Badger 200 pickup tubes

That sounds about right. That or fuel tank to engine tube, IIRC.

Check around the house, you might find that part from a spray bottle will work, like perfume. I seem to remember professionals talking about a household item.

Lacquer Head

Check around the house, you might find that part from a spray bottle will work, like perfume. I seem to remember professionals talking about a household item.

Hey, that sounds like an idea!  For that matter, I wonder about the pickup tubes in old spray paint cans.  I have safely punched cans to get paint out- I think I can punch them to disassemble them (I punch while can is inverted and while pressing down on nozzle so that all pressure is gone).

It's a common household product or item that most people would have. I can't remember, it's been 20 years since I owned a 200. Also check those pump type spray bottles.

Don Stauffer

I need a new pickup tube for my old 200.  Badger wants their weight in gold for them.  A number of years ago I found something that worked, but I dont' remember what it was- where I got it.  I think it might have been a pushrod tube used between RC servos and control surfaces.

Anyway, has anyone found something that works that is cheaper than what Badger wants for them?  They want four bucks each for this little plastic tube about an inch long!

What is this pickup tube you are talking about? The Badger parts number? Does $4 include shipping?

I saw the complete paint bottle for 200 at under $10 at Michael's. With 50% coupon, it is much cheaper and about the same as the inch long tube. The worst part about spares is the shipping if you cannot get it locally. But most LHS or Arts Supply Store should be able to order parts for you. Yes, you pay retail, but it would not be "weight in gold" in price.

Some better designed paint bottle get a mesh screen at the end of the pickup tube. Is it the reason for Badger to charge you an arm and a leg?

The four bucks does NOT include shipping.  All the paint bottles I buy do NOT include the siphon tube (some are third party, some actual badger, but the badger bottles do NOT include the tube- it is not part of bottle but stays on airbrush.  I do not know about use with acrylic thinners, but lacquer and enamel thinners eventually harden the tubes so they do have to be replaced periodically.  When they harden they will not stay on the nipple very well.

Don Stauffer

The four bucks does NOT include shipping.  All the paint bottles I buy do NOT include the siphon tube (some are third party, some actual badger, but the badger bottles do NOT include the tube- it is not part of bottle but stays on airbrush.  I do not know about use with acrylic thinners, but lacquer and enamel thinners eventually harden the tubes so they do have to be replaced periodically.  When they harden they will not stay on the nipple very well.

Out of curiocity, I google Badger 51-009 siphon tube. There are several sellers and no one charges more than $1.50 for the part. By the catch is in the shipping charge which makes the total for a single tube close to $4.

Another option is to buy non-Badger bottles such as from TCPGlobal. The bottle including jar adaptor, siphon tube and bottle is less than $2 each. You can always use a few extra bottles.

keilau

Don Stauffer

The four bucks does NOT include shipping.  All the paint bottles I buy do NOT include the siphon tube (some are third party, some actual badger, but the badger bottles do NOT include the tube- it is not part of bottle but stays on airbrush.  I do not know about use with acrylic thinners, but lacquer and enamel thinners eventually harden the tubes so they do have to be replaced periodically.  When they harden they will not stay on the nipple very well.

Out of curiocity, I google Badger 51-009 siphon tube. There are several sellers and no one charges more than $1.50 for the part. By the catch is in the shipping charge which makes the total for a single tube close to $4.

Another option is to buy non-Badger bottles such as from TCPGlobal. The bottle including jar adaptor, siphon tube and bottle is less than $2 each. You can always use a few extra bottles.

Not sure what you mean by adapter.  My bottles have a removable cap, and the top of the jar is threaded.  This "cap" is on the airbrush and the jar has threads on top that threads into the permanent cap that the pickup tube is attached to.  I am afraid pickup tubes for other brands of jars might not have the same diameter to fit snugly over the nipple in the Badger cap.  The advantage of the Badger bottles is that I do not need to pour from a storage jar into the airbrush jar, saving cleanup of an extra jar.  I just replace the jar I keep thinner in with the jar with color paint in, which is also what I store that color mix in.