Badger Model 150 vs. Aztek A480

Either one would probably do what you want.  I would pick the 150.  You can get a 0.25mm tip that will do very fine lines, and it is very repairable and will last forever.  The Aztek is comfortable to hold, but the trigger has a squishy feel I don't care for.  In my opinion, cleaning is a toss up between the two.

Don

I guess only someone who has used both can give a good comparison. I can't say for the aztek, but i have been useing a 150 for years and i love it. I find i am able to do anything i need with it, including motteling in 72nd. Striping it down and cleaning is fairly easy. Ashide from needles and seal's the only major part i have had to replace is the connector to the hose.

The only draw back is that i sometimes can't get close enough to what i am painting due to the paint holder being underneath. For this reason am i planning on replaceing it with a badger 100. basically the same air brush but grav feed.

Bish -- Have you tried the Badger 50-483 cup?  It sits back out of the way.

Don

Not seen that one before. Mine came with the 482 and two jars, but that 483 looks like it could be handy. Thanks for the heads up.

150 for me. been using one for the past couple months with no problems. aztek makes some beautiful brushes also. pretty much personal preference.  

Go Badger. I switched from Iwata and am happy. Well made and perform great.

I have both and the Badger fine tip and needle are better on  fine lines than the Aztek fine nozzle. The Aztek is handy because it can be used as either a gravity feed or siphon, and the rotatable cup/siphon interface let you use it at any angle. It also allows you to use a wide variety of nozzles for special effects such as splatter. The Badger is more durable, I had to fix the Aztek twice because of failures in the

plastic air valve. The only  fix the Badger ever needs is when I screw up and bend the needle. Cleaning ease is about even, you do need to disassemble the Aztek nozzle to get it properly clean so it is about the amount of work.

I just ordered a 150, based on my experience with an old Badger 200. I have had it for over forty years, and the only part I have had to replace is the teflon washer/seal, which does need replacing frequently but is easily available and cheap.  Brush cleans easily and is bulletproof, so hoping the 150 shares these attributes.

Personally, I have one of each.  I bought the Badger first.  It is easy to break down and clean, but I spray acryls a lot.  The needle is prone to choking (as is any needle) with acrylics.  I then bought the Aztek, and since I've not touched the Badger, honestly.  The Aztek kit I bought came with a number of needles and paint cups.  A number of the needles are similar in size, so when one chokes, I change it for a similar clean one.  Changing the needles is quick and easy.  As Don Wheeler pointed out, the trigger can be squishy, that's cause Aztek allows control of the airflow and paint flow.  You also have to 'dial in' the brush at first, for paint cutoff.  They include a 'very fine' plastic red nozzle with some of their kits.  Avoid it, it's nothing but trouble and chokes up instantly.  Personally, I find it nicer ergonomically to hold onto, the variety of needles cover every usage, the different sized paint cups are nice.  The one tool I did buy to help clean it all was an ultrasonic  bath that I found online.  After a paint session, I disassemble the nozzles, drop them in for an 8 minute bath, and reassemble.  Once a week I drop the entire brush in for an 8 minute soak.

For me, the Aztek was money well spent.  As previously mentioned, it's a matter of personal preference.  Ergonomics won't really matter for brief paint sessions, for longer ones they will.  A kit with all of the nozzles included saves having to purchase separate nozzles later on, and simply changing the tip is a lot quicker and easier (and far less risky, I find) than pulling the needle, nozzle, trigger and air valve actuator, then reassembling it all.

My two cents, at any rate.