why so bad?

i can't tell you from experience as i've never owned one. however, i can tell you from many posts on this and other airbrush forums that many people that own aztec airbrushes despise them. airbrushes are precision instuments and most are manufactured with very low tolerances, so i'd be wary of purchasing a tool, like an airbrush, that was made mostly of plastics. i'm sure there will be someone along soon that will enlighten you on there actual experiences with said product. later.

PS don't let this discourage you from purchasing one, because there is a minority of aztec owners here that have alot of success with theirs. if you're on a tight budget especially. but first, shop at dixieart.com and look at the many single action airbrushes that are available for a very economical price.

The airbrushes themselves are not so bad, but I think a lot of people feel that they haven't quiet lived up some of their earlier claims. Many people also bought them solely for the spatter nozzle.
They had a lifetime warranty that has now been changed to a 3yr warranty methinks, and that says a lot in my book.

Also a lot of modelers I know got frustrated that everytime something went wrong with theirs they had to send it into the factory to get fixed, or take nozzles apart and soak them overnight. Replacement nozzle prices are also a bit of a turn-off for some.
I think the metal used for the nozles is a bit porour and thus tends to collect some types of paint quicker(detailed analysis/comparison of the A/B was done on another forum a few years back).

Personally, I am always doubtful when a precision item like an A/B is marketed as easy to clean, no disassembly needed, etc because it goes counter to my experiences.

I use metal airbrushes and can get spares at my LHS for them, so if I need to replace anything it can be done at home in a few minutes, rather than having to send it away for a few weeks to the factory. Imagine building a competition entry and 2 days prior to the competitions your A/B dies and needs to go to the factory for repairs.(shudders)

They are good A/B and I have seen some amazing things done with them, it is all up to you and what you want to get out of your A/B.

not quite. My aztek stopped working ages ago, so i had to constantly clear it. the paint nozzles "never need to be siassembled" so i didn't and they all jammed and had incredable amounts of tip dry. if a single variable is wrong, the whole airbrush stops working. I've lost perhaps $150 worth of models to the aztek. I suggest you pay lest and buy a badger 100 155 175 or 360.

I had an aztec before getting my Badger 155. The comparison of surface finish, easy of use/clean, control, & ease of cleaning is night and day. The aztec did serve me a good year and 4 okay models from it. I learned on it, but from my experience after using two different brands, these were the main faults.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Model Museum They had a lifetime warranty that has now been changed to a 3yr warranty methinks, and that says a lot in my book.[/br]

And waiting for what seems like weeks & weeks to have the AB repaired is not a good feeling when there are parts on the bench.

QUOTE: Personally, I am always doubtful when a precision item like an A/B is marketed as easy to clean, no disassembly needed, etc because it goes counter to my experiences.

I disagree with the "easy to clean" comment above. My Badger 155 takes about 3 minutes between colors & 5 minutes before putting it away. And it is very easy to take apart & put back together. I think my aztek would take 5-7 between colors and who knows how long to put away. And if you shoot acrylics, you'll be disassembling the nozzles to clean them out. The paint dries so quickly; it won't let go of the spring after only a few stagnant moments.

QUOTE: I use metal airbrushes and can get spares at my LHS for them, so if I need to replace anything it can be done at home in a few minutes, rather than having to send it away for a few weeks to the factory. Imagine building a competition entry and 2 days prior to the competitions your A/B dies and needs to go to the factory for repairs.(shudders)

This point about sums up the #1 gripe I had with Aztek.

Buying nozzles tips were $7.99(us dollars) per piece. After spending $40 on the AB body & then getting 4 nozzles for fine, med, thick lines & one for wide coverage, the bill grew considerably more than I had anticipated at first glance. My 155 does what I need for $55 at dixieart.com

I never thought the aztek felt balanced. Perhaps it is just the plastic feel, I did like the ergonomic grip/shape, but it always felt front heavy.

I still have it in the drawer. I still use it from time to time when I’m doing a quick job that requires no real precision and I want to be shooting two colors. But other than that, it just lays lonely in the drawer.

-J

Well I haven't worked with a double action Aztek, but I do own a simplified version of their airbrush (single action/semi-double action). Let's call it cheapo-Aztek. Anyway, it uses the same types of nozzles as all Aztek AB's. Wiew it here: testors.com/catalog_item.asp?itemNbr=1200 (they say it's double action, but it isn't really). I bought it for 20-25 USD (but the pack didn't include propellant can).

I used it a couple of times (haven't had much time for modeling lately) and was very happy with it. True, I haven't even held in my hand any of the other types (Badger, Iwata...) so can give no comparison.
But for a novice airbrusher I think it's great. It isn't a real double action AB, but maybe you don't even need that. It's a good introduction to airbrushing. The only possible drawback to this is that one probably has to learn things anew when going from single- to double-action.

I plan to buy a "serious" (double action) airbrush in the future (either one of the more sophisticated Aztek offerings or a Badger, Paaasche, Iwata..). but I'm definitely going to keep my cheapo-Aztek. At that price (20-25 USD) I would even buy an additional cheapo-Aztek. I would then have 1 cheapoAztek for metallics, yet another one for large area painting, clearcoats etc and finally a more sophisticated AB for camoflage & detail painting, three a/brushes in all

The aztek is very hard to clean- contrary to advertisements. Also, you get sputtering a lot I think, even if paint consistency is Ok.

I started with an Aztek because I didn't know any better. The concept of multiple tips is interesting but in that lies the problem. The're advertised as easy to clean which should actual be impossible to clean. Remvoing dried paint is very difficult and I found that after several uses a tip starts to perform badly with spitting and a very noticeable asymetric spray pattern. Eventually the trigger mechanism on mine just broke in two. I replaced the Aztek with a Badger 155. It's a much better AB.

John

bravo Genjohn... exact same cicumstances here.,.. had an aztec... worked adequately for awhile, even good in certain circumstaces.,... till I started getting paint clogged in it... and aving to dissasemble the nozzles... then the trouble began...

next stepo was a Badger 175 which I liked alot... then a Badger 155 which I LOVE!!!!

I dont recommend buying a starter brush, but what you need,... and actually a Badger or even the HP-CR is cheaper than the Azteks!

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 I dont recommend buying a starter brush, but what you need,... and actually a Badger or even the HP-CR is cheaper!

I fully concur, rather spend money once on a good A/B rather than getting a starter A/B and than later STILL buying the good one later on.

A good A/B if looked after correctly will work well for many years.

they have a spatter nozzle?! What do you need a special nozzle for when all their nozzles do it already?!

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tankmaster7 they have a spatter nozzle?! What do you need a special nozzle for when all their nozzles do it already?!

zinggggggg !

Here's one good reason. I still don't know what did it. I literally just picked it up.

catastophic structural failure

that is really bad.

My aztek just stopped working, started spattering continuously, and then the duel action stopped working.