I’m getting back into the hobby after about twenty years, and I currently have a Badger 150 airbrush and a Badger 180-1 compressor that I bought in the mid '90s. I recently ordered an Iwata HP-C plus, because I want to try a gravity fed airbrush. I have a few questions in regards to the hose. I noticed the thread size between the two airbrushes are different sizes. Should I just get an adapter that’ll allow me to use the Badger hose on the Iwata brush? Or should I get an Iwata hose? Does the Iwata hose have a different ID compared to the Badger? It appears that the Iwata hose may have a larger ID, but I haven’t looked for specs on either hose. And the last question. Will the Iwata hose mount directly to the Badger compressor or will I need an adapter?
Badger has a unique thread size on their airbrushes. The Iwatas are the more standard 1/8 inch. You could get either an adapter for the Iwata or a new hose and an adapter for your Badger. The new hose would fit you compressor.
Don
Thanks Don. I ended up ordering the adapter to use the Iwata airbrush and the Badger hose for now. My current hose has a water filter on it. Plus I’ve read in some other threads about using a small home improvement compressor, which I have, instead of a small hobby compressor. I need to do more research on it before I decide, and I’d also need to get a water filter/separator for it anyway.
I’m too late, I see you already ordered the adaptor. I would have used a quick disconnect and a male end for each brush. Even if you don’t plan on switching between brushes it would allow the brush to swivel on the hose and you can just pop it off when its cleaning time or if you want to put it away.
Yup. A quick disconnect is a life saver. It makes everything so much easier with airbrushing.
It’s not too late. I could still easily cancel the order, with the way things have slowed down with what is going on. But I want to start a build, and get an idea of what works for me and what annoys me with the Badger compressor and hose. I may end up using my Porter & Cable compressor with the Iwata, which means I’ll need a hose and water separator. btw I didn’t even know that quick disconnects were available until I came across them by accident while checking for the adapter. I definitely plan on getting one or two once I have an idea of what I want 
Cool. They are a handy accessory.
Forgot to ask. Do they bleed air at the junction of the quick connect? Most quick disconnects I’ve used have, unless it’s meant for fluid.
The QD’s are air tight both connected and disconnected. I went to Harbor freight and picked up an adjustable pressure gauge and one of the pumpkin orange water traps for less than$10. They are 1/4 npt fittings. Put 1/4 QD on the compressor and filter/gauge. Any brass fittings can usually be sourced at a local auto parts store.
Put the female side of the QD on compressor or the AB end of hose. I run at both ends so I can use at work or at home with my 3 gal compressor I have there.
Concur with Quick Disconnects, also I would keep the Iwata 1/8th BSP hose from compressor to airbrush, to allow max volume of air, the badger sized hose is a bit skinny. Each of my airbrushes Badger & Iwata have male QD’s to fit, with a MAC valve (controls volume of air) on the female end of the hose. The other end is permanently fitted to the large water trap on the compressor. This means I can swap airbrushes without de pressuring the compressor tank.
I’ve been using the same female coupler on the airbrush end of the hose for 15 years or more and have never noticed a leak there. The male end that goes on the brush will occasionally loosen from handling and I’ll have to snug it up. They have an internal O ring and I don’t use teflon tape or anything else to seal. The larger QDs on the compressor end are a different story. Both male and female ends wear over time (male being the worst) and have to be replaced. The female ends hold up pretty well but I’ve had them fail too. Some of them leak when new. I think leaks mostly come from three areas. The male coupler wearing, the joint between the male coupler and the hose and, the air valve in the brush itself. My compressor has a tank and, so far at least, has been leak free. I unplug everything at the tank when I’m done.
This is the quick disconnect I’ve been using. Its strange how the product information now lists Paasche as one of the “Does not fit”. It fits my ancient Paasche H airbrush just fine.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MKGOUM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Cool. I’m used to the QD fittings on my air tools for the house, and the air tools in my garage leaking slightly. Maybe they’re just worn out?
That’s the exact reason why I was thinking about getting an Iwata hose. Larger volume due to the larger ID. My compressor already has a regulator on it, so I would just need a water trap/separator and the QD fittings. I also disconnect everything when I’m done using my home compressor. I also empty the tank. I don’t want to leave everything pressurized.
My two cents…
I also use my shop compressor to supply my airbrush QD fittings. The shortest “full size” air hose I have is 25’, so I use a second regulator at the airbrush connection; the one I have reads from 0-100# with the largest part of the dial in the lower pressure range. I find it very helpful to be able to the working pressure right at the airbrush, since a few pounds one way or the other makes a big differance.
I got a small 30 PSI guage off of Amazon which I installed in the final regulator before the airbrush. Most gauges found at box stores, even from a local compressed air tool store were 180 to 200 PSI full range. These gauges can be off by +- 10%.
The finer gauge allows me to dial in my sweet spot better. 15 on a 30 +- 3 gauge is easier to achieve than it is on a 180 +-18 gauge
I did the same. I have a small Fortress compressor from Harbor Freight right beside my paint booth but the gauges read 0 - 240 psi. I got a brass T, put a moisture trap on the inlet, a 0 - 30 psi gauge on top and a QD on the outlet. Makes it much easier to set pressure and I put a male QD on the moisture trap so I can the whole thing off.
I can definitely see the benefit of having the regulator at the airbrush, but it doesn’t make the airbrush too cumbersome and/or heavy? Would anyone care to post a pic of their setup?
btw thanks to everyone for all the info provided.
I have my final regulator at the opposite end of the AB hose from the AB.
It is in this order…1/4 male QD, pumpkin water trap, regulator adapter to Iwata hose, and Iwata QD to the Iwata NEO.
I can disconnect the AB for cleaning and storage, then coil up the hose assembly to put it all in a 50 cal plastic ammo can.
Will dig up a pic tomorrow.
The ammo can holds two AB’s, a quart of cleaner and some mixing jars.
Yeh, all my stuff is at the compressor. Hose from there to the small airbrush QD. I have to set up image hosting somewhere. Haven’t posted pics for a while and need to start. Will do soon. Tony
Here is the pic I said I’d pull up.
Actually the water trap is downstream from the gauge. The tip of blue under the gaugeis the 1/4 QD, then a 1/4 brass nipple, the filter and a brass adapter to the Iwata hose.
Some issue with geting the pic to post here from imageshak.
My bad, got it figured out.