Are these Badger jars any good?

[Plumcrazy Preston]

They get mixed reviews on amazon.com. Andy X says he bought a box of these back in his 2014 video and even gave the part number. 50-0053B

He likes to use 2 oz. jars for his Don Yost method. I want jars for long term storage of paint/thinner solutions. I don't want jar materials to get eaten or have leaky seals on lids. Peole reviewing ona mazon.com now say they are not as good as the old Badger jars. Do the new ones even fit a Paasche H? I'm considering taking up airbrushing with this Paasche classic and need a good paint storage solution for it. 

 

While I am at it, should I buy expensive airbrush cleaner or just use paint thinner or lacquer thinner to flush the brush out? Is a Paasche H brush good for painting other things besides models like automotive trim. I used SEM rattle-can black trim paint to redo the black door posts on my 1995 Toyota Corolla and the quality of this minor paint work was less than steller.  I didn't use primer and it might peel off in time. I may have to redo this in the future and a Paasche might give professional results. I figure if I am investing in airbrushing equipment, it has many other uses for home and car besides models. I was a former automobile mechanic by trade, by the way. I have the gut feeling that once I put a Paasche H in my right hand, I will never want to touch a rattle can again for anything. Rattle can paint can also be ungodly expensive. Airbrushing should save a lot of money ion wasted paint over time while providing a knock-out finish to boot. 

 

[NOBLNG]

I don’t know anything about the Badger jars….I doubt they would fit a Paasche airbrush. Maybe someone else can verify this. The Paasche jars come in at least two sizes (1 & 2 oz?). They are great for temporary storage of paint while doing a car body. I made some caps to extend the storeage time, but the paint will eventually dry up. The Testors lids could extend storeage time even more. The primer bottles I will keep adding fresh (sprayed from a spray bomb through a large straw) or a bit of laquer thinner and mix it well. The Paasche lids will fit the Testors/Modelmaster jars and vice-versa, but they are a different depth so the proper length pickup tube is needed.

Edited September 13, 2021 by NOBLNG

[NOBLNG]

10 hours ago, Plumcrazy Preston said:

While I am at it, should I buy expensive airbrush cleaner or just use paint thinner or lacquer thinner to flush the brush out? Is a Paasche H brush good for painting other things besides models like automotive trim.

There is no paint going through the internals of the Paasche, which is why I really love this airbrush over my Iwata. I just use laquer thinner for cleaning ( I rarely spray acrylics that may require a special cleaner) and keep a jar of it that I can connect and spray a bit through the nozzle between coats. For longer intervals, I will remove the needle and nozzle and store them in a small jar of laquer thinner.  I use a pipe cleaner or “interdental brushes” for a thorough cleaning of them and also the paint cup. Paasche does make a set of cleaning brushes, but I found the twisted wire spine of them too fat and rigid to do a good job.

Edited September 13, 2021 by NOBLNG

[iBorg]

The covers for the jars is VERY clever.

 

[peteski]

Generic lacquer thinner will do a great job cleaning the airbrush. Always do that as soon as you are done spraying (when the paint inside is still fresh).  That is for the "stinky" solvent based paints. Same goes for water-based paints, but I have no experience with those and with what solvent to use.  I have never bought or used any "airbrush cleaner".

[Plumcrazy Preston]

1 hour ago, NOBLNG said:

I don’t know anything about the Badger jars….I doubt they would fit a Paasche airbrush. Maybe someone else can verify this. The Paasche jars come in at least two sizes (1 & 2 oz?). They are great for temporary storage of paint while doing a car body. I made some caps to extend the storeage time, but the paint will eventually dry up. The Testors lids could extend storeage time even more. The primer bottles I will keep adding fresh (sprayed from a spray bomb through a large straw) or a bit of laquer thinner and mix it well. The Paasche lids will fit the Testors/Modelmaster jars and vice-versa, but they are a different depth so the proper length pickup tube is needed.

These Paasche jars are 1 oz and rather expensive. Testors enamel in small bottles is 0.25 oz so it seems these jars are big enough to mix equal parts of paint from a full Testors bottle and lacquer thinner.

 

I was planning on ordering glass pipettes for measuring and mixing paint solutions. Does lacquer thinner work well for cleaning these pipettes? Should I just just get plastic dipsable pipettes to reduce cleanup mess?  Is a digital postal scale handy for measuring paint components? I have one.

 

I plan on spraying enamel following the modified Don Yost method by AndyX. I also plan to  airbrush clear gloss too.  

 

 

Edited September 13, 2021 by Plumcrazy Preston

[peteski]

Yes lacquer thinner cleans solvent-based enamels and lacquers quite well. I have glass pipettes, and if some trace remains inside the pipette after a rinse I take off the rubber bulb, then use Q-tip to get it perfectly clean.

I have never used any type of scale to measure paint components. I usually do it eyeballing the proportions, and checking the viscosity. I guess that comes with experience.  Besides paint and thinner have different gravities. Even different paint colors have  different gravity. For example white pigment is denser/heavier than most other colors.  I do use a digital scale when I mix larger quantities of 2-part RTV rubber or urethane resins.

[NOBLNG]

14 hours ago, Plumcrazy Preston said:

 Is a Paasche H brush good for painting other things besides models like automotive trim.

Yes, the Paasche could be used for larger items. The fittings on the metal lids have a nut on the inside, so the fitting could be transferred to a larger jar. I think some of the cheap pump spray bottles could provide a longer pickup tube. I see I have two different fittings here, one is male and one is female.?

Edited September 13, 2021 by NOBLNG