Iwata airbrush and knock-offs

deekay1us wrote:

keilau wrote: Did you measure the diameter of the Master needle?  No, sorry for misleading you ... I do not have a Master needle to test.  It was just a suggestion for the other Powercat owner.   Regarding hobby stores in (Northern) California,  I'm fortunate to live just a couple of miles from D&J Hobby, so most of my needs are satisfied there.  But it was a big blow to lose San Antonio Hobby in Mountain View.  There really isn't a store in my area that has made up for that loss.

San Antonio Hobby Shop was HUGE! 

BTW I bought my first airbrush from D&J back in the 80's.

keilau wrote:

Did you measure the diameter of the Master needle?

 No, sorry for misleading you ... I do not have a Master needle to test.  It was just a suggestion for the other Powercat owner.

  Regarding hobby stores in (Northern) California,  I'm fortunate to live just a couple of miles from D&J Hobby, so most of my needs are satisfied there.  But it was a big blow to lose San Antonio Hobby in Mountain View.  There really isn't a store in my area that has made up for that loss.

keilau wrote:

MikeV wrote: I wished there were Hobby Lobbies in our state Kei Lau, unfortunately we don't have them.  The wide variety of hobby shops in CA is more than making up for it.

True. The closest shop to me is Hobbytown USA which is pretty good although the prices are fairly high on kits. We also have an old hobby shop about 10 miles away, Hobbies Unlimited that has been in business for about 30 years. 

MikeV wrote:

I wished there were Hobby Lobbies in our state Kei Lau, unfortunately we don't have them.

Now, I know.

The model choice at HL is very limited, but better than Michaels. My latest purchase at HL is the Academy 1/350 Olive Perry Frigate. It is nothing to write home about. I just cannot resist the price. It's going to be in the stash for a long while.

The wide variety of hobby shops in CA is more than making up for it. I am doing fine in St. Louis where there are two LHS with good selection, knowledgable owner and very helpful staff. They got the larger share of my model budget than HL, which is unfortunately not very large.

deekay1us wrote:

keilau wrote: Even at the same price, I still perfer Iwata needle over any knock-off brand. With that in mind, have you tried fitting/using your Iwata needle in the Powercat airbrush?

No, it won't work. The diameter of the Iwata needle is 0.053" and 0.047" for the Powercat.

Did you measure the diameter of the Master needle?

keilau wrote:

deekay1us wrote:  Perhaps you can get an Iwata needle for about $5 with a 50% off coupon from Hobby Lobby, but that option isn't available to me.  So with all due respect, it is not false economics.  The Iwata would be my preference as well if I were airbrushing professionally, but I'm not. I did not realize that there is no Hobby Lobby within driving distance of San Jose. I naively thought that HL is everywhere in the US. My LHS usually can get me Iwata, Paasche or Badger parts at or below MSRP. Even at the same price, I still perfer Iwata needle over any knock-off brand.

I wished there were Hobby Lobbies in our state Kei Lau, unfortunately we don't have them. 

keilau wrote:

Even at the same price, I still perfer Iwata needle over any knock-off brand.

With that in mind, have you tried fitting/using your Iwata needle in the Powercat airbrush?

deekay1us wrote:

Perhaps you can get an Iwata needle for about $5 with a 50% off coupon from Hobby Lobby, but that option isn't available to me.  So with all due respect, it is not false economics.  The Iwata would be my preference as well if I were airbrushing professionally, but I'm not.

I did not realize that there is no Hobby Lobby within driving distance of San Jose. I naively thought that HL is everywhere in the US. My LHS usually can get me Iwata, Paasche or Badger parts at or below MSRP. Even at the same price, I still perfer Iwata needle over any knock-off brand.

keilau wrote:

It is a good idea if you live in San Diego where Airbrush Depot is. Otherwise, the shipping cost will make the Master replacement needle twice as expensive as the Iwata needel. While pay twice for an inferior product? [snip] Unless you use the AB only sparingly, buying a knockoff is false economic.

A Master airbrush needle is $9.70 ($5.95 for shipping), not including tax if you live in California.  Unfortunately, none of the local hobby shops in my area carry the Iwata line, but my local art shop does, and they charge $9 for a replacement needle. 

 Perhaps you can get an Iwata needle for about $5 with a 50% off coupon from Hobby Lobby, but that option isn't available to me.  So with all due respect, it is not false economics.  The Iwata would be my preference as well if I were airbrushing professionally, but I'm not.

deekay1us wrote:

I have the Air Pro Tools PS720 airbrush kit that comes with .2mm, .3mm, and .5mm needles.  The needles all measure .046" in diameter.  I could be wrong, but my guess is that most, if not all, of the knockoff airbrushes are the same ..... the only difference being the name etched into the barrel.  One strategy might be to go to the Master Airbrush website and find the airbrush that's the same as yours (the SB84 in my case).  Replacement parts are really reasonably priced.  For example, a .3mm replacement needle is $3.75 US dollars for the Master SB84 airbrush.

It is a good idea if you live in San Diego where Airbrush Depot is. Otherwise, the shipping cost will make the Master replacement needle twice as expensive as the Iwata needel. While pay twice for an inferior product?

The Powercat works well so far. I already bent the tip of one of the needle and am using the spare that came with the AB. When the second needle goes, the AB will go into storage. I still have the Iwata CS which I use most of the time anyway.

Unless you use the AB only sparingly, buying a knockoff is false economic.

I have the Air Pro Tools PS720 airbrush kit that comes with .2mm, .3mm, and .5mm needles.  The needles all measure .046" in diameter. 

I could be wrong, but my guess is that most, if not all, of the knockoff airbrushes are the same ..... the only difference being the name etched into the barrel. 

One strategy might be to go to the Master Airbrush website and find the airbrush that's the same as yours (the SB84 in my case).  Replacement parts are really reasonably priced.  For example, a .3mm replacement needle is $3.75 US dollars for the Master SB84 airbrush.

HawkeyeHobbies wrote:

I'm willing to bid that the Powercat needle will snap when bent. Iwata's are very springy. The smaller needle also will not seal properly against the seals (o-ring).

Iwata needles are high quality, cheap and readily available from local hobby stores, including Hobby Lobby. They tend to last a long time.

Knock-off needles are questionable quality, need replacement often. They are often impossible to get. If available, the needle plus shipping cost is quite a bit more than Iwata needle cost.

It makes sense to buy a knock-off airbrush ONLY IF you can use Iwata needle with it. Or as Bearair says, treat the airbrush as "disposibles".

My two cents.

I'm willing to be that the Powercat needle will snap when bent. Iwata's are very springy.

The smaller needle also will not seal properly against the seals (o-ring).