Airbrush Shopping

All spray patterns from the same sized needles between different brands are not created equally. Even between models for that matter. The Patriot 105 is advertised to shoot a 3inch pattern at full flow. Now I can thin my paint and use retarders etc then back up a ways and maybe get a 3in pattern from my Badger 200 with .5 needle/nozzle but I'm forcing the issue. No complaints mind you, it does it well but it doesn't just happen and isn't advertised to either. The 105 has a unique head with the needle protruding out past the cone/air cap. It's a different animal, so is the Anthem. And yet ( and if you're good enough with an air brush, which isn't me) you can go down to a pencil line width of coverage too.

I'm lucky to do a pencil line with a pencil lol !

oldermodelguy

I'm lucky to do a pencil line with a pencil lol !

 

Same here, my airbrush comes with a little sheet that shows you how it can go down t a fine pencil line.  My question is who writes that fine with a pencil.  I can probably only get it down to a crayon or small marker size.  :)

What is your reason for having one for each type of paint? I throw acrylic, enamels, laquer, and inks into my HP-CS and it eats em all up and spits them out with no issues.

Good tips, thanks. Used the Iwata for the first time, definitly easier than my old H. For cleaning I always use Laquer thinner on the enamals and acrylic thinner for acrylics, although the Paasche makeup brushes are so simple that plain water works between jobs.

Neuman

Good tips, thanks. Used the Iwata for the first time, definitly easier than my old H. For cleaning I always use Laquer thinner on the enamals and acrylic thinner for acrylics, although the Paasche makeup brushes are so simple that plain water works between jobs.

 

Text removed, misread the post I was quoting.

I've had issues in the past, switching back and forth, but the bottom line is I'm lazy...and redundancy is always good in an emergency.

I would recommend a Sparmax Max 4 (.4mm nozzle). Great bargain and you can get some pretty good detailing in addition to broader spray patterns with it. Spraygunner sells them. I never cared for the Badger 105 with its .5mm opening - it goes from a little to broad coverage way too quickly. However, I do really like it’s fine detail conversion (.3mm) setup and recommend that as well. The .3mm has a much longer needle taper and its increase in paint flow is much more gradual compared to the standard .5mm.