all I believe anybody could improve their talents with a better product.

The only reason I mentioned Iwata is that the young man over at the hobby shop that use to exist in my area swore by it. He had used most of the more popular brushes and said, "in his opinion" , nothing compares to the smoothness in the trigger of the Iwata. Now personally I have not experienced the Iwata, but before I go and buy another $200 brush, I wanted to see what other folks had to say about what they liked. I guess I thought all kinds of peeps would testify to their Iwata. But as you said , "the cadilac of airbrushes", I guess not everyone can drive a luxury automobile. Thats all, nothing more.

Believe me, I'am totally aware of the operator being the most important part of any tool. But in time when that operator has mastered that tool, he ventures out to perfect himself with a better product.

So back to my original question, what do you prefer or should I say what have you mastered and could they improve on your brush?

Enuff said

Steve

I didn't realise that this was my parade, but if we start raining on it...

Steve, I've gone from a.......Kia (cheapy unknown brand) to a Cadillac Iwata HP-CH, and a couple in between. To me they are all decent until they break down, then the Iwata showed as the better product. In fact I would still be using the cheapy one if it had'nt broke down. THE most important difference is the gravity feed, this means easier clean up which means I use it more and clean it properly (no glogging later). Things like tip size, cup size (always important) and auto setting(air & paint flow) are something to look at as well .

I found Aztec to be really good value, until they clog up inside and I made the mistake of trying to field strip it. However I have to say that the supplier [Ripmax in the UK] was great even although I was honest about dabbling and exchanged it under the 'Lifetime warrenty'. However I also now have a Paasch Millenium and apart from having to buy a finer needle set am finding it a delight to work with. It does take a little time to get used to a new system and I am still in the education phase.

I have to say to their credit that Paasch responded to a couple of emails in double quick time even down to supplying a new trigger mech as I had a slight problem from new. Even coming from the states only took 5 days, which is impressive.

Regards,

John

I have two ABs for the big stuff I use my good old Paasches H and for the rest I just love my Tamiya Superfine...

Rick

Your experiance is typical spraying acrylics. The best solution is to use a retarder. I use Liquitex Slow-Dri Fluid Retarder which I bought at Hobby Lobby in the artist supplies section. It can be used as the primary reducer or in tandem with water or alcohol. As with all acrylics do not reduce more than 10-20% for best results.

Hope this helps.

I swear by my Iwata HP-C & HP-C Plus. I swear at my Aztec 470.

I have used Badger, Paasche, Binks, Omni 3000 and a couple of off brands and had the usual good, bad and ugly results of use. True the most important part is the painter but that's the part that can improve with practice. The airbrush has to be good right off the bat.

And that airbrush is the Iwata. I bought a HP-A back in 1984 for extremely fine work with very thin paints. Never a problem with this airbrush. In 1996 I bought an Eclipse BCS bottle feeder. What a joy to work with. I now have 2 BCS, a CS and Revolution CS for heavy work. I plan to get a HP-C or Custom Micron this Christmas. That will be about it for me for a long time.

Plus side of the Iwatas is that they are dependable and easy to clean. Field stripping is easy, just have to be careful (delicate) when reseating the needles. However, general use will wear out tips and needles so have a good backup supply on hand.

And practice, practice, practice with the airbrush. For the money I have to say that Iwata is the best airbrush on the market today.

Henk,

NP....Just keeping you in line...


Thanks to everyone who replied.


It sounds like those of you that have an Iwata swear by them.
I think I'll give the Iwata a try, sounds like the way to go!

By the way, i'm not knockin other brands, so I hope nobody takes it that way. I love my Badgers.
Without them I wouldn't have gotten this far! I only use acrylics so clean-up has always been a breeze! In fact the only problem I ever had out of my single-action Badger was I bent 2 needles from mis-handling the brush. The nice thing about Badger is that most Hobby shops around hear carry their products, so getting a replacement part is always easy.


Steve

I swear by my badger Anthem 155. It is an excellent airbrush. Easy to clean and maintain.

Mike

I swear by, and at my Badgers, Iwata, and Paasche. after 30 plus years of using them, I know what they can do, can't do, and don't expect them to do what they weren't designed to do.

After owning a couple of Badger airbrushes I have bought an Iwata Eclipse HP-CS which I am very happy with. It has a top feeding paint cup and is very easy to clean. It will spray down to fiarly fine lines and also has good over all coverage.

Darryl