Anyone own and use an Aztek airbrush?

Like some of the others I started with an Aztec Single action then I moved on to the Badger 150. I love the Badger. I am glas I learned on the aztec because when I stepped up to the badger it was so much easier and I was much more confident on my airbrushing. Aztec is a great place to start.

I own and use an aztek contempo. It works all right, nothing special, but it's certainly not horrible. After spraying acrylics, i shoot some thinner through it, than soak the nozzles in hot water. that's cleanup done for me. You can all yell at me for how badly i maintain my airbrush now.

tho, it's only $49 for the set without the hose, and in a plastic box at dixieart.com. I have one (155-7, no plastic box, comes with hose, around $60) and wow I've never been so pleased.

That's when you switch the nozzles Scott, the coffee stirrer for detail, straw for coverage..

Foster, the Badger 155 does everything you said and is 60 dollars for the whole set... you just have to buy the adapter from MicroMark for the MM paint for about 6 dollars...

QUOTE: My opinion was that my aztek was so bad I would rather use a straw.

A straw ... now that's a novel concept. Sounds a lot like how the first airbrushes were invented. Gonna be tough to do any sort of fine line work though

IF you use an aztek and like it, good. If you use an aztek and hate it, Fine. your opinion. My opinion was that my aztek was so bad I would rather use a straw.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity Robert you were one of the guys I was referring to when I said: QUOTE: some people have very good results with them, and produce some fantastic paint jobs. and one of the reasons I try and be reserved in my comments about them. If some of the high-power modelers have good results with them they can't be all bad.

High-power???

Nay! Low-power, low-tech, low-income

To be honest, if I were to find an airbrush that was:

Siphon-feed, Side-loading, MM enamel bottle adaptable, Easy to clean, and Paints one millimeter lines right out of the box...

I probably would have changed long ago...if it cost less than $100.00. I'm just too cheap.

My Aztec does have definite and fairly easy to identify limitations. One of the biggest ones being that it appears that Aztec and acrylics don't seem to get along...particularly if you don't clean the brush and tip immediately after spraying. When I tried spraying a couple acrylics (on a whim), the results were not favorable! Enamels - at least for me - haven't had any problems. Also, if my modeling genre of choice was 1/72 armor or aircraft, I would need to change airbrushes...period. That's because the Aztec will not deliver small enough detail for subjects in smaller scales. However, for 1/35 armor, 1/32 aircraft, and big Sci-Fi subjects, it works pretty well.

I look at it this way. It's a whole lot better than spray cans, even if it has a problem or two.

Enjoy your modeling...

I have used an Aztek ofr about 10 years and find it easy to use and clean, only problem I have had is clogging because it is touchy, you have to find the right mixture. I have had the best luck with Tamiya paints. best advise I can give is to find which one works best for you.
John
Helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission

yea maybe the aztec range of ab's require s different cleaning procedure to other, metal ab's??? foster, i spose that u clean ur ab properly all the time??? coz from wat ive read, its usually paint clogging the ab or nozzles up.... just a thought....

Robert you were one of the guys I was referring to when I said:

QUOTE: some people have very good results with them, and produce some fantastic paint jobs.

and one of the reasons I try and be reserved in my comments about them. If some of the high-power modelers have good results with them they can't be all bad.

ditto to that Foster, while in the minority, I have still heard enough folks say their Aztek works great so I have to believe it. Whether it was me, or maybe it was just me. Something didn't work in between final spraying to next spraying and I tended to get clogs occasionally etc.

Foster, I take my hat off to you! If your Aztec is working well for you, you may just one of the lucky few or the rest of us are doing something wrong! Either way, I'm glad your experience is better than mine.

I've had my Aztec 4704 for about a year now. Built and painted 9 models in that time and have not had a single problem with the airbrush. I personally love the quick clean up, the fact that I can use my MM enamel paint bottles to hold mixes, and the siphon-feed. I've had the same two tips since the day I bought the brush and have never had to disassemble them or the body for cleaning. I'm obviously in the minority on this one and probably always will be.

Enjoy your modeling...

Good choice!

I had an aztek for 6 months, and now I have a badger 155. the badger is at least a million times better than the aztek. I still have the aztek sitting in a box somewhere (Sorry roadkill just need to get off my lazy ass)

I think I'll just stick with my Paasche VL's.

Thanks for all the input, folks.

I switched from an Aztec too.. and for me it was a little time consuming as well, I switched to Badger, I have a 175 and a 155... if you want easy cleaning got for the 155... the 175 is easy too... but the 155 is just snap-crackle-pop and you're done...

As stindle and music city mentioned if you just scroll down or go to the next page of the Painting and Airbrushing topic, you will see several threads talking about just this... it might help make your mind up...

and dont look at the Paasche, Badger airbrushes as high priced.... the kits for either of them are both between 60 and 70 dollars (hoses, bottles, airbrush etc...) the Iwata and Omni sets are slightly more but still not out of this world...

I've had 3 Aztecs in a row now and I've had problems with all of them, the trouble with them is that you cannot copletely strip them down for cleaning(if you do strip the main body you lose your guarantee) The nozzles can be taken apart and cleaned easily but after a while and a lot of paint you end up having to buy more of them. I'm using my old areograph at the minute and I'm definately going to buy a different brand next time.

I'm looking at Badger or Iwata for my next airbrush.

I have the badger 155 too and like it way better than the aztek I was using before. just one tip for everything, super fast cleanup, good weight, good control and a reasonable price.
To be fair, I was using possibly the cheapest aztek double action there is, but I did buy a few extra tips and stuff. I found they broke or got clogged easily, and using it just seemed like a chore sometimes. Maybe the pricier models would be better, I couldnt say.

I have a couple of airbrushes. An Iwata and an aztek. I've done some fine work with the Aztek and have been happy with it for years. The key is becoming familiar with its capabilities and limitations as well as experimenting. Most importantly is to not let your expectations exceed your capabilities, limitations, and experience. (That goes with anything.)

The changeable nozzles work out great and the body has a lifetime guarantee. Never had to cash in on that but its nice to know. The newer metal bodied aztek is nice because it gives you back some of the weight that people like to have in their a/b.

Ultimately it up to you and what you're looking for in an a/b.

i own a badger 155 anthem and its a breeze to clean, no tools needed, just spray thinner thru it and back wash it and ur set to go.... also theres the one tip/nozzle for all types of spraying.... im no airbrush master but i did do a bit of research b4 i got mine and the anthem looked like the best setup for a good price (and badger service is great).... if ur after a grav fed ab maybe u should look at the omni line, coz their simial to the anthem (theyre made by badger)

hope that helps mate!!

Personally I don't care for plastic parts in my airbrushes There are tons of posts here pertaining to Azteks. I've never owned one myself, but some people have very good results with them, and produce some fantastic paint jobs. It seems that the vast bulk of the owners experience lots of problems with them.

My Omnis are very easy to clean, and I love them. About a dozen parts total, and for normal cleaning just blow some thinner through them. No real need to disassemble and clean anything except on occasion. I usually disassemble and clean mine thoroughly at the end of a day's painting, but there really isn't a lot of need to. It takes about a minute to completely strip it down and another to put it back together.

Okay. Thanks.

I'm not new to modeling, nor am I new to airbrushing. I own and use two Paasche VL, but I'm getting tired of the complex cleaning required, especially when going from a dark color to a light color. If the Aztek is considered a "starter airbrush," perhaps it's not what I'm looking for.

Appreciate the info, folks.

I have an A470, the model that comes with 5 or six tips, several paint cups and two jars. I am new to modeling this year and have used it several times and think it works pretty good, I haven't any major hangups. Cleaning is easy but time consuming as I clean my airbrush after every color. I'm still learning and haven't really attempted any fine detail work with it yet but for general spraying and coverage works great.

I do. I have a Aztek boxed set with all the tips and jars in a wooden box, It was a good starter brush. You will have to learn how to take apart and clean the tips well now and then. I have a badger now and like it better, it has much better control. Alot of people don't like the Aztek and a lot of people do so you will here both sides, good and bad. but in the end its your money and your choice.

There are several good old treads here in the forums on the "BEST" airbrush to own. Take your time and read as many as you can to get an idea about a model of airbrush. Many of these guys have been using them for many years and know the ins and outs of many types.

Good luck to you in your quest

STindle