Airbrush comparison?

[messenger]

So- here's the skinny. I've lurked around here for many moons, checking out what is out there, and who says what about what. There are some excellent painters here, and I hope someday to be able to turn out work on that level. I don't forsee it being a profession, but I dig RC, and I dig artwork, so the two seem to go together.

Enough rambling. I had originally purchased a Badger 250 single-action AB, and was running canned propellant for the first body or two, to make sure that I would actually continue to do it. (I have an alarming habit of being all f*** this after about two weeks of anything.) I did end up purchasing a semi-decent compressor (Campell Hausfield 6gal, for those interested). That way I can use it in conjunction with air tools for my RL car (That's an entirely different story.....). I have all the neccesary filters and lines and whatnot to claim to be a semi-capable painter, but I am finding I am being held back by my current brush. It's great for what it is, but some of the shading, fading, and finer work I want to do, i'm finding it somewhat lacking. I'm looking to make an investment into a dual action AB with a gravity feed.... and the choices appear to be endless. I'm thinking maybe spending like 150$, possibly more if I can justify the cost (gotta pay bills, right)? I'm just looking for what people are running, and what experiences they've had with given brushes. I'm enamored with the Iwata product, but they get spendy QUICK, and that scares me. I've looked at higher end Badger stuff (I like mine, no reason to change it) also Paasche. Not terribly familiar with anything else out there. I know better than to purchase anything from Harbor Freight for any fine work (i'll be getting one anyhow, I have this penchant for spraying flake, and a wide, cheap single is what I need for that).

Enough rambling. I do that too much. What are people running? Reccomendations?

Also- Hello! I'm Tom from MN.

[dyslexic]

My two cents worth Go for the Iwata HP-C revolution or the eclipse (smaller needle )

I have a passache VL and although I like it it dosen't play at the same level as the Iwata so It's become my large area coverage brush.

[AirBoston]

My regular guns are Badger Crecendo 175s (I have 8). These I use for a majority of my work which is mainly tee shirts. For RC I use these 90% of the time and they require little maintinence and give me no grief. For detail work I have an Iwata HP-CS and a Richpen 213c. I really like the control of the Richpen and the price is right.

[FESTER2004]

i run a paashe vl but i prefer my parma faskolor f1 airbrush

[Piggy89373]

I also prefer Iwata. However, before you go off the deepend and buy a brush, take into account what paints you'll be using. Different types of paints will spray completely different in other brushes. For paints, you can break them down into two categories: water based and lacquer or urethane based.

Water based paints tend to have larger paint particles and the paints are typically thicker. To remedy this, find a brush that has a decent opening. The Iwata HP-CR (Revolution) (http://www.coastairbrush.com/proddetail.asp?prod=R4500) is a good brush for this application. It has a .5 mm nozzle so it'll spray the larger paint particles with great control. Because it'll spray the larger particulate better, you can actually get better control with it than a brush with a smaller nozzle. It sounds odd, but it's true.

For lacquers and urethanes, you can get away with smaller nozzle sizes. The Iwata HP-C (http://www.coastairbrush.com/proddetail.asp?prod=H4001) with the .3 mm nozzle will spray these with super smooth action and allow near hair line control. A larger nozzle such as the HP-CR (.5mm nozzle) would allow for large coverage, but your control of fine lines would be limited.

Another thing to consider is whether to use gravity or siphon feed. Some siphon feed brushes have difficulty with the larger paint particulate from water based paints. Of course, some don't but on average the previous statement holds true. I have a Badger 155 that sprays well with lacquers but has great diffuculty with the water based paints.

If you like to paint everything from plastic models to fishing lures to RC, a good all around brush is the HP-CR (Revolution) (http://www.coastairbrush.com/proddetail.asp?prod=R4500). If you're using more lacquers and urethanes than water based, the HP-CS (Eclipse) (http://www.coastairbrush.com/proddetail.asp?prod=ECL4500) with the .35 mm nozzle might do the trick.

Regardless of the brush you have, remember the one thing that holds true no matter the brand: it's the artist behind the brush that makes the difference.

[messenger]

Hey, thanks for all the advice. I had primarily been using Faskolor, but I do believe I will be moving over to laquer based. I am finding my ideas are somewhat limited by the color selection in water-based paint available to me readily. I was looking towards a gravity feed, so it seems as if the Iwata will become my primary horse for spraying, unless I need giant coverage.... I still have the badger to run wide open for that. I'm really looking for finer control than I seem to have currently, and it seems as if the Iwata HP-C will fit my needs perfect. Thanks again for all your help.

[Lidz]

nice choice

you won't be disappointed:teacher:

[savagekid94]

i like the F1 it looks like me and fester Know how to chose the best airbrushes. you made a great choice and i am sure you will be pleased

[FESTER2004]

you can use the f1 as gravity feed ,they sell the side cup that u can use,its like 11.99 from parma's website!but most people like the conviance of the bottle adapters