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                        Upgrading to DA airbrush

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                        31 replies
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                        12
                        bstrump
                        • Member since
                          March 2004
                        • From: British Columbia,Canada
                        Upgrading to DA airbrush
                        Posted by bstrump on Sunday, August 15, 2004 12:10 AM
                        I've been using my Badger 200 for about 15years now and have been seriously considering upgrading to a double action. Can anyone recommend a good starter kit to go with? I've never used one before. Will I have to upgrade my compressor? Right now I'm using a Badger without a regulator. Finally, should I keep both around? To help you guys with your answers, I model 1/25 big rigs and 1/72 aircraft. Any help will be much appreciated!Smile [:)]
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 15, 2004 12:30 AM
                        double action, gravity fed. Try for a Badger 100, Omni 4000. You don't need to upgrade your compressor, you may need a moisture trap and pressure regulator if you don't already have one, you don't need to keep both around since the 100/4000 will do everything you want it to do and more. As Saltydog would say, An Omni is a good airbrush, but an Iwata Eclipse hp-cs is a Great choice. Don't listen.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 15, 2004 5:44 AM
                        I started with an Aztek DA, then went to the Badger 200 SA, then went with the Omni 4000. Then Omni is a really nice airbrush, easy to use & clean up. If you look back through the painting forum, I think that you'll find that the majority of us went with the Omni 4000. I would keep both around, I still use my 200 NH for applying broad coats. I don't think that you'll have to upgrade your compressor, but a regulator would be a good investment. I don't know much about them, except that I have the AC200 (Aztek) and it works fine for me. If you want the detailed specs on the Badger/Omni's, ask MikeV. He's the official unofficial or unofficial official Badger representative here. Smile [:)]
                        Report Abuse
                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Sunday, August 15, 2004 6:57 AM
                        I've got a Badger 200 as well that I've had for about 12 years or so. When I decided I wanted a DA brush I got an Omni 3000 (siphon feed) and a few months ago added an Omni 4000 (gravity feed). I think I made a wise choice and have never looked back.

                        I prefer the 4000. Since it's gravity feed it will feed reliably at slightly lower pressures than the 3000. The 3000, on the other hand, will use all your existing 200 bottles and caps. Additionally, your hoses will fit the Omni series so you won't have to get a new hose. The Omni is actually made by Thayer and Chandler, but Badger owns that company now.

                        Your existing compressor will probably work just fine, however I'd highly recommend adding a regulator and moisture trap to it. Most airbrush compressors put out around 35 psi or more. For airbrushing on models I seldom use more than 15 psi and frequently go down to around 5 or so.
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
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                        jdavidb
                        • Member since
                          August 2004
                        • From: Kennesaw, GA
                        Posted by jdavidb on Sunday, August 15, 2004 6:57 AM
                        The Iwata Eclipse CS and Bs are great, so I agree with Saltydog when he says that. I have the Eclipse hp-bs. It's a dream machine. I personally do not want to go any further than that with Iwata brand stuff though because the prices are too high. The hp-bs with the airhose that fits it is the end of the line for me in Iwata.

                        I'm thinking about buying another airbrush for broader bulk type duty though. I was really wanting a Badger Crescendo, but now I'm thinking that my tolerance for the air pressure required to get paint applied with a siphon feed is gone. That would mean I agree with 1337 regarding seriously considering a gravity feed Badger 100. I don't have one yet, but I like the way it is designed better than the other brands similar to it. It has a fixed color cup (like the Eclipse gravity feeds) rather than a detachable one. It's more like cleaning one part when the color cup is not detachable. One pipe cleaner straight through the whole deal & it's done.
                        Report Abuse
                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Sunday, August 15, 2004 7:16 AM
                        QUOTE: One pipe cleaner straight through the whole deal & it's done.

                        Uh oh, you used the "Pipe Cleaner" phrase. MikeV is gonna frown at that oneWink [;)] (don't tell him, but I use them to!)
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
                        Report Abuse
                        jdavidb
                        • Member since
                          August 2004
                        • From: Kennesaw, GA
                        Posted by jdavidb on Sunday, August 15, 2004 7:57 AM
                        He's going to Michael's art store, so maybe he'll see the kind of pipe cleaners we use if he looks in the kiddy crafts section. Those pipe cleaners don't have the wires in them.
                        Report Abuse
                        KJ200
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Bicester, England
                        Posted by KJ200 on Sunday, August 15, 2004 9:01 AM
                        Like the other guys I started with a Badger 200, and then moved onto an Omni 4000 a few months back.

                        You won't be disapointed with either an Omni or an Iwata, but for my money, and less of yours, you can't go wrong with the Omni 4000.

                        Karl

                        Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Sunday, August 15, 2004 11:16 AM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity

                        QUOTE: One pipe cleaner straight through the whole deal & it's done.

                        Uh oh, you used the "Pipe Cleaner" phrase. MikeV is gonna frown at that oneWink [;)] (don't tell him, but I use them to!)


                        So do I at times. Laugh [(-D]
                        One thing I never do is run a pipe cleaner down the needle tube from the back of the airbrush out the front, as it is unnecessary.

                        David,

                        It is not the wire in the pipe cleaners that is of concern, it is the cheap pipe cleaners that many places sell that have fibers that come loose from them.
                        The fibers can break loose and find their way into openings in the airbrush and give you problems. Also, remember that running thinners such as lacquer down into the needle tube can result in that thinner getting into the rubber O-ring in the air valve and causing it to swell and fail after a while.

                        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
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                        bstrump
                        • Member since
                          March 2004
                        • From: British Columbia,Canada
                        Posted by bstrump on Sunday, August 15, 2004 12:37 PM
                        Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thanks for your help guys. It's intersesting you should all mention gravity feedas I was finding the jar hanging under my 200 was frequently getting in the way.
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Sunday, August 15, 2004 3:31 PM
                        I agree that the Omni 4000 and the Badger 100LG are both great choices, as well as the Eclipse CS if you want to go the Iwata route.

                        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
                        Report Abuse
                        saltydog
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Lower Alabama
                        Posted by saltydog on Sunday, August 15, 2004 4:45 PM
                        the iwata hp-cs is a great airbrush, but if you're already set up with badger stuff, i'd choose the omni 4000, which is nearly the same as the hp-cs, cept not as good!!!Tongue [:P]Wink [;)]Big Smile [:D] just thought i'd add a little spice to the thread!!LOL. later
                        Chris The Origins of Murphy's Law: "In the begginning there was nothing, and it exploded."!!! _________ chris
                        Report Abuse
                        jdavidb
                        • Member since
                          August 2004
                        • From: Kennesaw, GA
                        Posted by jdavidb on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 5:16 PM
                        There's also that gravity feed Iwata Revolution that's priced to compete with Badger 100LG.

                        This morning, I found the greatest brushes for airbrush cleaning. They're perfect for getting up in the nozzle without doing wire damage or leaving fibers. They're Proxabrush Trav-ler brushes by Butler GUM in the dental/pharmacy section. The small handle disposable ones will fit. There's another brush like that called something like Go-betweens. These are boxes of 3 brushes for under $3. I bought a pack. They're cleanable, so I'll be using only these 3 for a long time. The wire core is rounded at the tip and wrapped all the way back down the core and into the little handle. The wire won't scratch anything.
                        Report Abuse
                        bstrump
                        • Member since
                          March 2004
                        • From: British Columbia,Canada
                        Posted by bstrump on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 7:55 PM
                        Great tip, jd. Once again, thanks for all your help guys. I'll be making a trip to my LHS to pick up the Omni 4000. Otherwise, it's coast airbrush.
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 8:02 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by jdavidb

                        There's also that gravity feed Iwata Revolution that's priced to compete with Badger 100LG.


                        Price is the only thing that the Iwata Revolution can compete with the 100LG.
                        It terms of performance the 100LG beats the Revolution hands down.
                        The 100LG is a micro-tipped airbrush and is in the category with the Iwata HP-C and others like it. Wink [;)]

                        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
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 9:15 PM
                        Mike: you forgot about quality, and finish Big Smile [:D]
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 9:54 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337

                        Mike: you forgot about quality, and finish Big Smile [:D]


                        Are you saying the Badger is of lesser quality?

                        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
                        Report Abuse
                        saltydog
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Lower Alabama
                        Posted by saltydog on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 10:17 PM
                        I AM.....and whatchu gonna do bout' it!!!Big Smile [:D]Wink [;)]
                        Chris The Origins of Murphy's Law: "In the begginning there was nothing, and it exploded."!!! _________ chris
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 10:58 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by saltydog

                        I AM.....and whatchu gonna do bout' it!!!Big Smile [:D]Wink [;)]


                        I am beginning to think you like the punishment Chris. Big Smile [:D] Wink [;)]


                        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
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 11:59 PM
                        I have a Badger 350, and that's adequate for me for now. but if i were to upgrade, to double-action, I would go for either for the bottom-feed Iwata Revolution, or the Aztek A470.
                        Report Abuse
                        saltydog
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Lower Alabama
                        Posted by saltydog on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 9:49 AM
                        Laugh [(-D]Thumbs Up [tup]
                        Chris The Origins of Murphy's Law: "In the begginning there was nothing, and it exploded."!!! _________ chris
                        Report Abuse
                        jdavidb
                        • Member since
                          August 2004
                        • From: Kennesaw, GA
                        Posted by jdavidb on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 9:58 AM
                        Omni 4000 is likely to cost less here http://store.yahoo.com/giftsformom/aifrch.html than at the lhs. Someone probably already sent you a pm about the Fine Scale Forums deal though. :)
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 2:09 PM
                        Well time for me to chime in. As a proud owner of the 4000G (thats stands for good Salty... hmm dont see an iwata with that in it Wink [;)], right back at ya bro LOL). I tell ya all your modeling needs are done, hands down. Enjoy. I also own a crescendo full set and a 360 now Wink [;)], but they are for something else.
                        To the guy in canada, a 360 is more then adequete when compare to and Aztek
                        Report Abuse
                        KJ200
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Bicester, England
                        Posted by KJ200 on Thursday, August 19, 2004 3:40 AM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by jay_liang_CA

                        I have a Badger 350, and that's adequate for me for now. but if i were to upgrade, to double-action, I would go for either for the bottom-feed Iwata Revolution, or the Aztek A470.


                        As an Omni owner I can't imagine there's much to choose between an Iwata and an AztekWink [;)]

                        I just couln't resist that one Salty!

                        Karl

                        Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

                        Report Abuse
                        f-4phantom
                        • Member since
                          October 2003
                        • From: Mpls., Mn.
                        Posted by f-4phantom on Thursday, August 19, 2004 5:37 PM
                        Whatever MikeV says about Badger is correct. He is the Badger God. Love the S&M smiley guys---LOL.

                        Dean

                        Report Abuse
                        f-4phantom
                        • Member since
                          October 2003
                        • From: Mpls., Mn.
                        Posted by f-4phantom on Thursday, August 19, 2004 5:38 PM
                        Whatever MikeV says about Badger is correct. He is the Badger God. Love the S&M smiley guys---LOL.

                        Dean

                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Thursday, August 19, 2004 8:06 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by f-4phantom

                        Whatever MikeV says about Badger is correct. He is the Badger God.


                        I don't think so. Laugh [(-D]

                        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
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 19, 2004 10:19 PM
                        Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000

                        Just get an Omni 4000

                        Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000 Buy Omni 4000
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Thursday, August 19, 2004 10:28 PM
                        Ryan,

                        Did you forget your medication today? Confused [%-)]

                        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
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 19, 2004 10:55 PM
                        lol that was supposed to be a subliminal message
                        Report Abuse
                        12
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