honk if you hate Aztek airbrushes!

I purchased an Aztec A470 about a year and a half ago on the recommendation of my LHS. I was getting back into modeling after a long, long time away and had never used an AB.

The short version is I fought the Aztec all the way. The nozzles were a pain – always clogging. Soaking was only marginally successful – and I pulled the nozzle immediately after completing a job. Sometimes I had to change nozzles several times during a session. I almost always had to pull the needle out and clean it and the spring. The caveat is I use Tamiya flat acrylics exclusively – thinned 1:1. This could have been a factor.

But, the biggest problem was it would never worked in double action mode. It started shooting paint as soon as the trigger was depressed, regardless of the adjustment setting, the air pressure setting or the nozzle being used. A warranty replacement still didn’t fix the problem.

I finally resolved the problem a couple of months ago. I purchased an Omni 6000, so I could use my Aztec cups. Now I can actually airbrush for the first time and start to learn how to paint and not fight the equipment!

Jim

Jim,

How do you like that Omni 6000? I am always curious as to people's feedback of Badger products.

Mike

Hi Mike,

I love the 6000. It just fell out of the box and worked. I was really beginning to doubt my abilities as a modeler because of my A470 hassles. I really appreciate your participation on the forum. I bought the Omni based on your advice – from Coast Airbrush. The LHS's here were not much help. It was “buy what's in my showcase”. All I could find was Aztec’s or low end Badgers.

From what I read, the 6000 is the same as the 4000 and 5000 except for the side feed, removable cup. I use this feature when cleaning the AB. I drop the Omni cup in some cleaner, plug in the big Aztec bottle I keep full of Windex, crank up the pressure and spray until the paint is flushed out. Done…..

The only criticism I have is the documentation included with the Omni was very minimal, at least for a beginner like me. No “how to” information was included, like how to clean the AB, how to disassemble/assemble, when and how to lube the AB, etc.

Thanks again for your help.

Jim

Thanks for the reply Jim and the kind words.
I'm surprised you were able to walk out of Coast Airbrush with an Omni.
They push Iwata big time!

I haven't seen an airbrush yet that had documentation that I would consider real helpful to a beginner. The best way to learn is from some of the good people on this forum. I learn something new everyday from this group of experienced modelers.

Mike

I've had my Aztek now for well over 4 years and I never had a problem with it yet. I've even taken apart the needles to clean (I was a bit anal about cleaning for awhile) and put them back together with no problems. Now when I clean I just shoot (actually force through with the trigger open, no air) Polyclens, followed by water. A few blasts of air to dry it out and I'm on to my next colour.

I agree Jim, about the breakdown, and lube part missing from the manual, but one thing I did like, is the suggestion of "backflushing". I have never heard of that, and It has been such an awesome technique to use during cleaning of my Omni 5000.

I love Aztec when it comes to acrylics. But I will never use laquer in it ever again. The laquer ate the seal in the nozzle. Also, I'm too lazy to take the more expensice airbrushes, like Badger, apart to clean.

Hello,
As my english is poor, copy part of Aftermarket message, i subscribe this, the same!!!!:

"The short version is I fought the Aztec all the way. The nozzles were a pain – always clogging. Soaking was only marginally successful – and I pulled the nozzle immediately after completing a job. Sometimes I had to change nozzles several times during a session. I almost always had to pull the needle out and clean it and the spring"

After, double action works several months, but one day.... stop work!! some adjustement is broken, trigguer is "free".... i send mail to Testors, they respond fast; i send my airbrush, and five weeks later i receive a new body airbrush...
But in July my small brother travel to USA for Hollidays, and i think...order a new airbrush!!! I read many, many msg in this forum about the subject, and decide purchase Iwata Eclipse (sorry Mike, i also considere the Omni 5000, but at finish...).
Well, my Aztek (new body) rest untouched more... sometimes i sell in Ebay... My Eclipse is....oooops Never clogged, simple and fast cleaner, beautiful finishes.... Thank to the members of this forum.

Peppp61

Thats odd, I use my aztek with no problem what so ever. I like my aztek in the fact that it is very simple to use. Yes you probably would want to use Superlube for it, available at:
www.dixieart.com if you get superlube, put in a drop every once in a while, then you will have no problems with the airbrush. That lube stuff is awesome!! it keeps the paint from adhering to your airbrush, beautiful stuff.

Hey kik36 ------ Coast Airbrush says back flushing is a no-no.

I thought the back flushing was OK too, that’s what the instructions tell you to do, until I called Coast AB to ask about a manual, cleaning and lubricating the AB. I told them I was back flushing.

They said: "Never do that. Back flushing forces paint into the body of the AB."???????

That's when I came up with the routine of using an Aztec siphon bottle loaded with Windex at high pressure. It's worked so far……

Jim

lol i surrender, I know i have been posting "i love my aztek" but from advice from MikeV I am buying a badger 155-7 anthem, I now require more from my airbrush and the aztek is not supplying, therefore i need something that is much easier to work with. So I am now giving a honk, i can no longer support something that is so moody, lol

When I first got it I loved it. Came with a lot of accessories and had fairly good results. After about a year of heavy use, a internal hose kinked, and I lost pressure. had to take it apart and only fix was to bypass that hose. The kink turned into a tear. Works as a single action only now. Since then I bought a Iwata BCS Eclipse. I love the feel of metal, has better balace and easy to clean. Too bad Aztecs cups and jars don"t fit. Only use the Aztec for really small jobs now.

HONK!! I bought an Aztek as my first airbrush. The double action was non-existent and the cleaning instructions were woefully inadequate. I had no idea that the this brush required such THOROUGH cleaning. Sure it was inexpensive but I would have rather spent a little more for an airbrush that: 1) was easier to clean and 2) actually had double action!!

HONK

number of aztec plastic airbrushes: 7.
number of iwata plastic airbrushes: 0
number of t&c plastic airbrushes: 0
number of badger plastic airbrushes: 2 (but thems good)

cost of aztec nozzles where i live: 13
cost of badger needles where i live: 8
cost of iwata needles where i live: 17

AND they wont replace yur fuggin airbrush if you drop it, or do anything to it

stupid aztec, they should have warrenty on nozzles

ATTN AZTEK FACTORY/COMPANY

send me several airbrush nozzles and i will like your airbrushes.

lol

anyone have any broken azteks that testors wont replace? email me i_r_rule@hotmail.com i am trying to "mod" one so it takes a standard needle and is gravity feed...

Amen brother!!

I have been using Aztek airbrushes for years, and have never had a problem with them. Nozzels do wear out but are cheap to replace. I own an A470, a single action and a standard double action. The old single action is near 10 years old, and still works like a champ. All new nozzels work in it. Most companies when they go to a new model or style the parts are not interchangable. Aztek/Testors make the old work with the new.

Plus any tech question I have or had, they either explained the solution to me or sent me tech papers to keep on hand. So do Azteks suck rocks? I don't think so!!!

yah i agree single aztek's are l33t

had 1 for 4 years, use it more than the double

I'll submit a small Honk!!!!!!, however I can't tottolly diss the Aztek, after all, It was the first airbrush I'd owned that enabled me to paint some awesome free-hand camo like I dreamed as a kid. Now-a-days I use Iwata airbrushes exclusively....I've since framed the Aztek A470 as an antiquity!

HONK!!!!

Ok so I said in a past reply that Azteks are a good solid airbrush

Here's what changed my mind , and I must say in a big way .

While painting my Alien kit , with my metal aztek , I experienced to my horror a blow up , YES I said blow up , my airbrush just blew up ! I just finished cleaning up the mess . I have never had any problem with it until now and I have to say if I didn't have an Itwata HP-C and a Pasche VL I would be up creek right now , I will never buy another aztek nor will I ever use another one , Testors can my ! STAY AWAY FROM THEM !!!! they are cheap and for a reason .

I had trouble with my first aztec, but it was a fairly low end one. I just got one of their 4700 series brushes, and it seems to be working fine. I had however, an irregular spray pattern, but from reading this forum, it's probably due to erroneous cleaning on my part.