Aztek displeasure?

I've never owned an Aztek. I started out with Badger and I've never looked back. I don't, however, directly say anything against them, I just recommend that people wanting information about them search this forum and then decide for themselves.

I think the major complaint is that, contrary to Testor's promises, they require a LOT of cleaning to be reliable. As I understand it if you don't completely clean the nozzles at the end of a day's painting there is a better than even chance that it won't work properly next time you want to use it. This equates to a lot of people complaining about the reliability and usability of them because they took the manufacturer at face value and didn't bother to thoroughly clean their tools when finished.

As to one manufacturer being vastly better than another, I'll stick to the same comment I've made a dozen times: An airbrush is just a tool and is no better than the hand that holds it.

I've been one of the proponents of Aztek on this forum. Personally, I'm not sure what people are complaining about. I can understand the maintenance problems, as admittedly, the feel of the brush is kind of very cheap, but that's about it. In terms of maintenance, I'm not sure that it requires any more than any other airbrush, but it is quite important to keep the nozzles clean, otherwise there are bound to be problems. Further, the only quarrel I have with people complaining is the apparent "inability" of the brush to achieve certain effects, to which I firmly reply that it's most likely the lack of painting skill rather than the brush that is the culprit. I've had my Contempo for over a year now, and have been very happy with it.

I'll second Zokissima's opinion. I'll just add one more point, that is the other AB manufacturers are similiar in engineering principle, so that there is a much large base of knowledge on how to solve their problems. Since everyone has them, they are just part of the AB experience and learning curve. The Aztek nozzle system are different, and thus requires different maintanence, but since ti only comes from one manufacturer, I'm sure there a higher tendency to blame to tool as the pool of knolwedge simply isn't as great. As for 'false' advertising, I do agree that Testor's instruction to simply shoot some clearing fluid thru the nozzles when done is not adequate for Acrylic paints. Note also they have seperate acrylic paint nozzles vs enamal paint nozzles.

I was a Aztek user for many years and defended when I was using it. But it was really unreliable and I cleaned it throughly every time I used it. Took the nozzels apart to make sure they were completely cleaned. I also never got a constensent results from it. The Iwata that I use now is so far above my old Aztek that its not even funny. My results are better and and more constensent. I also feel saver with the Iwata...I know its going to work the next time I use it and if it doen't it can easliy be fix in a few minutes.

Also not being able to disassemble the body of the Aztek is a disadvanage to me now that I have an airbrush that can be completely disassembled. When my old Aztek stopped working after five or so many years of use I took it apart in frustration and found paint clogging up the insides that was very old. There had been no way to get to that paint without taking the thing apart. But once you take the body apart you can't get back together...at least I coudln't.. So I am happy that I have left the Aztek behind. But I commend those that can do great jobs with it...for I never could...at least not constently.

Here's a link to some of my Aztek experiences (excuse the spellings).

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=17306&REPLY_ID=156737#156737

I use acrylics, so maybe that contributed to my frustrations. I'll also admit that my inexperience certainly played a part. But, my frustrations where not from a lack of trying and seeking advice from my LHS. I know one thing for sure - I'll never buy another one.......

I previously used an Aztek A430 double action, but based on my personal experience with it, now recommend against them, not for performance issues but reliability issues.

For the most part, it did paint reasonably well. When it did not, I could fairly place the blame on my own lack of experience, i.e. operator error. Unfortunately, after a relatively short usage life, the body would no longer spray, necesitating warranty replacement and the loss of use during the three week turnaround. I have no idea what I could have done or not have done to have caused the failure. Certainly I followed Aztek's cleaning instructions explicitly after every use, thus I cannot excuse the body's failure to simple operator error.

I have heard a lot of other comments form other Aztek users both in this forum and other modelling forums who have shared a similar experience to my own. As a result, I consider the Aztek to be an unreliable airbrush.

just my 2 cents worth.

I started out airbrushing with Aztek's. I tried several single and double action airbrushs and i will say that when I got everything right and they worked properly they did a good job.
And yes the Aztek's required a lot of cleaning.. and oftentimes I wound up replaceing nozzles.. and this got expensive..as they seemed to clog on a regular basis no matter how well I cleaned them. They did not live up to the claims that aztek made.

I almost gave up on airbrushing but decided to take the plunge and buy a badger 175.. I was amazed at how much more forgiving it was to my paint thinning and how much easier it was to clean. and I never had to buy a new needle for it. (yet) Just switching airbrushs improved my results 200%. also the badger seemed to spray thinner coats of paint which make it look even better... I then bought the badger 360 and it was even better for model's.. so I'm an ex-aztek user who is now a badger-fanatic and will never go back..

end of personal rant....

and I agree its partly the user that makes the airbrush, but the airbrush affects how the user learns and the learning curve....

I am an ex-aztek user myself... while when it worked well I could do some outstanding airbrushing, when it wasn't as clean as it should be it could be a horror. Admittedly some of this was lack of experience and I didn't know how clean was clean. (re: the shoot some thinner through and it's fine statement about them, I learned fast this wasn't enough.)

After buying a Badger 175 and now a 155 I am more than happy and wouldn't go back. The clean up is a LOT less intensive with the ones I have now, in between colors I shoot thinner until it comes out clear, at the end of te night wipe down the needle and be done with it until 30 hrs pass then dissasemble and soak. I feel the quality of what I am doing is much better than before partly do to consistent airbrush performance. I have nothing against the airbrush and have seen some outstanding paint jobs with it... it just wasn't the brush for me...

I am a former contempo user. While the nzzles are brand new, it works OK. But it requires highly intensive cleaning to maek them continue spraying well. As in it is best to take them apart and clean them every other time. I have switched over to a badger 155 and am much happier with it. Cleanin is much less intensive, and I feel it atomizes paint better than the contmpo did.

I Had an aztek. now i have a badger. Never been hapier. my aztek crapped out on me everytime i used it. ruined prob $200 worth of models.

It looks like I am one of the few who never bought one.

Mike

I use an Aztek 470 for about 5 years, i still use it but not for camouflages, ust general paint, don´t even think about fine line camo, hence i decide to buy a Badger 100lg for fine and detail work, the problem with the eztek is a paint leak trough the seal 8 5 years of use) i think , here in Central america we use any brand of thinner ans that´s because the seal opensssssssss and produce the paint leak

for any thing else aztek

Hey, great input as usual. I've been using model master acrylics exclusively on my Aztek with good results so far (using only the nozzle meant for acrylics). One thing I do to prevent nozzle clogging after use, is to store the nozzle in a clean paint jar with a small amount of water in the bottom. I haven't tried any of the other nozzles yet, but I get the feeling I may be moving on to a different airbrush in the years ahead. It seems the Aztek seems to run the show depending on how it's feeling that day instead of the other way round. Other factors like air pressure, outside temperature, surface being painted, etc. play a roll also. I'll be doing a lot more airbrushing after I get a compressor then we'll see how the Aztek holds up. Thanks again for your input everyone.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV It looks like I am one of the few who never bought one. Mike

So there actually is an airbrush that you don't own? Wonders never cease.

Andy

I had a A430 myself, and it was a horror to clean. There is nothing more frustrating for me to get ready for a painting session only to find that my airbrush isn't working properly even after spraying thinner in it. I may have had a bad brush to begin with, but it would constantly clog using enamels (never tried acryls) I did get maybe 2 nice paint jobs out of it where it didn't spit, sputter, clog, goop up, etc. One night I thought I would be smarter than the Airbrush, and I soaked that damn thing in thinner overnight. DO NOT do that if you treasure your Aztek!!!! LOL It totally destroyed the trigger assembly.

I bought an Omni 5000 for only 10 more dollars than what I paid for the Aztek, and the thing is genius. I found my apprehension of spraying completely disappeared, and the cleaning is 100 times easier. Just keep in mind that everything is personal preference.....If I would have never opened my mind to try a different airbrush, I would have never found out how great mine is!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by ABARNE QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV It looks like I am one of the few who never bought one. Mike So there actually is an airbrush that you don't own? Wonders never cease. Andy

Actually there are many that I do not own, but that may change someday as I would like to collect them.
Not the Iwatas though as they are too pricey for us poor folks.

Mike

Mikes hair woudl explode if he had more then one IWATA (Ooops let the secret out Mike has one... only one in his vast collection )
When I came back to modeling after 15 years on vacation I bought the testors 470 and minin blue compressor combo. It worked well and I really never had any problems then one day all the nozzles went on permenent lunch break. Got an Omni and a few others and have been happy ever after. Aztek (aztec) are ok brushes.... they were really good before Testors bought them out. If you can find an original Aztek thats a decent brush.

I recently purchased an Aztek A320 and had problems from day one. It leaked air, and no attempts to clean it helped. And the more I used it, the worse the problem became. Finally, in desperation and frustration, I sent it in. To their credit, they replaced the airbrush within about 2 weeks. The new airbrush seemed to work perfectly for a while .... and just this afternoon, the same problem of leaking air started again. The airbrush is cleaned thoroughly, as per manufacturer's instructions, after every use, so i am utterly perplexed as to why this happens. It seems as if the trigger gets stuck in a slightly open position internally, although no play or slack is evident on the trigger mechanism itself. Has anyone else encountered this type of problem with an A320 before?

I bought a Aztek A4709 kit( the one with the case and all the extra nozzles ect.) as my first airbrush a few months ago, and haven't had any major problems with it yet. I think a leak is developing though on one of the seals. The only thing I found was that you still have to disassemble the nozzle to clean it. Also, it isn't good for shooting a lot of paint at once or for long paint sestions(but I suppose no airbrush is) so all I use it for is base coating wargames figures and other quick jobs.
I don't recommend the Mini-Blue compressor that Testors makes because it heats up quick and isn't all that powerful. No tank either.

Newbie here,
I dont use my 470 anymore due to paint splatter, rest assured i tried al the tricks ,but still the same..Cleaning inside ??? cant even see in there to clean the thing.. A question ! do others find that the nozzles have a very small gap at body where the washer meets it as I really have to tighten up for a seal??.
I now have a Passche dual action, love it but really miss using the Aztek. maybe now I've got used to the d/action ie air before and after paint flow I should try again.

Newbie here,
I dont use my 470 anymore due to paint splatter, rest assured i tried all the tricks ,but still the same..Cleaning inside ??? cant even see in there to clean the thing.. A question ! do others find that the nozzles have a very small gap at body where the washer meets it as I really have to tighten up for a seal??. Maybe mine is faulty, all nozzles in the set of 4 the same fit
I now have a Passche dual action, love it but really miss using the Aztek. maybe now I've got used to the d/action ie air before and after paint flow I should try again. Nice mahogony box it comes in!!
Go the Sharkies

ANOTHER ONE missing the AZTEK ( me to), how many of us could be??