Anthem 155 Questions

the trigger depth is nowhere near that of the anthem... it is an on/off type thing... there is a lot more backward pull though and that bursh can put out the paint so be sure to play with it a little and get familiar with it before ya hit a model with it... might get a little soggy...

cleaning for me usually consists of emptying the paint cup back into the paint bottle (unless it is custom mixed), wiping it out with a thinner soaked rag and Qtip, fill it about 1/4 way with thinner and shoot it out, wipe out the cup again, 1/4 full of thinner and put a rag on the tip and back flush (low pressure only!!!! about 5psi or so) then one more shot of thinner and on to the next step. Unless I am just changing colors, at the end I take out my needle and wipe it down and lube it with Regdab needle lube so it's ready for the next time. I haven't come to a good full cleaning yet but that will be dissasembly and soaking the parts that can in thinner when I get there...

I've heard recommendations of 30 hrs of brushing for thorough cleaning... and unless mine gives me trouble before then I will stick with that...

P.S. I really recommend although it isn't mandatory, using needle lube with this brush... it really makes for a smooth trigger pull and helps keep paint from sticking to the needle. i.e. a lot easier clean up. it's like 3 or 4 dollars off of dixieart.com or greatmodels.com

Enjoy and congrats on the new brush!!! I recommend using the metal color cup that came with it for most of your painting... it sprays easier and a lot easier to clean up... pipe cleaners (the non hard bristle type) will clean the paint pickup tube going to the AB and on the jar it will clean out the siphon well too...

QUOTE: 1. Is the trigger depth on the Anthem much less than on the Aztek? (I find that my Anthem's trigger doesn't go down that far)

I guess I don't understand that question. Not surprising since I've never owned an Aztek.

Badger triggers don't move down much, just enough to get the air flowing. The trigger is NOT meant to control the air flow, only turn it on or off. Air flow should be constant. Use the lateral movement of the trigger to control paint flow and adjust the volume while painting.

QUOTE: 2. What steps do you guys take to clean them when you're not going to take them apart?

Blow thinner through until it comes out clear. I normally paint with acrylics, so I flush mine with water, blow some thinner through, flush with water again, dry it out with compressor air. Takes about 3 minutes.

QUOTE: 3. When you are going to take them apart?

Disassemble, clean all parts with thinner and pipe cleaners, dry everything off, blow it out with compressor air, apply some needle lube to the needle and trigger linkage, reassemble. Takes less than 10 minutes.

yeah as a former Aztek owner Scott, the trigger on them has a lot more range to it which leads to what you have seen some of on here, people trying to control flow with the trigger as well (at one time myself included)

How would you control flopw on the badger? A regulator for the compressor?

QUOTE: yeah as a former Aztek owner Scott, the trigger on them has a lot more range to it which leads to what you have seen some of on here, people trying to control flow with the trigger as well (at one time myself included)

THAT explains where the notion of controling the air flow on the fly came from.

QUOTE: How would you control flopw on the badger? A regulator for the compressor?

Exactly. Set your compressor for the desired air pressure, and use the trigger on your airbrush as a switch to turn the air on or off. It should be either fully on or fully off, don't try and adjust the pressure with the trigger. You will get different patterns, you'll get different atomization, and you'll get different volume. Use the regulator to adjust air pressure, use the trigger to adjust paint volume.

I don't have a reguilator yet, so please bear with me. There should be something for controlling the airflow on the regulator, right? Because I dfon't have anything like that on the compressor. (testors blue mini) Should there be a little dial close to the prerssure gauge on the regulator or something?

yup, you'll need a regulator with the blue ice mini... it just screws on the 1/4" nipple. You can get one for about 19 dollars at Lowes or Home Depot, a moisture trap would be nice too... not mandatory but ya dont want a nice blob of water on fresh paint. (some people spray without one with no probs, it's not worth the worry for me... plus I live in almost year round 70% plus humidity... and it will add about 19.00 to your bill for one... I sprayed without one for a week or two when I first got my compressor with no probs... but it might be a buy for later if not right away...

here's what the regulator will look like (may be vertical or horizontal, this is just an example....)



The knob on top is what adjusts the pressure, the gauge is where you read it... you'll need an extra 1/4" male to male connecter to attach the hose to, so when you get it, it is right by the regulators and is only about $1.49.

You should be able to spray general pattern with just the Blue Ice, I think it is 19psi output, so should work for general coverage, not great for detail without a regulator though.

I just looked on Testors site and they show the "Blue Mini" as having 40 psi max pressure, but they don't list a working pressure or anything. I'd suspect it will drop down to around 30 psi working pressure. If so that's still quite a bit of pressure, and as Tom mentioned, I'd strongly recommend a regulator. I very seldom spray at more than 15 psi other than to clean out my airbrush, and frequently drop down to less than 10 psi. If you try and use the trigger to regulate the pressure you'll never know what pressure you are actually spraying at.

Let's see now, how woyuld the anthem do sans regulator? What kind of lines would I be getting? 1/2"? 1/4"? I don't expect the pencil lines w/out the reg. but I'm saving on the cash right now, so if I could get a decent spray pattern I'll go without a regulator for a bit.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tankmaster7 Let's see now, how woyuld the anthem do sans regulator? What kind of lines would I be getting? 1/2"? 1/4"? I don't expect the pencil lines w/out the reg. but I'm saving on the cash right now, so if I could get a decent spray pattern I'll go without a regulator for a bit.

email me and I will send you one... it's the original one from my compressor when I bought it... just noticed it earlier up on my shelf... it's got an industrial pressure gauge on it so the increments are in 4psi steps but at least you will be able to eyeball it.. later you can buy just the gauge from testors or someone that has the 1psi increments.. (they have them at hobby lobby and maybe michaels for about 25.00. let me know where to send the regulator to and it's yours!

and at full out pressure like that I am imagining 1/2 to 1" spray pattern, you can try it, it won't hurt... just pull back slowly on the trigger till it starts to spray then try back off just a touch. (make sure the paint is thinned enough, try 3 parts paint to 2 parts thinner as a start) when you have the least paint coming out as possible start moving the brush and getting closer to the paper or whatever as you go... when the paint ceases to be a straight line and starts to puddle on the edges etc it's too close...

I remember I used my 175 with a blue ice when I first started using it and the top I usually could get from the regulator was about 22psi so I think you might be able to do a little but no fine detail work with it as is..

Also if it's still out in stores, the December issue of FSM has a section on troubleshooting your airbrush... including spray patters etc... and what to do about them... it's worth buying just for that!

Hehe, don't worry, I subscribe to Finescale. I eagerly await each new issue, good reading material that. And thanks a lot for the offer. I appreciate it a lot. I'll send you an email soon. You'd need my address and stuff like that right?

yup! I should have it mailed monday or tues so should be to you sometime Fri or Sat I would imagine... can ya wait that long? haha


--edit--

I just realized today is only Fri, the mail box place is open tomorrow so I'll see if I can get it there and ship it out USPS which should still pick up tomorrow...

I sent you the address stuff via the little e-mail thing on your profile. Thanks a lot!!!!!

congrats tankmaster. I know you're going to be really happy. I was so happy too when I got my 155. I use it quite a bit, and it has never had any problems that couldn't be solved in 5 minutes. i love it.

Hehe, that rig feels awesome. I love its weight!!!!! I can't wait until I start airnrushing those fine lines and freehanding camo!

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tankmaster7 Hehe, that rig feels awesome. I love its weight!!!!! I can't wait until I start airnrushing those fine lines and freehanding camo!

haha you walked in that Michaels store aboy, walked out a man... that is a good feeling airbrush and once you get to painting with a regulator you'll be surprised how well it paints...

P.S. just a personal thing, but I like that little rubber thingy you got in one of the paint bottles that goes over the trigger... for me it seems it gives me a little more control over spraying... (could be a deep seated neuroses as well, who knows? ) if you try it and like it it can be kept on semi permanent with silicone caulk or something like that... if you got the set it comes in a plastic bottle with the kit...


---edit---

I forgot to say what I came here to tell ya.. got your mail, will try to get it out tomorrow... good luck!

Thanks a lot again!!! I got that little rubber jigamabobber. It's good, more comfortable and all. I guess I'll superglue it on. or maybe even elmer's, it doesn't need to stay on that tight.

I'd use elmers at first... that way if you suddenly decide you dont like it, it will come off... CA it later after you use the brush more...

mine's superglued on at the perfect angle in relation to my finger.

Well loks liek you've got yourself a customized badger.

yep. works as new. The only thing i don't really like is how easy the hose comes undone from the airbrush, and when tighten it a lot more, the whole bottom assembly comes off. Aside from that, nothing else is wrong.

Be sure to use teflon tape on all the fittings of your compressor. Otherwise they may leak and not allow you to get full air pressure. I had this problem on mine.

Darren