Rate your Airbrush

[my80malibu]

Talk about the air brush you use, or have used in the past. Give somewhat of a review on how well it worked or did'nt work.

[my80malibu]

I have a few the first was a Badger #350 it was very simple in design and use. But kinda of a pain to find seals for.

my second AB was also a Badger 200 NH Single action very nice in operating quality, with good consistant spray pattern and easy to clean and maintain.

Next is also a Badger 200 detail works well for small stuff. also easy to clean

Fourth is a Master brand Triggger style gun Dual action (Looks like the Grex model) comes with a variety of cups and extra needle/nozzle as well as extra spray tips the best one being a tip it has a MAC valve built in on the bottom. Work's well for automotive clear, and I have some done some very nice paint jobs with it. For under $70.00 bucks could this be the Holy Grail.

Finally I have a MAC tools AB 480 it is also a trigger style gun similar to an IWATA HP revolution Dual action it has Ambedextrious color cup(it can be mounted on Either side) I just recently got this one. It is Ok I feel like I need to use it some more before I would recommend it.

[philo426]

i currently have 2 a Thayer and CHhndler Vega double-action and a Paasche VL double action .Both are easy to use and clean and parts for both are easy to obtain both locally and on-line.The VL has somewhat sturdier needles but both produce great results.

[monkeyclaw]

Paasche VL is my current primary gun; Badger 150, and the 6 airbrush station from Harbor freight (badger knockoffs). All of these work great; But I got to demo the GREX Tritium TG3 at the IPMS show in Anniston last week; and I was Blown away! Top triggers have become difficult to use due to the lack of movement in my hands....the Grex is a pistol grip, with front trigger, and quite honestly: I don't think I have ever had an airbrush in hand that was this intuitive....from the finest thin shadow line; to a full coverage pattern without changing a thing....not cheap; but already have one on the way; as I think it will revolutionize my ability to do the work...............Matt

Edited April 16, 2012 by monkeyclaw

[Austin T]

My work horse is my Iwata Eclipse,Yes I know everyone will complain now that I mentioned an Iwata.The only thing that maters is that I like it.I give it a 8 of 10 only because parts are expensive.

[BOSWELL891]

I really like my Paasche H it's easy to clean and take care of, the kit comes with tons of stuff and you can buy every part for it on a scale from 1 to 10 I give it a 9

[Guest fivespot300]

ive found the badger 150 im done hunting . i like it i feel like it fits me it does every thing i need to do .. ...the testors feels like a toy i keep it for its detailing capabilitlys..badger cresento does not fit ..dont feel right harder to use...badger 100 older model its a little harder to use for me ..theres 2 others but im done....by

[Dr. Cranky]

Iwata Eclipse, that's the workhorse at my bench. I love it. Great AB for the price, although there are some other good brushes mentioned here.

[moparmagiclives]

My work horse is my Iwata Eclipse,Yes I know everyone will complain now that I mentioned an Iwata.The only thing that maters is that I like it.I give it a 8 of 10 only because parts are expensive.

Why would anyone complain ??? I've got one as well and love it.

[Mike Kucaba]

I have 8.(?)!!

#1 is a Badger 200. It was a good brush and I did lay down some nice paint work with it,but that was in the early nineties. I don't like it that much anymore as it became somewhat unpredictable.When it's working it does well.If someone asked should I buy one I'd suggest moving to the 150 instead.

#2 Testors Aztec 470. A very good brush. I use it for shooting acrylics.

#3 &4 are Paasche VL's .Fabulous brush(es). They are my GOTO especially after I did some porting to them.

#5 Paasche VSR 90 I bought this as my first foray into gravity feed.Very nice brush and for doing small details like shading headers etc.

#6 Badger Anthem I bought this on ebay,I put in a $20 bid and figured I'd get outbid but didn't! Fabulous

brush,especially for the price!

#7 Iwata Revolution vey nice brush.I use this to lay down clear coats and acrylics.It's a gravity feed and again the price was right.

#8 Iwata Eclipse I bought this answering an ad on Craigslist here in AZ. Came with a Whisper Jet compressor all for $250.00! I don't have much time on it,and I need to get some bigger cups and maybe a bottle set-up.

Lastly, It's not a brush,but I do have a small HVLP touch-up gun. I've only played around with it shooting alcohol thru it just to see how it sprays. I'll probably use it to spray my golf cart!

[sbk]

Mike, please explain this porting you did on your VL. Mine is about 30 years old & I've changed various parts over the years, but it's the only one I use.

Thanks,

I have 8.(?)!!

#1 is a Badger 200. It was a good brush and I did lay down some nice paint work with it,but that was in the early nineties. I don't like it that much anymore as it became somewhat unpredictable.When it's working it does well.If someone asked should I buy one I'd suggest moving to the 150 instead.

#2 Testors Aztec 470. A very good brush. I use it for shooting acrylics.

#3 &4 are Paasche VL's .Fabulous brush(es). They are my GOTO especially after I did some porting to them.

#5 Paasche VSR 90 I bought this as my first foray into gravity feed.Very nice brush and for doing small details like shading headers etc.

#6 Badger Anthem I bought this on ebay,I put in a $20 bid and figured I'd get outbid but didn't! Fabulous

brush,especially for the price!

#7 Iwata Revolution vey nice brush.I use this to lay down clear coats and acrylics.It's a gravity feed and again the price was right.

#8 Iwata Eclipse I bought this answering an ad on Craigslist here in AZ. Came with a Whisper Jet compressor all for $250.00! I don't have much time on it,and I need to get some bigger cups and maybe a bottle set-up.

Lastly, It's not a brush,but I do have a small HVLP touch-up gun. I've only played around with it shooting alcohol thru it just to see how it sprays. I'll probably use it to spray my golf cart!

[Pete J.]

Glad to see that I am not the only one with more than one brush.

I started with a Badger Cresendo - I did the job for many years but the seal finally went out and the model I have, apparently the seal can be changed. I did like the size of it. It is heavier than most and it felt good in my hand. It also had a large nozzle for spraying the heavier automotive paints I like to use.

When the Badger went south, I bought an Iwata LPH-50. This is the workhorse in the stable. For those who are not familiar with it, Iwata refers to it as a side feed gravity fed, miniture spray gun. I bought it with all three tips(.4,.6.1.0 mm) I can do just about anything with it. It has an adjustable fan so you can spray either a round pattern or fan shapped pattern. With the smallest tip I can get down to the smallest size of most air brushes. With the largest tip, I can spray as wide a 5 to 7 inches. Very versitile and not cheap. http://www.coastairbrush.com/proddetail.asp?prod=LPH50 Scale of 1 to 10 - A definite 9 - Looses a point because you can't get into tight spaces.

The next one I use most often is the Tamiya HG. Again, a great workhorse. Very easy to use and clean. I like the removeable paint cup. It makes it much easier to clean. Excellent quaility and consistant paint patterns. As an airbrush - it is a 10

I also have a Tamiya HG superfine. I use this for close touch up work and very fine line work. Limited use because of the small spray pattern. Great as a second or third brush. Definitly not a first brush. To narrow of a pattern. For it's limited flexiblity it gets a 5 but for it's primary use, it would be a ten.

[Agent G]

Badger 350 - I use it for clear coats and any large surface.

Badger 155 Anthem - All around go to AB.

Badger Renegade Velocity - Used for detail work, camo patterns, preshading on everything.

Paasche VL - My previous all around go to brush, needs seals now.

G

[Mike Kucaba]

"Mike, please explain this porting you did on your VL. Mine is about 30 years old & I've changed various parts over the years, but it's the only one I use."

The first VL I bought I I had a hard time using it. I took it all apart and was looking at every part looking for a cause as I had never heard a bad review of this AB. I found that the holes in the aircap (?) were burred and generally not clear. I tried different drill bits in these holes until one that was snug and then drilled one size bigger,and an even larger one to put a small bevel to the hole. I've mentioned this to others that have complained about their VL and those who have done this have been pleased with the results.

[Lordmodelbuilder]

It took me a long time to finally start using an airbrush. Just never thought I needed one.

My first airbrush was a simple Testors unit with their propellant. I use it for spraying enamels

and it does a great job.

My second airbrush is a Badger Cresendo 175. When I do use it, I spray lacquers with it. I love it! Brad

[Pete J.]

Glad to see that I am not the only one with more than one brush.

I started with a Badger Cresendo - I did the job for many years but the seal finally went out and the model I have, apparently the seal can be changed. I did like the size of it. It is heavier than most and it felt good in my hand. It also had a large nozzle for spraying the heavier automotive paints I like to use.

When the Badger went south, I bought an Iwata LPH-50. This is the workhorse in the stable. For those who are not familiar with it, Iwata refers to it as a side feed gravity fed, miniture spray gun. I bought it with all three tips(.4,.6.1.0 mm) I can do just about anything with it. It has an adjustable fan so you can spray either a round pattern or fan shapped pattern. With the smallest tip I can get down to the smallest size of most air brushes. With the largest tip, I can spray as wide a 5 to 7 inches. Very versitile and not cheap. http://www.coastairb....asp?prod=LPH50 Scale of 1 to 10 - A definite 9 - Looses a point because you can't get into tight spaces.

The next one I use most often is the Tamiya HG. Again, a great workhorse. Very easy to use and clean. I like the removeable paint cup. It makes it much easier to clean. Excellent quaility and consistant paint patterns. As an airbrush - it is a 10

I also have a Tamiya HG superfine. I use this for close touch up work and very fine line work. Limited use because of the small spray pattern. Great as a second or third brush. Definitly not a first brush. To narrow of a pattern. For it's limited flexiblity it gets a 5 but for it's primary use, it would be a ten.

Actually, I need to add two brushes to this list -

The first was a very old Pactra piece that blew air accross the top of a tube that went into a paint jar much like blowing air over a straw. It was better than a brush, but not much. The paint was adjusted by screwing the tip higher or lower into the air stream. Kind of like filling your mouth full of paint and spitting it. It worked but just barly. It is probably ok for some 5th grade art project but that is about it. I learned a lot about how not to use an airbrush from it.

The second was a plastic Aztec which is now the Testors plastic airbushes with the replaceable tips. This was my first introduction to a double action airbrush. Pretty rudimentery. I is probably ok for shooting water based paints, but even though it says it is good for sovlent based paints, the plastic tips swell slightly when shooting lacquers and after a period of time quit working. All plastic is not good for what we do. It is also very difficult to clean. The instructions say to not disassemble the tips, but if you want to clean it you don't have a choice and the price of the tips keeps them from being disposable. Spend a little more and get an all metal airbush.

In short, having a poor quality airbrush with teach you a lot about how not to use an airbrush and that may be valuable to some, but if you are serious about the hobby, don't waste your money. Spend the extra bit and get your self a good brush from a name brand company such as Badger, Paasche, Iwata, Tamiya, Grex etc. Stay away from Aztec/Testors. For the same money you can get a good top quality all metal brush. Long term you will be money ahead because you will eventually get to the point that you will want a better brush. Buying one to start with will save you the cost of the cheap brush and you can save a ton of frustration. If you have friends with brushes, see if they will let you try it out. Decide what you like and don't like and go from there. Frankly, the differances between brushes in a given price range is really not all that much and what ever you buy, you will adapt your style to and come to know what it does best. So, save your money and get something decient.

[MR BIGGS]

I have an Iwata Eclipse for my mural and fine detail, Tamiya HG for touchup's and the work horse and best one is my GREX GCKO1 for all the main paint and clearing.