Very Cheap Airbrushes. A Recipe For Frustration?

[NOBLNG]

15 minutes ago, Beans said:

This was my first airbrush....I still have it....I still haven't figured it out.  

From there I moved to Badger and Paashce and finally a Grex.  I still have and use all three because I am weird and each one is for a specific paint.  What I ended up learning is that it wasn't the cheap airbrush that was causing me to have lousy results.  It was the cheap compressor and my lack of understanding and patience.

It took a little while for me to get good results but once I did, I could use almost any of my airbrushes with success (except that aztec one).  

Nice…it’s got a beautiful wooden case that is guaranteed for life.🙄

[johnyrotten]

49 minutes ago, Beans said:

This was my first airbrush....I still have it....I still haven't figured it out.  

From there I moved to Badger and Paashce and finally a Grex.  I still have and use all three because I am weird and each one is for a specific paint.  What I ended up learning is that it wasn't the cheap airbrush that was causing me to have lousy results.  It was the cheap compressor and my lack of understanding and patience.

It took a little while for me to get good results but once I did, I could use almost any of my airbrushes with success (except that aztec one).  

Interesting ergonomics on that one. You're point on the compressor is a good one. While mine does the job, I see the drawbacks of no tank. Any of my other compressors are either too large or Noisy to want in my home.

[NOBLNG]

48 minutes ago, johnyrotten said:

Interesting ergonomics on that one. You're point on the compressor is a good one. While mine does the job, I see the drawbacks of no tank. Any of my other compressors are either too large or Noisy to want in my home.

You can buy a separate 1/2 or 1 gallon tank and plumb it inline.

[johnyrotten]

47 minutes ago, NOBLNG said:

You can buy a separate 1/2 or 1 gallon tank and plumb it inline.

I've thought along those lines, in the back of my mind is long term durability of this compressor. Ultimately I may buy a good one and send this to my god-son. He builds models as well.

[Beans]

2 hours ago, johnyrotten said:

Interesting ergonomics on that one. You're point on the compressor is a good one. While mine does the job, I see the drawbacks of no tank. Any of my other compressors are either too large or Noisy to want in my home.

I do most of my painting in the garage so the compressor size doesn't matter too much.  I ended up with a larger tanked compressor that I use for all kinds of things and have to dial down for air brushing.  It is kind of old, kind of noisy and they don't make it any more but it is now part of the working formula of getting decent results.  

[johnyrotten]

5 minutes ago, Beans said:

I do most of my painting in the garage so the compressor size doesn't matter too much.  I ended up with a larger tanked compressor that I use for all kinds of things and have to dial down for air brushing.  It is kind of old, kind of noisy and they don't make it any more but it is now part of the working formula of getting decent results.  

I've got a larger 30 gallon in my garage,  and a small twin tank dewalt I inherited from my late father-in-law. I'm fortunate enough to have a spare bedroom for my model bench, the garage is where I build the full size toys.

[DJMar]

3 hours ago, Beans said:

This was my first airbrush....I still have it....I still haven't figured it out.  

 

Don't laugh, but I have an Aztek A320 that I bought 20+ years ago on closeout at the LHS. It's a single action compared to your double action, but both are internal mix, the nozzle/needle assemblies are the same, the color cups are the same, the bottles are the same, etc..

It actually works very well for painting flat finishes, which is what I bought it for. I was building a lot of military prop aircraft at the time, and it laid down both primer and color without a hitch. It's certainly different - some might say quirky - but it's not a bad airbrush by any means. The all plastic construction means it's super light and honestly, clean up is pretty straightforward.

I will still use it when spraying flat acrylics, like Reaper Bones Master Series or Mig Ammo paint.

 

[Monty]

After years of viewing his content, I base a lot of my model products buying decisions on what Barbatos Rex says.  He has reviewed a number of cheaper airbrushes, some of which performed admirably, especially given the low price.  Others, not so much.* 

If money is the main thing stopping you from buying an airbrush, I'd recommend reviewing his videos on the cheaper ones and listen carefully for anything he tells you might be an issue.

*He has tested at least one inexpensive Harbor Freight 'brush, and it worked well.  OTOH, he wasn't able to get their grit sprayer (can't think of the correct term) to work at all.  

 

[peteski]

1 hour ago, DJMar said:

Don't laugh, but I have an Aztek A320 that I bought 20+ years ago on closeout at the LHS. It's a single action compared to your double action, but both are internal mix, the nozzle/needle assemblies are the same, the color cups are the same, the bottles are the same, etc..

It actually works very well for painting flat finishes, which is what I bought it for. I was building a lot of military prop aircraft at the time, and it laid down both primer and color without a hitch. It's certainly different - some might say quirky - but it's not a bad airbrush by any means. The all plastic construction means it's super light and honestly, clean up is pretty straightforward.

I will still use it when spraying flat acrylics, like Reaper Bones Master Series or Mig Ammo paint.

 

Those easily-changed nozzle "cartridges" seem like a handy feature, but since they can't be disassembled, they can't really be completely cleaned.  This is not good, especially with the water-based acrylics. My friend (who had been using a dual-action Badger airbrush for years bought one of those Azteks because it seemed like handy airbrush with a sexy body design.  But he ended up ditching it and going back to his Badger.

[peteski]

13 minutes ago, Monty said:

*He has tested at least one inexpensive Harbor Freight 'brush, and it worked well.  OTOH, he wasn't able to get their grit sprayer (can't think of the correct term) to work at all. 

Sounds like you are describer a mini sandblasting gun or some company calls it an air-eraser.

[Monty]

8 minutes ago, peteski said:

Sounds like you are describer a mini sandblasting gun or some company calls it an air-eraser.

[Bugatti Fan]

The Aztec airbrush certainly was a departure from normal airbrush design !  Was it designed to take filled paint pouches you could click straight onto it as well as more conventional glass jars ?

It 's been many years since I have seen one, but seem to remember that they brought one out made in metal a short time after their original plastic one ?

 

[DJMar]

23 minutes ago, peteski said:

Those easily-changed nozzle "cartridges" seem like a handy feature, but since they can't be disassembled, they can't really be completely cleaned.  This is not good, especially with the water-based acrylics.

1000% untrue. It took me longer to upload and resize this .jpg than it did for me to disassemble that needle/nozzle.

 

[DJMar]

5 minutes ago, Bugatti Fan said:

The Aztec airbrush certainly was a departure from normal airbrush design !  Was it designed to take filled paint pouches you could click straight onto it as well as more conventional glass jars ?

It 's been many years since I have seen one, but seem to remember that they brought one out made in metal a short time after their original plastic one ?

Yes, they had a "professional model" that had a metal body.

[Matt Bacon]

I was never quite sure what problem the Aztek was trying to solve, and I had one... I do have a couple of airbrushes with two needle/nozzle sets: my original Iwata HP-BCS from 20 years back with a 0.35 and 0.5mm, and my H&S Evolution with a 0.2 and 0.4mm. The BCS wears the 0.35 99% of the time and the Evolution the 0.2. I guess if I only had the one airbrush I might swap needles more often, but I wouldn't need six! It's almost as if someone decided that paint brush sets come with multiple different sizes and shapes, so an airbrush set should have a bunch of different ones as well. Or they though that the "brush" selections in Photoshop were all different things as opposed to different ways of using the same tool... 😜

best,

M.

[Beans]

3 minutes ago, Matt Bacon said:

I was never quite sure what problem the Aztek was trying to solve, and I had one... I do have a couple of airbrushes with two needle/nozzle sets: my original Iwata HP-BCS from 20 years back with a 0.35 and 0.5mm, and my H&S Evolution with a 0.2 and 0.4mm. The BCS wears the 0.35 99% of the time and the Evolution the 0.2. I guess if I only had the one airbrush I might swap needles more often, but I wouldn't need six! It's almost as if someone decided that paint brush sets come with multiple different sizes and shapes, so an airbrush set should have a bunch of different ones as well. Or they though that the "brush" selections in Photoshop were all different things as opposed to different ways of using the same tool... 😜

best,

M.

I got mine when I was doing a lot more armor modeling and thought the multiple tips would be great for camo on vehicles.  I think I only used two ever and because I really had no clue what I was doing, had a junk compressor and had no patience, it never really worked out.  I'm pretty sure that was their marketing idea...the camo thing not the no clue thing. 

[dmthamade]

1 hour ago, DJMar said:

 

Edited June 3 by dmthamade

[dmthamade]

Lots of dislike for the Aztek, always has been. Only complaint i have with mine is no parts, now. Have owned three beginning when they first came out. first two damaged due to mishaps, third still going strong. Have put pretty much all types of model paints through it, with no damage done. I clean the tips the same way, disassemble drop in appropriate thinner/cleaner, shake, rinse, reassemble start spraying. I use two different tips, grey and tan large and fine. Happy with the results. Seem you either love 'em or hate 'em.

Don

 

[peteski]

6 hours ago, DJMar said:

1000% untrue. It took me longer to upload and resize this .jpg than it did for me to disassemble that needle/nozzle.

Thanks. Must have misremembered. I obviously need some Prevegen too.   I do remember that my friend did not care for it and went back to his Badger.

[johnyrotten]

While I've had moderate success with the set I purchased,  I've found the "gotcha" with them. Spare parts are available, and after comparing the cost of replacing the whole brush vs a rebuild. Spending 20 dollars to rebuild a 30 dollar airbrush seems foolish to me. There seems to be several "companies" selling the exact same airbrushes. Master, point zero, vevor. Ect. They all must come from some build house overseas, different name slapped on them. Since they all seem like clones of decent brands, I wonder if at least a few are production runs that did not meet quality control? Does anyone know for certain that brands like aiwata manufacture "in house". I know of a few hand tool manufacturers that do the same. Icon and tekton wrenches come from the same Taiwan build house, better quality chrome and no skipping sizes from tekton. 

[Skip]

On 6/2/2025 at 9:56 AM, johnyrotten said:

This is pretty much the path I took when I bought mine. I've read and heard those exact words from many others.  It's a skill, it must be developed.  It's true, with most things, buy once cry once. Purchasing an expensive high end tool for a hobby and then giving up or worse, is a far bigger waste of cash and time to me. I'm the guy that hunts those deals down and reaps the rewards of that frustration. 

That’s exactly right. Too many get pushed or guided into a double action airbrush before they’re actually ready. I would much rather see someone get a single-action airbrush and get the processes figured out, before they are trying to put the paint on the model and control the flow through the trigger to boot!  As we all know, the whole painting processes are like a recipe that has to be followed or the bread don’t rise, flat bread’s OK, but not as good as bread that rises. Neither is dull, orange peel paint when it’s supposed to be bright and shining, it just gets better with the polishing.  

I know of a few guys who can lay down paint with a rattle can that looks like it’s through a paint gun they got talked into a double-action airbrush and took about ten steps backwards! The learning curve wasn’t anticipated or factored into the switchover. Some get frustrated and never come back.

When you’re tying to pick up any new learned skill you have to find a mentor who is willing to take you under his wing and bring you along someone who will tell you the truth when criticing your work; they’ll tell you hen it looks good and be honest when it doesn’t quite look so good either.

 The other harder path would be reading a whole lot of books and watching a ton of videos then get out and practice, wear out an airbrush or two until you get good! Study people like Steve VanDaemon, Rhino, the late Mike Lavale, David Monig, Craig Fraiser…. Heck study anyone that’s good until you get good yourself.

Right now, a young guy can pick-up the skill set by just watching the right YouTube channels. When I started, you had to find someone willing to teach you the skill sets needed to practice a craft. I apprenticed for four hard years under some crusty old Sign Painters to pick up the skills needed to do production work. Along the line adding frills like pinstriping, airbrushing starting with Hi-Liting, murals, touch up - for a while in the eighties dealerships were advertising airbrush touch ups and guys were making good money with a little hand sanding, prime, paint and polish. If a guy was fast and good at it, he could do 10 - 15 touch ups a day walking away with some good money doing so! You are going to have to work hard if you want to get good. Just having the tool won’t make anyone a custom painter; It’s the experience and artistic skills behind that tool, that separate the somebody’s from the crowd of nobody’s…

Edited June 7 by Skip
Guess my iPad is getting a little ancient, it's starting to do weird stuff when you dictate to it.

[Rodent]

Not an expert here by any means. I bought a Paasche H around 1980 and it is the only airbrush I have ever used. I use rattle cans when I can (Tamiya), but Scale Finishes is the most brain dead airbrush paint I have ever used. Mix it up, put it in the jar (or cup) and spray it. No thinning, just use it. I would never want a dual action airbrush, but for those of you who have mastered them, more power to you.

[johnyrotten]

4 hours ago, Skip said:

The other harder path would be reading a whole lot of books and watching a ton of videos then get out and practice

This is pretty much the path I've taken. Not just with model building, but with many different area's of skilled craftsmanship. I've taught myself the basics of machining, can run a lathe and mill competently and confidently. I can shoot a decent coat of paint with an hvlp,and bodywork that doesn't involve seventy pounds of filler. I've been fortunate throughout my life to be surrounded by very talented, knowledgeable professionals in many trades, and most importantly I listened. And practiced. The information, I've found, is out there if one knows HOW and WHERE to look. Too many look for the "easy button" and don't take the time to develop and hone a skill set. Jumping back into the hobby, I scoured this and a few other forums, and read many hours of threads on different aspects of the hobby. Learning anything is a "bell curve", 10,000 hours till you become proficient.  

[johnyrotten]

4 hours ago, Rodent said:

Not an expert here by any means. I bought a Paasche H around 1980 and it is the only airbrush I have ever used. I use rattle cans when I can (Tamiya), but Scale Finishes is the most brain dead airbrush paint I have ever used. Mix it up, put it in the jar (or cup) and spray it. No thinning, just use it. I would never want a dual action airbrush, but for those of you who have mastered them, more power to you.

When I purchase a new airbrush,  it will most likely be a paasche h. Seems to be the "standard" "old faithful " workhorse airbrush from what I gather. And I agree,quality equipment and materials will and do make a difference. Just the difference between spraying laquer primer vs craft paint, or any of the ppg I've sprayed in my cheap setup is noticeable. Less messing around and better results with less effort. As for single vs double action, I'm too new to airbrushing to have a favorite type. I decide what one I'm using based on capacity and tip/needle size depending on what I'm doing. 

[Bainford]

Regarding single-action vs dual-action, I wonder how many dual-action users are really just gravity-feed users who don't really care if it is dual-action or not, or would even prefer single-action.  My current work horse airbrush is miles ahead of my old faithful siphon-feed Badger in terms of versatility, ease of use, paint thriftiness, and even in cleaning. Not because it is dual-action, but all because it is gravity-feed. The advantages of gravity-feed were all that I had imagined during years of pining for one, plus much more, with not a single disadvantage that I have found. But I would be just as happy if it was single-action.

I have long thought that a high quality, well designed airbrush with single-action and gravity-feed would be the perfect model builder's airbrush. It would be the easiest to use airbrush of all. But, when I was shopping for my airbrush I couldn't find such an animal anywhere that was worth having (meaning weird side cup adaptations and other contrivances would not be considered). I really don't care if my airbrush is dual-action or single-action, but my daily use airbrush will be gravity-feed from now on.