hey im looking to purchase an air brush and want to know what brands and types are the best or easiest to work with. thanks for your suggestions. dave
Types:
Easiest to use and clean: Single-Action External mix: Badger 250, Badger 350
Best for general model painting: Single or Double Action, Internal mix: Badger 150, Badger 200.
Best for advanced weathering/fine work: Double Action Internal Mix: Badger 150.
Brands:
Badger, Paasche, Aztek all have their proponents. I have used Badger for 20 years and am very satisfied with them. Paasche are also well-known for long service.
“Unrecommendations”
Badger 250 - not a “bad” airbrush as such, but limited. I had one and a year later got a 350, which I then used for nearly 15 years. If you’re considering the 250,you’ll actually save money by getting the 350, because you’ll end up upgrading anyway. The 350 is no harder to maintain than the 250, and will serve you well for many years of painting models.
“Knock off” airbrushes such as those sold at discount stores are sometimes good, and sometimes not. I’d go with a name brand. They all offer good support of their products, and you can get parts for them. The knockoffs aren’t always compatible with parts for the airbrushes they resemble!
I hope this helps - and good luck!
I’ve had good results with the Aztec external mix airbrush sold by testors. It’s simple, easy to operate and very afforcable.
Looks like I’m going to follow you around everywhere and [#ditto] everything you say today, I too use the Aztec, it’s just fine for me.
I use a Passche Dual action Internal Mix and havent ever had any problems with it. I am however looking at an Iwatta brush as money will allow ( the one I asm looking at is about $300 ± us) I hope that you find one that fits your needs. I looked at the aztec brushes and highly recomend them for Basic hobby use. I dont recomend them for automotive work however as the laqures and solvents can break down the plastic internals of the brush. Any way if you have any questions please let me know,
Curt
I’ve been using the Paasche double action external mix (VL) for over 20 years and love it’s control and simplicity and for around 80 buck for the starter package, it’s a great buy. I also have an internal single action Paasche that I use for scenery (& track) painting.
You’ll also need a compressor. Instead of getting one pf the “hobby” units, I recommend getting a 70-80 dollar compressor from Wal-Mart or other big box store. They come with a 2 gallon tank and a regulator. Also get a moisture trap (essential).
To keep the noise out my workshop, I put the compressor out in my garage and ran a 50 foot length of air hose ($25 @ ACE hardware) and a long extention cord (plugged into a switched outlet) to my workshop (in the basement). I moved the regulator to the paintbooth and added quick-connects for the air brushes so I can easily switch between airbrushes and a blow off attachment for cleaning debris or blowing off dust etc.
My paintbooth is a simple plywood box and a cheap bathroom fan mounted in the back connected to a dryer hose that vents to the outside. I built the booth to fit a standard 18"x 24" furnace filter, that I just press into place at the back of the booth in front of the fan intake. I use a couple of small clamp-on spot/flood lamps for lighting.
The whole setup cost me (not including airbrushes) about $150. The plywood was leftovers from the benchwork.
I actually own 2 air brushes, one is the passche internal mix double action for small intricate work and weathering and a single action badger for larger paint jobs…a guy just can’t have too many airbrushes…the double action has a lot better paint and air control than the single action, but if you want a paint job quickly and don’t have to worry about a lot of fine paint work the single action is just fine…chuck
I have a Paasche H and used for over 20 years…Only problem I ever had was my fault I dropped it and had to replace the tip only 4.98…Before that I had a Badger that I think I got for about 6.98 with a can of Propel it did the job but didn’t have the adjustment that the Paasche has…I have never used a regulator and just a cheap one lung discout store compresor…Everbody says it should not work but it does I have done a bunch of painting with it…Cox 47
Actually I think I started out young I was 9 When I got my first tetors single action airbrush. It as retired from me when I turned 26 (2yrs go used it for one color applications) It served its purpose spraying Autombile models and I believe 2 trains when I started out. I then found out about Dual actions when I was 26 and bough a set which had a dual, and single action. That when I gave my brother the Testors so he could paint his car models it is now in possession of my nephe. Anyhow I bought set for 35.00 cheap unbadged 150 series which I believe was a Badger didnt have isues till it started sqweeking which was my fault suppose to lube these bad boys I guess from what I heard. So Early this yr I lost the whole spray/nozzle part somehow. So I got a Badger 150 Anthem and let me tell you its a great airbursh fine adjustable. It was more than I wanted to spend but wow what a different then my 17.50 Dual action.
Your going to get a lot of different opinons with this subject. I say go around to your LHS and ask the people if they heard pros and cons about the airbrushes. See if you you can handle one to see how it feels. thats the only way you will know if the Airbrush is ight for you.
It also depends on what you want it for and how fine lines you want.
Go to http://wwww.badgerairbrush.com
and http://www.paascheairbrush.com
read up on them and compare.
thanks guys for all the good info. i knew there were alot out there so i wanted some expert opinions before hand. thanks again. dave
I will ditto this for their external mix airbrushes but go to the exact opposite on their high end internal mix brushes. I got one for a gift from my wife and it has been a royal piece of junk. I’ve also got a Badger that is OK. My good brush was a Paasche type V but I accidentally slammed it to the floor and ruined it. It could easily paint a 1/32" stripe. They no longer make that model (of course), so I am still searching for one that was as nice as it was. I am considering an Iwatta.
Ditto on the junky internal mix airbrush. I had one years ago. I use the simple external mix one now because there’s only 2 pieces to clean. With all my nerve damage, I can’t handle small parts very well. Try working on your favorite loco with leather work gloves on and you’ll see what I mean. I think I do very well regardless.
Don’t buy the cheapest compressor, & don’t EVER run one on an extension cord! I was a carpenter/cabinetmaker for over 40 years & have owned several compressors. An Emglo (now DeWalt) oil bath compressor is much quieter than the “oilless” cheapo’s and will probably last you forever. They make only 1/4 the noise of the cheapo’s and will not scare the family pet when running! A 2 gallon or larger unit will only run once or twice in an entire eveniongs airbrushing. I’d also go for the Pasche airbrush. Good luck, Lou
I’ve been running the “cheap” compressor for almost 5 years, it’s hooked up to it’s own 2 gal tank and another 4 gal tank for a total of 6 gals. If I’m painting a lot, it’ll usually only cycle once or twice after the turn-on top off.
The compressor only draws 3-4 amps when it cycles, and the extention cord is rated at 25 amps, which is better than the circuit is rated (20 amp). An electrician friend of mine installed an 200A-8 circuit sub panel in my basement of which 1 circuit is dedicated to the paint booth.(3 for the workshop, 4 for the layout room)
thanks jeff but your work isnt just very well its excellent!!! dave
thanks guys some great info. going this weekend to take a look. most will be weathering and rail painting at first. thanks dave
Thanks for the compliment, Dave.