I've Decided...

If you are sold on a single-action brush, which I personally think is a mistake, the 200 would be an excellent choice. I've had one for a long time and they do an excellent job.

QUOTE: (or maybe the 200SG, what's a "slotted" cup, anyway?)

The 200SG doesn't have a paint cup per se. If you look at the picture of it on Badger's Site you can see that the cup is in fact a slot on top of the brush. It only holds a few drops of paint , and probably would not be a good choice for modeling.

QUOTE: is it important to buy the fine and broad as well (most kits seem to include all three tips and needles)

Start with the mdeium and if you decide you need a fine or large needle / nozzle you can always get them. I normally use the medium head on my 200 and 100, but I have all three.

QUOTE: Second, what else do I need to buy beside the brush itself (initally, I plan to use canned air)

An air hose. Unless you get the "Kit" a hose is normally not included. Also, plan on coming off the canned air VERY quickly. It just does not work well.


Edit ... I forgot, you'll also need a can adapter (Badger part no. 50-200) to fit the Propel can (and they probably won't fit any other brand of canned air) and if your air hose has a 1/4" NPT connnector on the supply end you'll need an adapter to go from the 1/8" NPT threads on the can adapter to the hose. You can also get Badger's "Light Weight" air hose which has 1/8" connectors on both ends. I have both the "Light Weight" vinyl hose and the more common braided hose, and personally much prefer the cheap vinyl hose.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity If you are sold on a single-action brush, which I personally think is a mistake, the 200 would be an excellent choice. I've had one for a long time and they do an excellent job.

Scott, thank you for replying (the 200SG would have been a huge mistake). So, you think that double action is the only way to fly? It just seems like a "lot of moving parts" for a newbie: not only having to push the button down, but also having to worry about whether you are pushing it far enough forward/back to get the paint flow that you want. Double action also seems to complicate the decision making process: 100, 150, 155, 175,... and that's just Badger!

I have to confess that I feel totally overwhelmed by the whole process! Normally, I would go to my LHS and seek their advice. However, the price difference by buying online is so great that I feel that I need to save the money and do this (and I won't go to my LHS and pump the guy for information if I have no intention of buying from him).

Again, thank you for the help. Maybe it's back to the drawing board.


Dave

Many people swear by the simplicity of a single-action brush and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. 90% of the abilities of an airbrush are in the hand holding it. I am not an expert airbrush artist and I need all the help I can get, hence my preference for a double action brush. The immediate control that you have over the paint volume is well worth the difference.

Second, since you are just starting out with an airbrush, the simple act of pulling back on the trigger to change the paint volume is not going to add much to the learning curve. Instead of stopping what you are doing and fiddling with the adjustment screw on the back and then trying to pick up where you were painting, you just move your finger slightly.

Third, since you are going to use canned air your air pressure is going to be constantly changing. As the air is released (actually I think they use CO2 and not actually air) it chills the can. The can gets so cold that ice forms on it. This causes a decrease in pressure which is normally compensated for by increaseing the paint volume. With a SA brush you WILL be stopping every few seconds to adjust the paint volume. Sitting the propellant can in a dish of warm (NOT hot!) water helps alleviate this, but it is still a problem. Been there, done that, never again.

To narrow your choices down, I have a Badger 100 and 200 as well as a Thayer and Chandler Omni 3000 and 4000. The vast bulk of the time when I reach for an airbrush it's my Omni 4000. It is a great general-purpose brush and would do anything you want for a long time to come. My second choice would be the Badger 100 since it sprays a slightly finer line.

But, in all fairness, if I'm just spraying a single color over a large area, such as when spraying a coat of Future, I use my Badger 200 with the medium tip. It does still have its uses and doesn't just lay in the box.

My advice would be to not over-analyze this decision. You aren't purchasing a car, just an airbrush. Get the 200 if that's what you prefer, and if you decide you need some additional capabilities there are other alternatives available. I personally prefer a double action brush, but many prefer a single-action. It is just a preference and I'm not trying to force you into my way of thinking.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity My advice would be to not over-analyze this decision. You aren't purchasing a car, just an airbrush.

Thanks for all the advice. I didn't mean to start another tedious "what airbrush should I buy" thread. :-)

Sorry, I didn't mean for that to come through with that tone but I guess it did.

What I meant was that experience is what teaches everyone what they need. Only you can decide if a particular airbrush is what you want or not, and that lesson is only learned after you have one. I used my 200 for a long time and was very happy with it, right up until I got a double-action brush and tried it. After that I would never go back to a single-action brush for detailed painting.

Everyone tends to push what they perceive as the best for them at a particular time. I've seen many posts here, and in fact am guilty of it myself, touting the merits of a particular model, and then a few months later you'll see the same person asking about something else because they want something "A Little Better" for a particular job.

These are the things that come from using a particular brush, and the only real way to find out what you want is to just get one and give it a try for a while. Don't try to over-analyze the situation because odds are that you'll want something "A Little Better" pretty soon regardless of what you decide.

QUOTE: Originally posted by djohannsen Second, what else do I need to buy beside the brush itself (initally, I plan to use canned air)?

[Safety plug] Get an organics rated respirator from your local hardware store. Enamels will cause brain cells to disappear (gives you a really bad headache) and even acrylics have poly-whatevers in them and can cause lung damage. [/safety plug]

If you already have one sorry. Take a look at the household compressors while your there.

EDIT: added my setup pic which shows the 3M respirator. Also I recommend a moisture trap but it is a choice you'll have to make when you get a compressor. Believe me, you will want a compressor after about 5 min and your canned air runs out

Yeah... I'm not sure I see the purpose of a single action brush though... Unless they are easier to clean. But my badger 155 is extremely easy to clean. I would advise you to go with a double action- but it's your choice.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity Sorry, I didn't mean for that to come through with that tone but I guess it did.

Please don't apologize - I was not at all upset by your comments. I was just thanking you for keeping things in perspective (and you did keep me from making a potentially big mistake with the "slotted cup" thing). It is just good to know that any of the mainstream Badger products will work for modeling.

I guess that I am shooting for the minimum acceptable entry point, knowing that as I use it and gain experience I will develop preferences (also knowing that in my hands, the finest airbrush in the world isn't likely to produce any better results than using a can of spray paint :-) ). So, your point about learning with a double action so that I don't have to relearn later is probably well taken.

Again, thank you for taking so much time to help. Perhaps I will see what is the best deal that I can get on some variety of Badger double action.

I got my badger 155 Anthem double action for 55$. It is pretty inexpensive and a VERY good brush. I highly reccomend it.

on the 155 anthem, u cant go wrong wit it!!!

Well, maybe bringing up the 155 is kinda side tracking because he was interested in gravity feed from the start. He's already mentioned in his words that fewer parts is preferable when the siphon feeds such as the 155 have jars & lids to maintain. So, continuing with the gravity feed shopping is what I'd like to recommend.

Ditto on the double-action airbrush recommendation. I had a 155 Anthem and it is a very good airbrush, but I did have to contend with the detachable color cups, bottles afore mentioned. Having owned a meriad of other brand name units, I now use the Iwata Revolution HP-CR (general and moderate detail) and the HP-C (camuflage, fine detail and weathering).

As a 200 user I would like to add my. This is a good general purpose brush, will last you a long time if looked after, is easy to clean and is very capable of producing the uncomplicated paint jobs that interest you. It will also teach you a lot of the basics relating to paint thining, distance from work etc etc. The last thing you need is a brush you don't use because you are put off by the complexity - perceived or otherwise. Don't get me wrong I am not against double action, in fact I am actively saving to purchase one (not upgrading just expanding my choices!) and I know that the double action allows much more control over the paint laid down. I have never used a double action however so it comes back to Music City's comment that you tend to recommend what you yourself use! I am not put off by the prospect of relearning the technique with double action as hopefully the other variables of paint etc have been learnt. Irrespective of the type you eventually choose buying a compressor is an important concurrent purchase and I would advise that you budget for this at the same time. I have used my brush more in the last few months since buying a cheap hardware store compressor than in the previous 14 years or so that I have owned my brush. Control of air pressure is vital to exploring the capability of any brush (I just wish I hadn't been such a slow learner). Propellant cans do not offer this control. The last piece of advice I can offer is this - listen and think about everything that people have said (they are genuine me included!) and then make your own decision, one you feel happy with.

I want to extend a genuine thank you to all who took so much of their time to reply (especially Scott, aka MusicCity). After considering all the advice to bite the bullet and learn the double action from the start and after all the endorsements of the Badger 155, this is what I will be getting. I again apologize for starting yet another "what should I buy thread." If one has never before used an airbrush, the information that one sees on the web is just not all that helpful (knowing that the dang thing is used by more tee-shirt or fingernail painters than any other brush doesn't help you determine whether it will work with model paints :-) ). Thanks for the very positive experience on this forum.

Dave

Dave, you are very welcome although all I did is point out a few things. The decision, of course, is yours but I personally fell that you made a good one. The Anthem will do pretty much anything you want and it is a dolid, reliable airbrush.

When you get ready for a compressor you might want to check out Badger's garage sale area at http://www.badgerairbrush.com/garagesale.htm. They usually have some rebuilt compressors for around $100 that would do a good job for you.

Look forward to seeing your first airbrushed paint job - well done and enjoy!

Dave - I kinda kept silent on this topic but must say you made a good choice. I own a 155 Anthem and it is a fine brush. Just a word... but I tend to use the metal color cups WAY more than the bottle, which reduces cleanup and IMHO provides for nicer detail.. I use the bottle for all over colors where I don't want to run out of a color, especially if custom mixed.

Just a word on some things I learned AFTER I bought my brush... I recommend getting at least one extra needle with it (about $5 US each) and a bottle of needle lube, it is also about $5 and lasts forever!

The extra needles for that Sunday night when you just want to touch up that ONE part and learn you have bent your needle (no waiting on a replacement) and the needle lube really helps in the cleanup and spraying of all paints, especially acrylics!

Looking forward to hearing how you like your new brush when it arrives!

I love the Zappa quote Tom!! He's one of my favorites.



"I can't see.....no no no no nooooo, I can't seeeeee.....no no no no noooooooooo"

ROTFL!!! Cool another Zappa fan.. you gotta be an alright guy to listen to Zappa!

QUOTE: A fur trapper... (who was strictly from commercial) proceeded to whack my favorite baby seal upside the head with a lead filled snow shoe.... (a lead...filled....snowshoe...) That's right I said a lead filled snowshoe.

haha I can't remember the lyrics 100% but they still float in my head now and then...

I need to get another copy of 200 motels!!!

The album you should get is Strictly Commercial. It's got all the greats on it. I think about a quote from 200 Motels all the time,

"In this business, if you want to succeed, you either have to play the blues or sing in a high voice."

It's amazing how true that is, even today. Zappa was a brilliant man.