i have been reading all the posts i can find on airbrushes, and i believe that i want to get myself a badger. (i will have to save for about 4 months for it, so i got plenty of time to shop around). i have also done some google research, but i could not find a good site that compares all the different models in detail.
can anyone point me to a good site that compares all the badger dual actions in depth, also, can everyone tell me about their various badgers and what they like about them?
secondly, how important is parts availability ? i live in singapore so this is a concern since mail order is veeeery expenisve cos of the shipping.
I would go with the best & affordable brush that is readily available close to you.
Way easier to find parts and people that know how to fix them, when things to bump.
If you order a brush where parts are not readily available I would atleast order a spare nozzle/needle set as this is most likely the parts to go.
Another thing to keep in mind is accessories and similar, there are differen connector sizes out there and you might not be able to use lets say an air-hose or water-trap bought locally unless you use an adaper. Having to buy additional adapters and parts will drive you cost up quiet a bit.
Can’t really help with the badger info as it has been decades since I last handled one of their A/B.
Not trying to turn you away from badger but, IMO, parts and their accessability/compatability should play a bigger role than who makes the item.
In my opinion, parts availability is an important concern. Even over here where we can order parts and have them in a few days, that’s frequently too long. There are several places locally that carry parts for Badger airbrushes so I’m lucky in that respect. When I split a nozzle one Saturday I had a replacement in an hour and was painting again.
Check around and see what the local stores carry and what they have parts for. If a store has every part for, say, a Badger 155 then that’s the one I’d go with.
Badger brushes are remarkably reliable, and under normal use the only time you’ll need replacement parts is when you break something. I have a 12 year old Badger 200 and the only parts that have been replaced are those that I damaged through stupidity. Things like that happen to everyone at some time or another though, it’s just a fact of life.
I’d recommend a double-action, internal mix. Gravity feed is a minor plus, but I wouldn’t turn down a 155 or something like that. Also remember that Thayer and Chandler is now owned by Badger so they manufacture the Omni series of brushes.
Considering that he is Singapore, maybe IWATA or one of he other BB Rich airbrushes might be his best bet.
It all depends on what is readily available and for what price.
how about a site that compares the various models of badgers ? oh yes, i called my LHS, and they have the 150 and the parts for that. what kinda brush will i be getting with the 150 ? oh yes, does the 150 have that function where it will function like a single action ? or is that function not really all that neccary ?
I own most of the Badgers that are popular.
What are you looking for in an airbrush?
Do you want a siphon-feed? Gravity-feed?
I prefer a gravity-feed for modeling but both work well.
If you want a gravity-feed then I recommend the Badger 100LG and the Omni 4000. If you prefer a siphon-feed then I recommend the Badger 155 and the Omni 3000.
you might ask that LHS guy what it would cost you to get a 155 or whatever you decide on from him… if he has the 150 maybe he would get the 155 or 100 for you and a keep needle or two in stock for when ya need it?
maybe ask him what other airbrushes he carries… I forget who said it in here, but I would buy what has parts more readibly available in Singapore and does a good job, over something you’ll pay 16 dollars in shipping for a 5 dollar needle for.
Badgers are good, the 150 will do what you listed using it for, and probably some finer detail work… but consider if you want to go for even finer detail later, then the 155, 100 or either of the omni’s might be what ya want… or if Iwata is easier to get there then maybe thats the way to go?
I wouldnt want to wait 2 week plus for a 5 dollar needle to get to me from the states… and pay 16 dollars for the shipping on it…
the brushes Mike listed are good, I havent used all of them but have heard from and seen enough models done with them to know they do their job… if you’re sold on a badger then get ya one! Just make sure it doesn’t cost ya more for parts than the airbrush cost in the first place!
That said… ENJOY!!! I think you will love it compared to that Aztek I sent ya… (if it ever got working for ya after the trip over there…)
yep, i am half american, half singaporean. my dad likes it here in singapore cos he doenst have to shovel snow (hes from NJ)
tom, i got the aztek working, i used a lot of blutak to seal the thing up, works great ! [:)] my main grouse is that i spend more time cleaning it than spraying [:s] but heck its miles better than that spray gun.
yeah I thought it would be… great! but now you see why I bought the 155! (bought the 175 originally and like it for med coverage and minor detail but when I really wanna get down in the grooves I break out the 155… )and as everyone who has one has said, it’s easy to clean…
—edit—
actually the 155 is my main brush now come to think of it… plan on using the 175 for some upcoming bombers and such where I have larger areas to fill… of course one day I want to learn to use the 175 better but having too much fun with the 155 in the mean time!