What’s Your Airbrush?

Badger patriot 105

Badger Krome 

Iwata Neo

Harder and Steenbeck Infinity

Paasche H - single action siphon feed.  My workhorse.

Badger Krome - double action, still learning here.

CO2 tank instead of compressor. 

Just one: Badger Anthem.

Most versatile, easiest to clean, least fussy AB I've owned in 40 years of airbrushing.

BTW, you might want to check out member Don Wheeler's airbrush tips website. Lots of excellent info and reviews.

https://sites.google.com/site/donsairbrushtips/

NEO.  Easy to use and clean.  

I have an old school (pre "NH") Badger 200  and a Sparmax SP-35C

Paasche H.  Simple to operate...simple to clean.

Iwata HP-CS

Easy to use

Easy to clean

Badger Patriot 105.  Used to use a Neo until the needle linkage broke.  Badger has lifetime Warranty service on all their brushes & compressors   You should'a been here last week  USAAirbrush (Badger's online store) was having a sale with good percent off purchases over 60 bucks

I learned DA airbrush with a Harbor Freight 15 dollar special I still use one for gross large area coverage

 I use a Porter Cable 1.5 gallon mushroom shop compressor, drop pressure to useable through Harbor Freight filter & regulator 

Iwata HP-CS.

Harder & Steenbeck Evolution Silverline 2 in 1

Iwata HP-TH

Were I buying a first airbrush knowing what I know now, and presuming it would be my only airbrush, it would likely be a Badger 105-3N1 Patriot, though. I kick myself for not buying one during the Badger sale last year.

Oh;

   That's easy. A Fifty Five year old Badger( don't remember the Model Number) Two Paasches 20yrs.old. and two DeVilbiss Model "Q" detail units, Forty years old. Most of my equipment has been rebuilt at least once.

     The De-Vilbiss units will even work on 45 psi. They were designed to be used for doing Murals and Signs on vehicles! The Badger is the original one I got as a gift from the wife at the old Jacks Hobby Shop in Jacksonville, Ark. when Jack Elliot supported our Model Club.

I have 3, the favorite being my 47 yo Badger regular 200 ( non NH)using a side cup and .25 tip. That's my favorite combo but not always what I use. It's about familiarity and coming to know the tools ways. Buy something, in 20 years you'll love it if you use it enough.

Badger 150 and a Badger 200.  Good practical brushes, and easy to get parts and bottles for.

I'm fairly new to airbrushing, and by no means an expert, but here's what I have.  My first brush was a Bartsharp 130, bought for me as a present, Christmas before last, along with a compressor.  This has a 0.3mm needle/nozzle setup at the mo, but I have also bought 0.2mm & 0.5mm sets as well, for if I fancy a change.  This is a good basic brush, simple to use & easy to clean, ideal for me as a beginner.  It's not really suited to low pressure/detail work, so I mostly use it for large areas & base coats etc.

Last year I bought a Mr Hobby Creos Pro-Con Boy, with a 0.2mm setup.  Lovely tool, with micro-adjustment for the air pressure, can be fine-tuned for close detail work.  I'm not that accomplished yet, so I use it for general work.

Both of the above are used with acrylic paints - I was a bit nervous about using enamels in them (OK, enamel users, stop laughing!), so I bought a cheap "Ganzton" branded brush via ebay, for that purpose, cost about £25.  The enamel trial went well, the brush performed better than expected, and it came with extra needles & nozzles, a moisture trap, a spare hose, and a quick-release attachment.

All of these are double-action, and gravity-fed.  Hope this is of interest and/or help.

      Hutch.

Iwata HP-BH, HP-C+

Out of curiosity, earlier this year I bought one of the Mr Hobby brushes that Hutch mentioned. Mine is a PS289 with a .3mm setup. Turned out to be a very nice airbrush. 

Hutch6390

 

Both of the above are used with acrylic paints - I was a bit nervous about using enamels in them (OK, enamel users, stop laughing!), so I bought a cheap "Ganzton" branded brush via ebay, for that purpose, cost about £25.  The enamel trial went well, the brush performed better than expected, and it came with extra needles & nozzles, a moisture trap, a spare hose, and a quick-release attachment.

 

      Hutch.

 

Nothing really wrong with the Ganzton brushes. I have a sp180 that a member in another forum gave me. I cleaned it up good, polished the needles, waxed the threads on the tips and it shoots great. It seems to be quite decent quality, if there is a complaint it's on physical tip size, the tips are tiny. It shoots great, threads on needle stop and mac valve are very smooth. Hah, for free there certainly is nothing to complain about. But I don't use it much.

Wingman_kz, Oldermodelguy, thanks - it's nice to know I made a couple of good choices (and thanks for the tip re: polishing needles & waxing threads)

Hutch6390

Wingman_kz, Oldermodelguy, thanks - it's nice to know I made a couple of good choices (and thanks for the tip re: polishing needles & waxing threads)

 

On that Ganzton I took toothpaste and 000 steel wool with reasonable pressure between thumb and index finger, rotated the needle and worked out towards the tip. Then I took Formula 1 Scratch out and did the same thing. Then finally Formula 1 and tissue for the final. I did the front 1/3 or so of the needles. Didn't take long to get them shiny. And by the way I tend to polish up most airbrush needles.

Those tip seals get beat up. But waxing the threads with bees wax or lip balm seals them up. So well that's all I'll say on this since we are OT.

Hutch, yes sir, mine sprays like a champ. It was a brush someone had returned and I got a deal on it. About $30 off. I looked at them a long time ago and went with something different, wish I hadn't. Lol I did polish the needle because there was a ring around it just behind the tip. That may be why it was returned. That fixed it. I use little pieces of polishing cloths on needles, had them forever. MicroMark or MicroScale. Goes up to 12000 grit.

Grex Tritium.TS

I just dove back in after a 30 year hiatus.  I love my new Harder and Steenbeck Infinity CRs for precision and awesome ease of cleaning after each use.  But for laying down primers, gloss and dull coats I rely on my Paasche H with #3 needle.  

Lately a Badger 350.

14 year old, Iwata HP-CS used mostly with the 0.5 headset (needle, nozzle & cap), I have the 0.3 Headset (don't mix up the parts) but use rarely.

Badger 4000, 2 years old. 

Used more or less equally.

Badger 100G gravity feed, dual action, the one used most often.

Badger 200G gravity feed, single action. Excellent for ease of use.

Badger 2020 Sotar, gravity feed, dual action. Does really well for fine detailed work, like camo or tight areas.

Badger 105 Arrow, gravity feed, dual action. Same airbrush as the 105 Patriot, the only difference is the smaller paint cup.

These are all very easy to clean after use, rugged construction, if maintained and handled carefully they will last for decades.

The tip to polish the needles is a great one, it really makes the paint flow on nicely and the trigger action seems smoother. Less friction at the bearing.

 As was mentioned before, check "Don's Airbrush" website. All of these are reviewed by Don, very useful info from a recognized expert. Highly recommended, you'll come away knowing a lot more about airbrushes.

Patrick   

afv_junkie

Been surfing the 'net for a new airbrush and I was wondering what you guys use. 

Paasche VL.  It's a double-action, siphon-feed brush.  It's easy to use, and rugged, and it's good for laying down areas of color.  But I want to get a gravity-feed brush with a cup mounted in line with the brush.  On the VL, I find it clumsy to hold the brush, because the cup is in the way.  I also find it hard to get really fine lines with it-think of the Luftwaffe "squiggle" camo patterns.  I have the smallest needle and tip for it, but I need something finer.  I'll still use the VL, but if I can find something that goes finer, I'll add it to the toolbox.

the Baron

 

   I'll still use the VL, but if I can find something that goes finer, I'll add it to the toolbox.

 

If you want to stick with Paasche the TG with #1 tip is .25. I think your VL is .55.  I use a .25 on my Badger a lot and love it. That same Badger tip I use would fit the Badger 100G or the fine tip for it is .22. Somebody just had that 100 with fine tip on sale for a really good price too, can't think who off hand.

oldermodelguy

 

the Baron 

   I'll still use the VL, but if I can find something that goes finer, I'll add it to the toolbox. 

If you want to stick with Paasche the TG with #1 tip is .25. I think your VL is .55.  I use a .25 on my Badger a lot and love it. That same Badger tip I use would fit the Badger 100G or the fine tip for it is .22. Somebody just had that 100 with fine tip on sale for a really good price too, can't think who off hand.

I've been looking at Iwata's brushes, after seeing close-up demonstrations at our club.

the Baron

 

I've been looking at Iwata's brushes, after seeing close-up demonstrations at our club.

 

Well whatever you get into I hope you enjoy it and it covers your needs/desires !!

I've got 2 Harder & Steenbecks.  I have the original steel one for priming and clear coats.  I also have the Spray Gunner Special aluminum one for fine work.  Fantastic airbrushes.