or you can get a badger 100
I can’t believe no one has mentioned the Aztek 470.
Only last week I read of an Iwata and a 470 being refered to as equals on this forum, something I am happy has never been said about my Omni!
Karl
A precision tool with better tolerances, that has a better balance that operates smoother and has better quality materials has greater odds of completing a desired goal with minimal effort. A well-thought out design that has been refined as well as a Japanese airbrush can inspire more confidence in a beginner because of its smooth operation. That same airbrush can allow a professional less stress and allow that professional less fatigue to work longer or do better quality work.
Just because a couple of members at FSM want to save a couple of dollars and promote a cheaper product with less design tolerance and different material makes does not mean I have to agree with them. I want to spend more money for an airbrush with more chrome and stainless steel needles, more precision crafted tolerances, a smoother paint bowl that is easier to clean. It makes me feel good-I want to be pampered with a precision feeling airbrush. Other members at FSM like to be pampered too. We can afford it. I can also afford the luxury in knowing I have tried many other brands of airbrushes over many years-not just a single session sample. The airbrush I use cost more then the other brand but I don’t care. I know what I’m getting since I’ve used the brand for over 21 years. And I don’t care if the parts cost more in my airbrush because I know I’m getting my moneys worth. I simply want to spend more money for an airbrush I like and not what other people badger me to get. So don’t trash a person if they spend more money than you did on an airbrush. They simply might have wanted to spend more. It is an emotional feeling and not a logical one.
I continue to use the airbrush brand I first laid hands on 21 years ago. I made an excellent choice back then and have been trying to find an airbrush that is better than the brand I chose. Yes, I’ve been airbrushing for longer than some people have been born. I’ve tried the majority of the other airbrushes many times but I still go back to the first brand of airbrush I chose years ago. I’ve even converted other people, by their own choice, from using the cheaper brand and using my brand of airbrush.
I have had the experience of time and many opportunities to try different airbrushes. I do not care what country the airbrush comes from as long as it does the job beyond what I expected it to do with it pampering me all the way. The Japanese just happened to refine an airbrush I like. If I found a Russian airbrush I liked better then I would use that one too.
Airbrushes were my work and are now a part of my hobby. I’m very serious about using the best airbrush I can find. All airbrushes I own I bought trying to find a single airbrush that is better than the one I bought 21 years ago. I tried other brands but they didn’t make my subjective “feel” grade.
I do not have the luxury of getting free gifts from one airbrush manufacturer to entice me to sell their brand of airbrush. I am also not a representative of any airbrush company so I do not make money promoting one brand of airbrushes. . I enjoy being open-minded and trying different airbrushes with unbiased thinking. To me an airbrush is always a learning opportunity while some members here think they know everything and must teach the flock of their knowledge.
The other brands of airbrushes gather dust now. Because of those reasons listed above I still use my Iwata airbrushes.
Now I’ll go back to ghosting FSM again.
When it comes down to it, performance is all that matters. And my Iwata enables me to do things that I’ve never been able to do in the past.
For years I was a Badger man, but that was only because all I had for comparison was a Paasche H.
The Badger 200 siphon model was my workhorse (I hated that damn 150) and I used it for pretty much everything. If I had alotta stuff to paint all one color, then I used the Paasche. They each served a definite purpose in the shop.
And because I was exposed to only those particular brushes for a certain period of time, I basically knew no better than the Badger 200 and Paasche H.
I tried a few other brushes; the Paasche VL and V-Junior, Badger 175 Crescendo, 155 Anthem and 360 Universal. Didn’t like any of 'em. Even that Zoltar (Sotar) brush was mighty disappointing.
And I won’t even go near an Aztek. Pure sh**…
Then I took a pal’s Iwata Eclipse for a test drive and it was all over. That brush was the easiest of all of 'em for me to initially get on and spray. Within five minutes I was convinced that I had to have one, and I HATED double action brushes at that time. Now, I can’t see myself buying anything else than an Iwata.
But then again, there’s plenty of other brushes out there which I’ve yet to try…
Fade to Black…
Hmm I see we are doing this again !! hehehe!!! OK
well I have a Badger 360-1, Im not sure how big the nozzle is but I’d say about 0.5 - 0.6 mm, Its good for applying primer and base coats.
I also have a European Airbrush, a Harder & Steenbeck Evolution. This is a very good airbrush, I have even seen articles where they compare it directly with the best Iwata airbrushes, I haven’t had a chance to do that myself so I can’t confirm or deny the truth of this. The good thing is that it comes with a 0.2 mm and a 0.4 mm nozzle / needle, its easy to get spare parts, you can get an adapter for a side mounted siphon feed cup, it comes with to paint cups of different sizes and its relatively cheap.
Yeah, here we go again. It’s been about a week since we went through this discussion. I’m only surprised it took this long.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: An airbrush is a TOOL. Anyone who reads any more into one than that needs to look into their perceptions of reality. An airbrush is a TOOL and as such is only as good as the hand that holds it. If someone expects any particular brand or model of airbrush to turn then into an instant Picasso they are going to be disappointed. Buy a quality tool, learn to use it well, never look back.
Nobody said you had to agree with anyone.
If you like the brand you have then good for you, that is all that matters.
I knew that was going to get slipped in there somewhere. Sad.
And neither are any of us, so what’s the point of making that statement other than to try and discredit my opinion?
So do I, but since I don’t agree on the brand you like that somehow makes my opinion biased in your estimation.
I see another ad hominem attack against me. I do not know everything and never will but I guess when envy and resentment creeps in it doesn’t matter anyway.
Maybe I’ll just stop posting here so I don’t lead the flock astray any longer as my opinions for whatever estimation in your eyes are not as valid as yours.
Mike
Don’t worry Mike !! I have been called a wise guy aswell sometimes when all I did was to try and help some one, and that someone even thanked me for my help, but then some i***t called me a wise guy.
I for one respect your opinion, and I always look forward to your replies on airbrush matters. You never claim to be right, but you have a huge experience and it would be a great loss if you stoped posting so please don’t.
I for one say that Brand does not matter. If you like aztek, then by all means buy a 470. If you like badger, then by all means go buy one. It doesn’t matter which brand airbrush you like, if you like it, then good. I am getting mighty angry at the guys who try to convert you from 1 brand to another. “Buy a hp-cs, it’s better than the omni 4000.” That’s just your opinion. Also, you cannot compare the Iwata to the Omni. They are in two completely different classes alltogether. A better comparison would be the hp-b/c to the Badger 100LG/g. They are both airbrushes used by artists everywhere, people tend to think that
by paying almost double the price of the badger, they are getting a MUCH better product. However, not a product that is $60 more than the badger. Maybe the fit and finish is a little better, maybe one can do a little finer line, a little more control, perhaps a more ergonomic design. But in the end, what really matters is how much you like it, and thats all. I personally prefer any airbrush that works [not-aztek] and is easy to clean, reliable, and able to do semi-fine lines with practice. People tend to think that by buying a $140+ airbrush, they are able to do fine lines without practice. True, the Iwata can do finer lines than the badger. so what?
Ok I’ll end my anti-iwata rant there.
Have a good one
-1337
Salty nice topic! way to stir it up. Iwatas are nice airbrushes, I still have a few and have owned most of their airbrushes at one point or another. They even have a really nice shiny finish on top of a brass body and a stainless steel needle-hey just like almost all other airbrushes how about that! They spray nice but no nicer than most other airbrushes made today. All of this one brand versus the other is stupid- try different airbrushes out find one you like and stick with it but realize that it is the best airbrush for you not everyone else. Which airbrush is better than the next is a matter of personal preference. I CAN AIRBRUSH JUST AS WELL WITH MY $70 DOLLAR BADGER 100 THAN I CAN WITH MY MICRON, EFBE OR AEROGRAPH. Price and brand have nothing to do with how good most airbrushes are, it is the user.
John
Maybe I should look in this forum more often. But seriously I have to say that I have only really had one airbrush as of yet. And that one was an Aztek, all I can say about it with a [censored] tongue is that i was very dissappointed with it. Now that I have an Iwata I might actually look forward to airbrushing. Now dont get me wrong I have never had a Badger, but you never know. When I first picked up that Iwata out of the box I was really impressed with the feel of it in my hands.
Now I know Mike talks highly of his Badger, but he has to tried other brushes and chooses to use a Badger over anything else. So what does it matter if he is a rep for a company. He too has tried other products. And I certainly dont see any bias when he speaks of something. Well thats my [2c] for right now.
Mike isn’t a rep for Badger. He just likes them best.
Saltydog, you are an absolute genius! You put out the bait and the guys swallowed it hook, line and sinker and fell all over themselves to spew knowledge! Way to go!
MikeV, I respect your opinions about the Omni 4000. Partly because of the knowledge that you share, I have determined that the Omni 4000 is the best value for my money and wiil most likely purchase one shortly. Having said that I think you need to relax a bit. In the society that we live in today PERCEPTION IS REALITY. What did you think would happen when you put that Badger logo on your signature line?! Did you really think that people wouldn’t think that you are working for Badger?
Thanks John as that has always been my point even though some cannot see that for whatever reasons.
I value your input as you are a very experienced airbrush user and probably know a lot more than I do.
I also appreciate all of the others who put their opinions in.
Saying one brand is better than another is nothing but an opinon as some like vanilla better than chocolate, Ford better than Chevy, etc.
Some people claim Iwata has better tolerances on the parts and I have yet to see any of them give any proof. Surely there must be a master machinist in this forum who can measure these parts and inform us on this matter. [:D]
I have an HP-CS and it is a very nice instrument that I would be proud to own if it were my only airbrush, but I do not see any advantage to it’s increased price whatsoever.
Some other’s may see it worth the money and that is fine too.
My 100LG, Anthem and 360 all have triggers that are just as smooth, if not more so than the HP-CS in my opinion so I don’t see where they are machined any tighter as far as tolerance goes.
As I said earlier, I believe it is more of a perceived thing than an actual fact.
Mike
Well, I also have a picture of an F-15E in my signature but I don’t work for Boeing either. [:D] [;)]
The “regulars” on this forum know that I am not a Badger employee anyhow, so my Badger sig does not convey that to most people. If I were a rep for Badger I would never get involved in any comparison debates as that would be a conflict of interest as well as an unprofessional thing to do in my opinion.
Mike
Good answer![:)]I’m not quite a “regular” but I do know you don’t work for Badger. What I do know is you obviously have a wealth of air brush knowledge and obviously some people are jealous of that. Please keep sharing that knowledge with the rest of us!
Wait a minute…Time out guys!! Bubba (jfrejo), maybe you should go back and read the way i started this whole thread…IN PERFECTLY GOOD HUMOR!!! [;)] the title of this subject was just banter to get you to look is all!! but, its not hard to get misunderstood with the typed word. personally, i could care less what brand airbrush anyone uses!!! i was just trying to have a little fun, and everybody else is beginning the arguments, which is why i haven’t posted here since all this started. you folks just hijacked the topic and ran in a totally different direction. i was expecting some of my friends like MikeV, Music City, Woodbeck, ect., to give me a tongue lashing all in good humor. we’ve all been here a while and know that there is no “best” airbrush except the one the user likes the best!!
bstrump seems to be the only one who has understood what i was trying to do!! just hackin’ on some badger fans with tongue in cheek!!! thats absolutely it!! i’m surely not trying to prostilize any badger believers over to the iwata camp!! i should’ve known better i guess. lets just lighten up, and live!! ok fellows, argue on!! later.[:D]
PS… i have 5 airbrushes OK?!! a paasche H, Thayer & Chandler Omni 5000, a Badger 200G, an Iwata HP-C, and an Iwata HP-CS, plus, i used to have a paasche VL, which was my very first airbrush when in highschool for airbrushing T-shirts and such. so mr. Jfrejo, i have tried other brushes friend, and the hp-cs is the last one to arrive at my doorstep. i don’t need anything else. i’m sorry, but badger products left me still wondering if there was something better…Iwata answered with authority.
Thanks Bert.
I just try to pass on what I have learned from others who have taught me what they know and I am still learning new things all the time from you people on the forum as well as others. I am fortunate in that Ken Schlotfeldt at Badger is a friend of mine as well as my buddy Scooter back in SC who has been an airbrush artist for 40 years now. These men have taught me probably 75% of what I know and I consider it my duty to pass it along to others looking for answers also. There is nothing worse than trying to learn about something that you can’t seem to get straight answers on from salesmen at stores and such.
Mike
yeah, in short, if you like iwata, then go for it. if you like badger, feel free. same for paasche, or any other airbrush you like.
You are becoming wise beyond your years, young Jedi. [:D] [;)]
Mike