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Aztek

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 3:34 PM
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=28067
should tell u
  • Member since
    October 2004
Posted by texas on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 5:38 AM
My Aztek 470 works exactly as advertised. Be sure to use the right nozzle for your application. I soak my nozzles after each session to prevent clogs. Air pressure, humidity, temperature and thinning ratios cannot be ignored. Try reading FSM articles for more info.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Southern California, USA
Posted by ABARNE on Monday, November 8, 2004 2:37 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV

Putting the needle in through the front is recommended by Badger

I actually dug out the instructions that can with it, assuming I was an idiot for not reading the things carefully enough, but they didn't mention sliding the needly abck into the body from the front. I still like your idea better than putting it back in from the back. It seems a lot easier to remember where the adjustment nuts are positioned compared to trying to thread the blasted thing all the way down the body.

QUOTE:
Just don't take the airbrush apart all the time and parts will last longer.
Many people think you need to disassemble the airbrush after each use but that is not necessary.


That had been my modus operandi. I had actually taken it all the way apart, only once or twice previously, with the normal cleanout by spraying thinner through it after each use keeping it nicely clean. And then I decided to use it for spraying a Future Gloss coat. The poor thing got a bit clogged, so I figured a more thorough cleaning was in order, particularly since I normally use enamel rather than acrylic.

The next obvious suggestion is to get a separate airbrush for acrylics and avoid the whole problem entirely. So I went out and I found a Paasche EZ-Starter, basically a Paasch H single action but with a plastic body. It was only about twenty bucks, but it works like a champ for acrylic clear coats.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 8, 2004 1:55 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by jfrejo

From my experience if your spraying laquer and it comes out like webs, strings and such it is not thinned enough.
John


Bingo! When I'm spraying lacquers such as Mr. Color or Mr. Surfacer I thin my paint mixtures with at least 50% lacquer thinner by ratio. The cobwebs are a sign that the paint is drying before it reaches the surface. I also bought a product called Mr. Retarder Mild by Gunze Sangyo and it helps by prolonging the drying time of lacquers (side benefit here is that it's easier for me to clean my airbrush), though one can manage without it as long as the thinner is sufficient.

Cheers,
onyan
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 7, 2004 10:41 PM
are you not MAN enough for that,iwata users Big Smile [:D]
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Sunday, November 7, 2004 9:05 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337

it's manly



thank you... I was gonna say that but I am glad you did... Clown [:o)]
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 7, 2004 8:25 PM
it's manly
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Sunday, November 7, 2004 7:38 PM
ok, I have to admit I was gonna ask the same question (facetiously of course) ... personally I *LIKE* the big stainless bead on the end.. it's somewhat comforting when I pull that thing out by that knob... it's got SUBSTANCE!
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Sunday, November 7, 2004 4:17 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337

mike, how do you suggest i put the needle in the fron of my 155?


You can't! Laugh [(-D]
You have to put it in from the back, but it's no big deal if you do it gently.

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
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 7, 2004 3:22 PM
mike, how do you suggest i put the needle in the fron of my 155?
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 7, 2004 11:09 AM
From my experience if your spraying laquer and it comes out like webs, strings and such it is not thinned enough.
John
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Sunday, November 7, 2004 4:18 AM
My pleasure Andy.
Putting the needle in through the front is recommended by Badger also as it helps eliminate problems such as you had.
Just don't take the airbrush apart all the time and parts will last longer.
Many people think you need to disassemble the airbrush after each use but that is not necessary.

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 2003
  • From: Southern California, USA
Posted by ABARNE on Sunday, November 7, 2004 1:04 AM
Thanks Mike, I don't why the obvious eluded me. If teh Badger could talk, it thank you too!
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Saturday, November 6, 2004 6:04 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Winnie

I just tried the Mr. Color 1000 primer with my AZTEK, thinned with laquer thinner, and that made some weird strings, almost like cob-wes... Scary. Did not dare to use it again...


just noticed this post Winnie... I had the same thing happen trying to run Chevy Engine Red laquer through my 175... it was like one of those cotton candy machines at the fair... finally I trashed the kit... wasn't worth trying to clean it up etc... I was doing it for my dad so I wanted it to be exactly perfect... doing take two on the HH-65 I am building him now and have enamel instead... feel a lot safer!
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Saturday, November 6, 2004 3:29 AM
Andy,

Remove the head assembly from the front of the airbrush and put the needle back in through the front instead of from the back. 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
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Southern California, USA
Posted by ABARNE on Saturday, November 6, 2004 2:00 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV

QUOTE: Originally posted by grandadjohn
I sold more replacement parts for Badger and Paasche(usually needles) then I did replacement nozzles for Aztec's.


That is because of ignorant users not a reflection on quality. Wink [;)]

Mike


Speaking as an ignorant user who bent his Badger 200's needle after the last disassembly Black Eye [B)], is there an easy way to safely replace the needle without damage after disassembly and cleaning? Fortunately, I was able to fix the tip, and reassemble it without damaging it a second time. Howeve, trying to slide slide the needle back into place, through the airbrush body, pushing it through into the hole without banging the tip into something on the inside of the airbrush and bending the tip is a difficult exercise at best. I love how the Badger airbrush performs while painting, but I am just dreading the day that it next needs a full breakdown.

Andy
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Monday, November 1, 2004 8:20 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by grandadjohn
I sold more replacement parts for Badger and Paasche(usually needles) then I did replacement nozzles for Aztec's.


That is because of ignorant users not a reflection on quality. 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
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Humble
Posted by rrmmodeler on Monday, November 1, 2004 11:51 AM
When I had an Aztek I would take the tip apart after every session. If I didn't it would clog or miss up on the next project. I would up out the needle and run thinner through the body until it was clear, then wipe out the inside with a wet Q-Tip dipped in thinner. THen I would let the needle soak for a while in thinner, then put the the thing back together.

Things got so much easier when I got my Iwata. All I have to do with it is run some thinner through it, wipe out the cup and I am done. Once or twice month give it a good cleaning and lubing and its back to bussiness. Never again will I go back to the Aztek as my primiary airbrush.
  • Member since
    February 2004
Posted by Winnie on Monday, November 1, 2004 10:28 AM
I just tried the Mr. Color 1000 primer with my AZTEK, thinned with laquer thinner, and that made some weird strings, almost like cob-wes... Scary. Did not dare to use it again...
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: phoenix
Posted by grandadjohn on Saturday, October 30, 2004 5:40 PM
I've had good luck with my Aztec except with Testors acrylic's(I prefer to use Tamiya). I found that taking the nozzle apart and soaking it helps after several uses, then clean with soap and water. Most important , as with any airbrush, is to clean it immediately after use.
I sold more replacement parts for Badger and Paasche(usually needles) then I did replacement nozzles for Aztec's.
Best advise I can give is to find one that you are happy with.
John
helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Henlow, England
Posted by Jeff Gunn on Saturday, October 30, 2004 11:27 AM
well I love my Aztek ...it seems you love em or hate em ....but the results are fine for me
JG Per Ardua
  • Member since
    February 2003
Posted by snobrd13 on Saturday, October 30, 2004 8:32 AM
I second and third those opinions suggesting Windex as a cleaner for acrylic. Works great for me....same nozzles are serving in the years for me at this point.
Mike
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 29, 2004 5:45 PM
badger 100 lg, 155, or iwata hp-cs/cr
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Friday, October 29, 2004 7:02 AM
There are a few people who have had good luck with the Azteks, but if you search this area of the forum for the word "Aztek" you'll find plenty of posts pertaining to them. Most are negative, a few are positive. Personally I prefer Badgers.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    April 2004
Posted by sr71 on Friday, October 29, 2004 2:12 AM
Hi all
I was going to buy an Aztec A470 from Micro-mark but after reading some of the above posts, I'm not so sure. What would you suggest in its place. It seems to work well if it is properly cleaned and serviced, that goes for most things. Is there any body who would recommend the aztec?
regards Neil
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Australia
Posted by Bandha Boy on Friday, October 29, 2004 1:15 AM
Hmm! I use lots of Alclad without any problems with my Aztec. I always use their Alclad airbrush cleaner though, as Alclad's are a water-based laquer, which is a bit unusual. I actually wrote to them at one point asking about alternatives (their cleaners are hard to find here in Oz) & they said Acetone should be ok. It's also good to pull the Aztec tips apart & clean them up pretty regularly, this seems to make all the difference. I soak them in acetone for 20' or so & then wipe them down.
Carl
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Friday, October 1, 2004 5:49 AM
I only ever used one nozzle on my Aztek, the brown one, and did some awesome paint jobs with it.

It died when I ran Alclad through her, the 'O' ring around the needle actuator perished and leaked paint into the body.
Had it fixed, and stuck her on the shelf.

Still use it sometimes, just for giggles.
--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Australia
Posted by Bandha Boy on Friday, October 1, 2004 1:57 AM
The Aztec plastic is pretty robust, I've put all kinds of thinner through mine - enamel, acrylic, laquer, acetone - no problems.
Carl
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 26, 2004 8:57 PM
but remember to always soak your aztek body in lacquor so you can find a reason to buy another airbrush Whistling [:-^]
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