Looking to buy an airbrush.

Paasche VL or VLS, others will say the Omni 4000.. I got a Paasche and I love it, completely kiddie proof.. and it cleans up as easy as anything else.. and its under 80$ depending where you get it from...

QUOTE: Originally posted by RustyFord Paasche VL or VLS, others will say the Omni 4000..

cool! thanks for the response... as far as needles does the one it comes with do it all? or should I look for one for detail and one for coverage?

I don't have one, but I like specs and design of the Millenium. It has a metal anodized handle with a cutaway, while the VL doesn't. But, the VLstpro does have that. The V's have 3 sizes of tips. The Mil is an all-in-one. They're all about $50 at dixieart.com if you get one that's not in a wood box, so the choice is a matter of features. The ability to do a good 2" spray is partly thanks to the high air flow that a siphon feed requires. Are you particularly looking at siphon feed because of a siphon feed's performance and functionality, or do you know if a gravity feed would be better for what you want to do?

Normally the med (#3) tip and needle are all that are needed for modeling.
I started out with the Paasche VL and although many people like them I don't really care for them as they don't have smooth triggers and they are too bulky shaped for me. I also hate the pivoting trigger on them as they are a pain to get back into the air valve sometimes after removing them.
I prefer Badger/Thayer & Chandler myself.

Mike

yeah I've only used a Paasche size 5 on car bodies, and that was only sometimes. I'd do that to spray a real sparkly silver base coat, but the Paasche 3's would do it too. The reason I personally wouldn't bother with a siphon feed Paasche size 1 tip is because I have an Iwata Eclipse gravity feed for those jobs Oh yeah.. I also used a Paasche size 5 to spray wall paint when I airbrushed clouds on a mural wall.

QUOTE: ... others will say the Omni 4000

I would be one of those

Keep in mind that out of that $200 budget you need to consider an air source as well. The cans of propellant such as Propel are not worth fooling with as they will cause you more problems than they are worth.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV I prefer Badger/Thayer & Chandler myself.

Which Badger do you prefer? I have a 350 here sitting on top of my hobby desk that I didn't care for, maybe I should revisit it before I shop for something else. Actually after using a double action I wouldn't go back...

And thanks to jdavidb too... I think I prefer a siphon feed, mainly because every airbrush I have owned is one... gravity feed has a lot of perks I have read about here but I'm just not sold on it yet.... mainly because I am a klutz and would probably lay it down and have paint dripping on my floor...

QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity [br Keep in mind that out of that $200 budget you need to consider an air source as well. The cans of propellant such as Propel are not worth fooling with as they will cause you more problems than they are worth.

oh yeah, it took me precisely 1.5 cans of it to figure out it was worth buying a compressor. plus the variance of the pressure as you used it was frustrating... got the compressor, needing a better brush... probably going to buy a new compresser as well though, out with the old, in with the new as they say...

If you want one to play with I just got my firet airbrush and compressure from a company called EDM Wholesale Inc. There website is www.edmwi.com and I picked up the airbrush for $0.99 with $15.00 S/H and a 3/4 hp 2 gal pancake comp. for $22.31 with $20.00 S/H. I have not tried them out yet but it would be worth it to look into them. The items they sale is imported from overseas and the do not tell you on the website what type they are. The airbrush is a Paasche.

QUOTE: Which Badger do you prefer? I have a 350 here sitting on top of my hobby desk that I didn't care for, maybe I should revisit it before I shop for something else. Actually after using a double action I wouldn't go back...

Looking at Badger's web site the 350 is an external mix airbrush. They typically produce a coarser pattern than an internal mix airbrush.

QUOTE: And thanks to jdavidb too... I think I prefer a siphon feed, mainly because every airbrush I have owned is one... gravity feed has a lot of perks I have read about here but I'm just not sold on it yet.... mainly because I am a klutz and would probably lay it down and have paint dripping on my floor...

Most of them come with a hook you can hang the airbrush in to prevent that problem

Both gravity feed and siphon feed have pros and cons. I have an Omni 3000 (siphon feed) and a 4000 (gravity feed). The only real difference between the two is that the 4000 will feed at lower pressures than the 3000. Depending on what you paint that can become important. My 3000 needs about 8-10 psi to feed properly wheras the 4000 will go below 5 (or thereabouts, my pressure gauge barely flickers).

There are a lot of good airbrushes on the market. Badger (including Thayer and Chandler), Iwata, and Paasche all make excellent brushes. Keep in mind that an airbrush is just a tool though, and probably 90% of its abilities comes from the person behind it. Pick a good quality double-action internal mix brush, one that has readily available parts (prefereably locally available since needles never bend and nozzles never split until you have to have one NOW!), learn to use it well, and never look back.

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV I prefer Badger/Thayer & Chandler myself. Which Badger do you prefer?

As MusicCity has already stated, I too prefer the Omni 4000 which is produced by Badger.
Another really good model is the Badger 100LG which is similar to the Omni 4000.
It all depends on what you want the airbrush for.
I have 9 Badger airbrushes and one Iwata and each has it's own characteristics that you may or may not like.
I prefer a gravity-feed airbrush for modeling and if I could only own one it would be the Omni 4000 or the Badger 100LG.

Mike

I switched over from a single action syphon feed Badger 200, to a gravity fed Omni4000 earlier this year, and although the 200 is a good brush, it is simply not a patch on the Omni. Added to which parts are readily available, even here in the UK where the Omni is not even sold!

Whatever you choose, hope you enjoy it.

Karl

and i just looooove my iwata's!! there's always one or 2 in the crowd eh?LOL the iwata eclipse hp-cs is the best airbrush that i've ever laid hands on, but thats just me. later.

Badger 100 LG: $50+ or - $10
harbour freight compressor: $70ish
Airhose: $10-20
moisture trap/pressure regulator: $40ish
paint thinner: Acrylic paints-isopropynal alcohol
Enamal paints-mineral spirits
Laquor paints- laquor thinner
total: 180 approx

Iwata Eclipse HP-BS $105
Iwata Airhose: $17
Paasche H: $50 ten years ago
Paasche moisture trap: $14
2-brush manifold with valves: $25
Regulator/filter/gauge: $55
Makita Mac700 2 hp 2.6 gallon compressor: $180
Total: $446 dang!

see why badger is better to each his own

buy omni 4000 buy badger buy omni 4000 buy omni 4000 buy badger buy omni 4000 buy omni 4000 buy badger buy omni 4000 buy omni 4000 buy badger buy omni 4000 buy omni 4000 buy badger buy omni 4000 buy omni 4000 buy badger buy omni 4000 buy omni 4000 buy badger buy omni 4000 eat mushrooms buy omni 4000 buy badger buy omni 4000

but with Iwata, you get a cool name like Eclipse to refer to when talking about your airbrush. I think women would prefer that I Eclipse them than Badger them, although the Crescendo would probably be the one that gets the action

QUOTE: Originally posted by jdavidb but with Iwata, you get a cool name like Eclipse to refer to when talking about your airbrush.

You mean the name Iwata stole from an American company instead of thinking up a name on their own?

Mike

stole from who?

the eclipse airbrush factory, they went out of businuess

QUOTE: Originally posted by jdavidb stole from who?

From the Eclipse Airbrush Company as Ryan said.
Here is proof :


Mike

Owned

it's kinda like how the car company, Saturn stole their name from the galaxy.

or how iwata is the name of a japanese city [correct?]

Or how BC Rich named a guitar series "NJ Series" so people would first think "New Jersey!", and then find out "Nagoya, Japan"

and what does this conversation have to do with the poor fella who started this thread? in what way is it guiding the purchaser in the right direction?LOL. later.

BTW, Iwata hp-cs friend, you want regret it.

QUOTE: Originally posted by saltydog and what does this conversation have to do with the poor fella who started this thread? in what way is it guiding the purchaser in the right direction?LOL. later.

Well if nothing else I can memorize all the info from this thread and go spill it out to the guy at the local hobby shop... he might cut me a discount on a Iwata just to get me to stop talking so much.

Seriously I appreciate all the great input yall gave me. I think I am going to balance the wealth (or lack of) and airbrush quality tonight before i make a decision. I'm torn between the Iwata and the Paasche. I might even throw caution to the wind and get that Paasche Mil I was talking about... it's looks like a good brush and I like the contours... looks manueverable. I haven't seen anyone who had used it yet though... I'll update you when I make a decision.. (This is taking more time to decide on than when I was car shopping)

QUOTE: Originally posted by jdavidb it's kinda like how the car company, Saturn stole their name from the galaxy.

Huh?
Saturn is a PLANET not a galaxy.
That isn't a very good comparison to what was said of Eclipse though.

Mike

by the way saltydog, how salty are ya? escapee of Uncle Sams Yacht club perhaps?

Just curious if you are discarded property of the US Navy like myself