Hi fellow modelers, I have airbrushed for several years. I just used my first double action yesterday and found it uncomfortable to use. Is there any advantage to double actions? All the top load brushes I find are doubles, why?, must be a reason. I’ve used a side cup on m Paasha and it works ok. I’ll no doubt stick with single but I’m just wondering. Thanks for any feedback Aardvark
I have both single and double. A double action allows for control of the spray that a single can not achive. Keep at it. With some practice its hard to go back to single once u master a double.
I’ve used Binks Wrens, Badgers & Azteks over the decades, latter single & double actions are preferred. Azteks have lovers & haters, “love” them for ease of use especially when cleaning, Model A320 single action has best body & nozzle cartridge receptacle design of any similar airbrush I’ve ever used, none of the paint “leakage” issues of their double action models. The Model A470 double action I have is used exclusively for small area & detail work, other than head cleaning with lacquer thinner no paint will ever pass through the brush body.
There’s your answer, this is your first time using it. Remember your first beer? It tasted like crap. But that second one tasted a tad better.
How about your first ride on a bicycle with the training wheels removed?..thump! About the third or fourth attempt you were able to balance yourself better.
The double action brush gives you more control than a single action. It just takes practice and experimentaion. Top loaders require less PSI to operate and do finer lines. They are also a breeze to clean.
Keep at it and you won’t look back.
Here’s a great link breaking down top and bottom feeders.
https://sites.google.com/site/donsairbrushtips/gravity-or-siphon
I have both a double action and a single action. For ninety percent of my airbrushing, I use the single action- it is easier to clean. I find the DA useful for fine pattern camouflage, and for weathering, where I want to put down thin, translucent coats and vary the thickness and visibility of the weathering coats. But my Badger 150 does require a lot more care re-assembling after cleaning. I put a T fitting on the output of my compressor, so both brushes are connected all the time and ready to use.
Long time airbrusher here, all of the above posts are really good info. As Plastic Junkie says, give the double action a good workout, then just give it time so you can get familiar with it.
As Don Stauffer says, there are uses where both SA and DA are well suited for the tasks, even some cases when one may work a bit better than the other. I have a raft of airbrushes, but my most frequently used are a Badger 200G SA, and a 100G DA. Both are top loaders so super easy to handle and clean, although my siphon feeds are not at all difficult to clean, maybe just another couple of minutes.
Get a supply of paint and thinner, plenty of scrap plastic sheet to practice on, get a good light source on the area you’re airbrushing and spray away. The DA function really is a very useful enhancement, especially for camo and finer details. I’ll bet in a short time you’ll come to like the DA.
And by all means, if you haven’t already taken a good look at “Don’s Airbrush Website,” have a visit to it for some really valuable information.
Patrick
I’ve used a Paasha H for 60 years so I desided last March I needed a new brush I ended up with an Iwata Neo I found at Hobby Lobby. So I bit clad I did really like it better paint control I find I’m using less paint. That was 79.00 well spent.[proplr] ACESES5
Wow on the Paasche H, heard they’re durable, ironclad proof if y’all mean the same brush for 60 years! I bought my first Binks Wren 51 years ago, lasted 2 calendar years + some months & days was model building till gave up the hobby for public transportation vehicle fandom, don’t see any 1966 vintage GMC TDH-4519s on the road but you can still buy Paasche H’s!
Badgers last a lifetime too. I have a DA Badger that I bought about 42 years ago and still works like new.
For bulletproof, my first Badger 200 lasted forty years with only work being replacing the teflon head washer and normal cleaning. That experience has led me to replace it with another Badger, and go to Badger for my DA.
I’m going 10 years plus with my Badger 105 Patriot DA.
Gosh I exagerated a bit when I said that I used my Badger for 42 years and it was like new. [:$]
I forgot I sent it to Badger for a tune up last year. Jesus from Badger did a wonderful job and turnaround time was about a week.
So it was actually 41 years of use before some maintenance was required.
Double action airbrush is originally for the airbrush canvas artist that have full control of paint flow.But;On the modelers side.It will take lot’s of practice to master that art of paint flow and pressure.It took me years of practicing on sample parts to get it right.Single action brought me more awards to my display cases.Get w/a local air brush artist that can take you through the ropes W/the double action process .
I went from a Paasche H to a Paasche Talon to a Badger 105 Patriot. The Badger is my favorite by a long shot. The double action took a little getting used to, but the Badger “just felt right” for me. I am certainly no expert, but I find the 105 easier to clean and more responsive. My two cents is to give it a little more time. Some folks can do beautiful work with a single action, but personally, I found my skills improving dramatically after getting the double action.
All that being said, of course use what works for you.
Happy building,
D