After reading many posts and doing some reaserch on the Thayer & Chandler Omni airbrushes, I’ve decided to get one to do a fierce, down and dirty, head to head comparison test with my Iwata guns. I’m not sure if my decision has been largely influenced as the result of MikeV’s very subtle brain-washing or not (LOL!!)[:D], but at any rate my new Omni-6000 is enroute from Coast Airbrush. Did I mention that these brushes are very inexspensive! What makes them very attractive to me is that- apart from the obvious cost saving, american-made, high quality Badger engineering that I’m familiar with-its that I don’t need to worry about any freekin “o” rings to replace! Sounds kinda silly, but after trial and error with some of my Iwatas, this tiny part can turn a good spray session into a long wait from the manufacturer for a very expensive repair or replacement.[:(!] I could have the Iwata “o” rings upgraded to Teflon, but for $14.99 per brush, with as many Iwatas I own…this will be very expensive. Also The Omni brushes boasts that they are engineered towards detail and able to handle heavier pigments such as our more viscous hobby enamels, acrylics, etc.(right up my alley!) I still love my Iwatas but I have a good feeling that with the arrival of the Omni, life will get alot cheaper and I’ll have some Japanese airbrushes for sale! If anyone can object to or has any pros or cons they’d like to share about the Omni airbrushes, please do. Also those who can share photographs of their work (scale models) having used an Omni is appreciated. lastly your comments on fine line spraying preformance; ie… atomization, characteristics, etc… will be educational as well. Thanks all!
That is not an O-ring, it is a needle bearing. [;)]
Yes they can handle anything from inks to acrylics and enamels.
That would be interesting to see. Most Iwata owners that I have seen won’t change. [:D]
The Omnis spray great, are balanced very well and as you stated they have solvent resistant needle bearings so they don’t get ruined by lacquer or urethanes.
I don’t have the Omni 6000 but I do have the 3000 and 4000 and they are both very nice with pretty smooth triggers for an inexpensive airbrush.
My Omni 3000 is smoother than my 4000, but the 4000 is new and needs to be worked more to break it in and smooth it out.
The Iwata is probably smoother though as they are machined to a higher tolerance and polished more.
I think you will like the Omni’s, but as others who have tried one after an Iwata you may feel it is not as smooth as you had hoped. But then again maybe you won’t.
I bought an Omni 5000 after my Aztec crapped out, and it’s been night and day in comparison. I can’t give you too much technical info, as I’m no expert, but I love her shape, and weight!!! It just feels perfect in my hands, and sprays nicely. It’s way easier to clean compared to the Aztec. Being my first “real” AB, I love it, and will never go back!!! And I’ve been using it as often as I can!!
