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TOP GRAVITY FEED CUP VS. SIDECUP

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 6:19 PM
that's when you switch sides.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: West Des Moines, IA USA
Posted by jridge on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 9:52 AM
Unless I'm missing something, and I usually am, both top cup and side cup AB's are gravity feed. I have an Aztek (pass!) and an Omni 6000 (recommended) - both side feed AB's. Actually the side feed can be gravity or bottom feed depend on on the cup/jar used.

The major advantage of the side feed Omni is the removable cup. I bought the cup adapter so I can use my Aztek cups. I keep one of the large AZ jars loaded with Windex and one with water for cleaning.

The major disadvantage I've found is the side cup can limit access to tight places, like around wing roots or engine nacelles. particularly on multi-engine A/C.
Jim The fate of the Chambermaid http://30thbg.1hwy.com/38thBS.html
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 24, 2004 9:57 PM
it depend's on what you are building. if you are building many single color things, i suggest gravity. if you are doing multicolor camo, i suggest side. why? simply because you can just switch the cups and clean, and you have another color. saves the trouble of cleaning the cup, the pipette, and all those q-tips. also, if something is multicolored, chances are it's either really small or really big, and i guess more peopl build really small than really big, because of money, so no cup to obscure vision is a good idea.
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Monday, May 24, 2004 9:22 PM
I've never used a top feeder, only bottom feeders so I can't speak for the differences. Personally I like being able to dunk it in some water, backflush the tube a couple of times, and screw on another bottle. I know for certain that either of my airbrushes are certainly capable of painting better than I am regardless of how they feed.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Monday, May 24, 2004 7:09 PM
The differences in the two is not that great and is a matter of personal choice.
It is possible to spray at a slightly lower pressure with the gravity-feed but I doubt it would be that much difference.
They are both fairly easy to clean with the gravity-feed being slightly easier as it has a permanent color cup. Choose the one you like and go for it as it will work fine.

Mike

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Connecticut, East of the River
Posted by tlivancso on Monday, May 24, 2004 1:11 PM
I have used a side cup for years now and find it does not throw off my balance at all, very easy to clean and very little waste of paint. Smile [:)]

I only use my bottom feeding jar for projects that need a lot of coverage, so I do not need to stop and add more paint to finish the job.

Cheers

IPMS Member #42958 /  AMPS Member #2091

IPMS Central Connecticut (President)

IPMS Northeast Military Modelers Association (Web Master)

Like Alice "I try to believe in three impossible things before breakfast"

  • Member since
    May 2003
Posted by karlwb on Friday, May 21, 2004 3:34 PM
I've never used a gravity feed AB so I don't know if I'd like it or not.

However, my Badger 155 has a bottom feed and a side cup (both suction).
I allways used my bottom jar with my old Badger 250 so I expected that was the way I'd go with the Anthem, and would probably never use the side cup......Wink [;)]
I tried the side cup once - and have not used the bottom jars since, so going by that I suspect I'd get on very well with gravity feed Smile [:)]
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 21, 2004 2:47 PM
I prefer the Gravity feed over the pressure feed on the bottom of the AB. With the pressure feed, you have to deal with all that cleaning and deal with the tube and you waste paint just cleaning the bottles. But Gravity feed is better because you waste less (and if you got experience, you put the right amount in) or nothing if you got the skill. Color changes are easy and quick with gravity feed, but you can still do big jobs with it.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Cornebarrieu (near Blagnac), France
Posted by Torio on Friday, May 21, 2004 1:53 PM
Chris, if you dream of trying a sidefeed airbrush, why don't you buy an Aztek ?
Hmmm, sorry, Chris

Thank you all for coming José

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Lower Alabama
Posted by saltydog on Friday, May 21, 2004 1:26 PM
i have 4 gravity feed brushes and 1 bottom feeder. as you can probably guess, i bought the bottom feed first and it does nothing but collect dust now. the color cups never has got in my line of sight because you would need a double jointed wrist to brush with the color cup in you line of sight. i seems that a side feed brush would throw off the balance of the brush slightly but ive never used one so i couldnt tell you that for sure. i love my gravity feeds though. later.
Chris The Origins of Murphy's Law: "In the begginning there was nothing, and it exploded."!!! _________ chris
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Cornebarrieu (near Blagnac), France
Posted by Torio on Friday, May 21, 2004 12:45 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by moonlightdrive21

Doe the cup on top bother your vision when you are doing very small precise detail painitng?

Thanks very much guys!!!
Dave




Hello chap
Let's imagine the cup bother your vision; in such case, it means that your airbrsuh handle has long ago entered either your nose or your mouth; I bet the trouble would be much more important.

Etonnant, non ?

Thank you all for coming José

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 21, 2004 9:30 AM
Doe the cup on top bother your vision when you are doing very small precise detail painitng?

Lastly, for a top cup, is a 1/16 oz (1.8ml) cup too small because paint will more easily slosh out of the cup by accident as you're moving the brush around?

Thanks very much guys!!!
Dave

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 21, 2004 7:16 AM
Sign - Ditto [#ditto] can work with lower pressure coz of the gravity design. also, cant imaging myself airbrushing with the paint cup on the side.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 21, 2004 7:14 AM
Sign - Ditto [#ditto] can work with lower pressure coz of the gravity design. also, cant imaging myself airbrushing with the paint cup on the side.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 21, 2004 1:37 AM
I would say gravity feed, everthing wants to go down anyway.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 20, 2004 9:29 PM
Gravity feed. paint is already affected by gravity, and besides, gravity feed is much easier to clean

oh and please don't use ALL CAPS for your titles.
  • Member since
    November 2005
TOP GRAVITY FEED CUP VS. SIDECUP
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 20, 2004 9:29 AM
Hey guys:

If all other aspects of an airbrush are equal, which of these two styles would result in better performance, ease of use and be less problematic. Which do you feel is better and why?

Thanks for your time.

Dave
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