Badger 360 Universal

The Aztek double action airbrush can be used a single action, double action, or "fixed" double action. With fixed double action, the amount of air and paint flow (weight and width of the line) increases as you depress the trigger. In this mode, the trigger is not pulled back as in a traditional double action. It helps when you are doing small detail work and you don't have an air regulator. Works well when it works. Sometimes the set up can be tricky. If I remember correctly, the roller wheel at the back of the airbrush is used in conjunction with the trigger to set up different modes of use.

E

MikeV wrote:

Are you saying the Aztek has variable air pressure depending on how far down you press the trigger? Is it a double-action airbrush or are you using a single action model? Mike

As far as I can recall, when I was using my Aztek A430 double action airbrush, that is excatly how it worked.  Although the vertical travel on the trigger was small, it seemed to be variable within that range.  Reading your description of how to best operate a double action airbrush, it goes a long way toward explaning why I was finding the Aztek so flippin difficult to get consistent results with prior to the thing conking out and me switching to a Badger 200NH.

Andy 

First things first, you should listen to Mike, as he knows EXACTLY what he is talking about.

Second, I use the 360 Badger exclusively. I turn the regulator up as high as it will go, (about 18 to 20 psi) and I leave it there-always. This eliminates overspray when doing fine lines. Below are some examples of what the 360 can do:

As Mike stated, push down to get air, pull back gently to get paint flow. For fine line work, use high pressure, get in close, and barely pull back, introducing a fine amount of paint. Works every time.

 

Steve

hi;

which airbrush bagder 100g ,100lg 360 universal

QUOTE: Originally posted by hou_ge2000 So basically it's normal and I don't have to worry about it?

Yes. That air valve is either on or off, although you may push it real slow as you mentioned and get a little air leaking past the valve, but any more travel downward on the trigger and you get full air.

Glad I was able to help.

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by hou_ge2000 But wait, then what's the point of double action if you can only have control of one action? Isn't a single action be essentially the same if just regulate the air pressure with the regulator can just control the paint flow with the airbrush?

You do have control of more than one action. You control the air (on or off) and the paint (variable amounts).
Double-action means that you control the air and the paint both with the trigger. With a single-action airbrush you set the paint flow where you want it and then you push down the trigger which releases both paint and air together. You have no control of the paint flow from the trigger with a single-action brush.
Try doing what is called a "dagger stroke" with a single-action airbrush and you will see what I mean. A "Dagger stroke" starts thick and ends really sharp and resembles a dagger (Thus the name).
It is created by starting a line with the trigger down, pulling back on the paint and moving the airbrush. As you move the airbrush with paint flowing you move the trigger forward which slows the paint flow down to nothing at the end of the stroke.

Mike

But wait, then what's the point of double action if you can only have control of one action? Isn't a single action be essentially the same if just regulate the air pressure with the regulator can just control the paint flow with the airbrush?

Thanks Mike! I knew you would be THE expert in this! You just made me feel a whole lot better. So basically it's normal and I don't have to worry about it?

QUOTE: Originally posted by plum1030 I had the same problem with Badger airbrushes. That's one reason I don't hate Azteks-they have a nice continuous trigger in terms of air pressure. I have relied greatly on this feature and makes adjusting to badgers a bit difficult.

Are you saying the Aztek has variable air pressure depending on how far down you press the trigger? Is it a double-action airbrush or are you using a single action model?

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by hou_ge2000 I'm was just testing my new 360 by spraying water, and I noticed when I press down the trigger to release air, I have a hard time getting a continuous increase in air amount. There is a sharp "jump". When I slowly press a little, a very tiny amount of air is released. But there is a point that once I go past, no matter how slowly, the air amount basically goes to the max. Any furthur pressing doesn't seem to increas the air amount anymore. It's a sudden jump.

This is how double-action airbrushes operate. They do not increase air pressure as you press the trigger down more.
It would be almost impossible to keep the triggger down a certain amount and pull the trigger back at the same time.
With a double-action airbrush you ALWAYS push the trigger all the way down and then begin pulling the trigger back to obtain the paint flow you desire. Adjust your air pressure with a regulator to the pressure you want and push that trigger down all the way and keep it there.

Mike

I had the same problem with Badger airbrushes. That's one reason I don't hate Azteks-they have a nice continuous trigger in terms of air pressure. I have relied greatly on this feature and makes adjusting to badgers a bit difficult.

I'm was just testing my new 360 by spraying water, and I noticed when I press down the trigger to release air, I have a hard time getting a continuous increase in air amount. There is a sharp "jump". When I slowly press a little, a very tiny amount of air is released. But there is a point that once I go past, no matter how slowly, the air amount basically goes to the max. Any furthur pressing doesn't seem to increas the air amount anymore. It's a sudden jump.

Maybe it's because I've taken the airbrush apart once and put everything together by myself. I hope it's something wrong I did and could fix... or is this just normal?

I couldn't remember clearly because I was focusing on the air at the time...but when it first arrived I tested it by spraying water and everything seemed fine to me at the time. But I wanted to familiarize myself with the setup so I took the thing completely apart and reassembled everything...hmm...

I take mine apart when I'm done for the day. I drop the caps, tip and needle in a little container of Super Clean, let them soak for a bit and then use an old toothbrush if needed. Rinse well, dry and re-assemble. Put the caps and tip on first then slide in the needle and tighten the retaining ring for it.

Between colors I fill the cup with thinner and spray into a cleaning station a couple times to flush it out and use pipe cleaners to clean the passage from the cup to the needle. Wipe out with a paper towel and spray another cup of thinner to flush out any dust/fibers.

If I'm using bottles I drop them in a separate container of SuperClean and let them soak for a bit before scrubbing with an old brush and running a pipe cleaner through the tube. After you do it a few times there's nothing to it. Just be sure to rinse well if you use something like SuperClean.

And no, it doesn't suck. I'm very happy with mine. I bought mine locally too and paid a few dollars more than mail order but it was worth it to me not to have to wait for it.

How about taking the airbrush apart? Will that help with the cleaning?

QUOTE: Originally posted by hou_ge2000 I just got a Badger 360 Universal for $100. Is it an okay deal? Is the airbrush I got an alright one? Meaning it doesn't suck? Okay, I spray mainly with enamel, what's the most efficient way to clean it during color changes. I'm not exactly a big fan of cleaning airbrushes, especially oil based paints.

That depends on what Badger 360 you got. Dixie Art sells the airbrush alone for $84, The set for $87.95, The Deluxe set for $94 and the Deluxe set in a wooden box for $107.

The Badger 360 is a very good airbrush and doesn't "suck" in any way.

To clean it between colors you will need to empty out what is in the color cup, wipe the cup clean with a paper towel and spray some lacquer thinner through it to clean out the old color inside the airbrush. I like to wipe out the inside of the cup with a Q-tip soaked in lacquer thinner. Always paint from light to dark so that the color you used before will not overpower the next color in case some comes out that you didn't clean well enough.

Mike