I’ve been using my Badger 200 for about 15years now and have been seriously considering upgrading to a double action. Can anyone recommend a good starter kit to go with? I’ve never used one before. Will I have to upgrade my compressor? Right now I’m using a Badger without a regulator. Finally, should I keep both around? To help you guys with your answers, I model 1/25 big rigs and 1/72 aircraft. Any help will be much appreciated![:)]
double action, gravity fed. Try for a Badger 100, Omni 4000. You don’t need to upgrade your compressor, you may need a moisture trap and pressure regulator if you don’t already have one, you don’t need to keep both around since the 100/4000 will do everything you want it to do and more. As Saltydog would say, An Omni is a good airbrush, but an Iwata Eclipse hp-cs is a Great choice. Don’t listen.
I started with an Aztek DA, then went to the Badger 200 SA, then went with the Omni 4000. Then Omni is a really nice airbrush, easy to use & clean up. If you look back through the painting forum, I think that you’ll find that the majority of us went with the Omni 4000. I would keep both around, I still use my 200 NH for applying broad coats. I don’t think that you’ll have to upgrade your compressor, but a regulator would be a good investment. I don’t know much about them, except that I have the AC200 (Aztek) and it works fine for me. If you want the detailed specs on the Badger/Omni’s, ask MikeV. He’s the official unofficial or unofficial official Badger representative here. [:)]
I’ve got a Badger 200 as well that I’ve had for about 12 years or so. When I decided I wanted a DA brush I got an Omni 3000 (siphon feed) and a few months ago added an Omni 4000 (gravity feed). I think I made a wise choice and have never looked back.
I prefer the 4000. Since it’s gravity feed it will feed reliably at slightly lower pressures than the 3000. The 3000, on the other hand, will use all your existing 200 bottles and caps. Additionally, your hoses will fit the Omni series so you won’t have to get a new hose. The Omni is actually made by Thayer and Chandler, but Badger owns that company now.
Your existing compressor will probably work just fine, however I’d highly recommend adding a regulator and moisture trap to it. Most airbrush compressors put out around 35 psi or more. For airbrushing on models I seldom use more than 15 psi and frequently go down to around 5 or so.
The Iwata Eclipse CS and Bs are great, so I agree with Saltydog when he says that. I have the Eclipse hp-bs. It’s a dream machine. I personally do not want to go any further than that with Iwata brand stuff though because the prices are too high. The hp-bs with the airhose that fits it is the end of the line for me in Iwata.
I’m thinking about buying another airbrush for broader bulk type duty though. I was really wanting a Badger Crescendo, but now I’m thinking that my tolerance for the air pressure required to get paint applied with a siphon feed is gone. That would mean I agree with 1337 regarding seriously considering a gravity feed Badger 100. I don’t have one yet, but I like the way it is designed better than the other brands similar to it. It has a fixed color cup (like the Eclipse gravity feeds) rather than a detachable one. It’s more like cleaning one part when the color cup is not detachable. One pipe cleaner straight through the whole deal & it’s done.
Uh oh, you used the “Pipe Cleaner” phrase. MikeV is gonna frown at that one[;)] (don’t tell him, but I use them to!)
He’s going to Michael’s art store, so maybe he’ll see the kind of pipe cleaners we use if he looks in the kiddy crafts section. Those pipe cleaners don’t have the wires in them.
Like the other guys I started with a Badger 200, and then moved onto an Omni 4000 a few months back.
You won’t be disapointed with either an Omni or an Iwata, but for my money, and less of yours, you can’t go wrong with the Omni 4000.
Karl
So do I at times. [(-D]
One thing I never do is run a pipe cleaner down the needle tube from the back of the airbrush out the front, as it is unnecessary.
David,
It is not the wire in the pipe cleaners that is of concern, it is the cheap pipe cleaners that many places sell that have fibers that come loose from them.
The fibers can break loose and find their way into openings in the airbrush and give you problems. Also, remember that running thinners such as lacquer down into the needle tube can result in that thinner getting into the rubber O-ring in the air valve and causing it to swell and fail after a while.
Mike
[tup][tup]Thanks for your help guys. It’s intersesting you should all mention gravity feedas I was finding the jar hanging under my 200 was frequently getting in the way.
I agree that the Omni 4000 and the Badger 100LG are both great choices, as well as the Eclipse CS if you want to go the Iwata route.
Mike
the iwata hp-cs is a great airbrush, but if you’re already set up with badger stuff, i’d choose the omni 4000, which is nearly the same as the hp-cs, cept not as good!!![:P][;)][:D] just thought i’d add a little spice to the thread!!LOL. later
There’s also that gravity feed Iwata Revolution that’s priced to compete with Badger 100LG.
This morning, I found the greatest brushes for airbrush cleaning. They’re perfect for getting up in the nozzle without doing wire damage or leaving fibers. They’re Proxabrush Trav-ler brushes by Butler GUM in the dental/pharmacy section. The small handle disposable ones will fit. There’s another brush like that called something like Go-betweens. These are boxes of 3 brushes for under $3. I bought a pack. They’re cleanable, so I’ll be using only these 3 for a long time. The wire core is rounded at the tip and wrapped all the way back down the core and into the little handle. The wire won’t scratch anything.
Great tip, jd. Once again, thanks for all your help guys. I’ll be making a trip to my LHS to pick up the Omni 4000. Otherwise, it’s coast airbrush.
Price is the only thing that the Iwata Revolution can compete with the 100LG.
It terms of performance the 100LG beats the Revolution hands down.
The 100LG is a micro-tipped airbrush and is in the category with the Iwata HP-C and others like it. [;)]
Mike
Mike: you forgot about quality, and finish [:D]
Are you saying the Badger is of lesser quality?
Mike
I AM…and whatchu gonna do bout’ it!!![:D][;)]
I am beginning to think you like the punishment Chris. [:D] [;)]
Mike
I have a Badger 350, and that’s adequate for me for now. but if i were to upgrade, to double-action, I would go for either for the bottom-feed Iwata Revolution, or the Aztek A470.