AZTECK AIRBRUSH ADVICE

I have 2, they are both the Testors version that comes in the $30 kit at wally world, hooked to a $90 compressor. I love them. They have given me problems, but honestly, I expect to have some kind of problem from almost any AB. They are pretty tough, but the weak spot is the nozzle. They reccomend only rinsing or soaking or running thinner through it to clean it, but that never seems to be enough, and paint tends to gunk up on the inside, requiring a total breakdown and thorough cleaning of the nozzle. This of course wears the parts out faster, most noticably the spring, whcih can (and has for me) cause flow problems. The other problem that recurs is a bent or mishapen tip on the needle, which I can only assume comes from too much taking apart.

Another drawback is even though it is an internal mix, it is not designed to be taken apart completely like other brands, so paint gunks up the inside of the body. When I took one of mine apart to clean the inside, it was never quite the same after being put back together.

I would definately recommend getting a compressor if you haven't, it is cheaper in the long run than the compressed air cans, and you get more precise control.

As with anything, practice until you are familiar, and as you use it more, you'll get to know the quirks and adjust to make the best of what you have. I've been using mine long enough that I can get results that rival the more expensive brushes my friends use, and they are still impressed with the paint jobs I put down.

Eventually I may get a brush that is easir to clean and maintain (or at least one that I can clean more thoroughly) but for now the cheap-o AB works great. And just think, if you have an actual Aztec, you've got an even better brush than I have been talking about here.

HTH

I've used the same 4704 Aztek for nearly 6 years now with no problems whatsoever. However, I do follow a couple general rules which you may want to consider. Note that I use MM enamels as my primary paint - shot through a grey tip - and have shot Future through the brush - using the light blue tip. I cannont comment on the use of acrylic paints.

My first rule is that I immediately clean and disassemble the airbrush once I'm done painting. This includes anything more than a 3 or 4 minute "break" in painting. I swap out the paint cup for one with clear thinner (alcohol when I shoot Future), shoot through the tip until it flows nearly clear, remove the thinner cup and shoot until only air come out the tip, remove the tip and store it in a bottle of thinner (alcohol for my blue tip), clean out the feed hole with a pipe cleaner, squeeze the trigger a couple times, and I'm done.

My only other personal rule is to thin my paints only with manufacturer's brand paint thinner. This ensures that the thinned paint remains in suspension as designed and doesn't dry, thicken, or clot the tips. I suspect that if I used acrylic paints, I would also likely consider using a retarder to slow drying time and hopefully avoid some of the issues I've seen regarding paint clogging the Aztek tips and other assemblies.

I really like my airbrush and will probably be still using it in another 6 years...