I have been using badger airbrushes since I first picked one up many moons ago. I have had several model 175 "Crescendo®" airbrushes but they are all in dire need or replacement.
I prefer a heavy feeling airbrush not the dainty ones like a pencil, easy cleaning, not too delicate it has to take a beating lol. I don't do fancy art work with it I just do mostly blends. Lets put it this way the "Crescendo®" fits me just fine, what I am asking is, is there any other airbrush that is better than the "Crescendo®" for basic blend type work?
I have never tried any others so I am in the dark.
[ January 29, 2005, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: Bob Rochon ]
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Bob, I think Iwata makes some of the best airbrushes. I have an HP-C with a modified trigger and quick connect and love it. I like them because they are all metal, too. They have an Eclipse which is a good general use model and a little cheaper if you don't do much detail with one. I also have an old Pasche VL that is used for general stuff.
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Iwata is the best years ago at a sign biz show I asked the guy who was putting on the demo air brushing effects for vinyl. Were they using them because the company gave them to him. He said he had used them for along time and liked them. Also that the company had offered to sell them to each person at a real good reduced rate if they wanted them. I bought 3 of them. My mother uses one to paint her and my fathers wood carvings and has no problem with it. Either using or cleaning. mostly waterbased craft paints.
-------------------- PTSideshow, been there, probally done that. Wizard Works Show Supply Magic Props FX Signage Banners Ect. Posts: 120 | From: Mount Clemens,MI,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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Paasche, Badger, Iwata and some of the other name brands are all good units. It almost comes down to how it feels in your hand. The best suggestion I can give you is to find yourself a copy of Air Brush Action that has the Airbrush buyers guide in it, that will give you alot of insight into what they all offer and whats best for your needs.
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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Bob Iwata Eclipse ! you can pull the needle back a "hair" & relock with the rear nut and you'll get a lot of coverage for such a "dainty" looking airbrush. We have 2, leave one sub-merged ( sorta like a bottom feeding Orcha with it's fin to the sky !) in a 1/2 filled mineral spirit plastic container. The one we use on the road in our kit,after flushing pretty good after spraying with one-shot, we dip the needle in our brush preservative & slide in the Iwata to prevent needle "freeze". And we have a 3rd for the "blue moon" H2o Createx / Deka job, no cross mixing of medias, naturally . The brass tips are a little sensitive, so be a little cautious or have several tips on hand for tight work. Hope this helps.
-------------------- mark zilliox mark z signs 8425 pushaw station rd. owings md. 20736 301-855-5407 thezs@earthlink.net http://www.markzsigns.com Posts: 348 | From: maryland | Registered: May 2003
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After spending quite a chunk on iwata's suction fed guns(I bought 6), I hooked up with Joey Hutson at his panel Jam, which Mike was in attendance. As a person having used paasche's for years, I just assumed the suction fed was the way to go...then I saw how fast Mike and Joey could lay paint with the gravity fed, and how easy they cleaned between colors....and I immediately got back and bought several.
The favorite for Mike is the Iwata HP-cs and the cm-c for real fine detail, ...and I am not sure of the vendor mentioned above but prior to last year, the teflon rings were not standard...(they are now which should make the rings last forever)but coastair in california is the place to buy...they also have the special triggers(taller).
Upon my return from seeing that, I bought the brushes and love em...except they still don't shoot flames yet!...LOL....and my cleanup has been the biggest blessing of all....the gravity reduces that issue down to nothing!
-------------------- Robert Beverly Arlington, Texas Posts: 1023 | From: Arlington, Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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I use the Iwata Eclipse, HP-C and Custom Micro as well. I didn't know they were so popular but I can see why. Smooth action and never any trouble with them.
-------------------- Jim Upchurch Artworks Olympia WA Posts: 797 | From: Olympia, WA | Registered: Nov 1998
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based on what you have said Bob your probably going to doing well with an Eclipse.
The Custom Micron is good for very fine detail work, like rendering hairlines. That makes the Custom Micron almost useless for fades and such.
But the gravity feed guns are very nice if your not using alot of paint.
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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The eclipse is a nice airbrush, but it's not all that hot for any fine detail. I used Paasches for years, then went with an HP-BC Iwata, I loved it. It got to needing some parts replaced and the cost was close to what an Eclipse would cost. Everybody was raving on the Eclipse, so I bought one. I never was satisfied with it. For fades and all it was great but the detail would not match the HP-BC however. My son ended up with it as I don't do much airbrushing. I had to do a little job this summer and had to buy another airbrush. I went with a Paasche kit that had the hose and three needles in it. It was very inexpensive. It's also terribly clunky and I will eventually buy an Iwata HP-C
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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I will look into the gravity feed bexause all I usually use is the little cup that comes with the suction fed badge anyway, not to mention the little cap on top would be a blessing.
I usually spill the paint by tilting anyway.
One other question, does the eclipse come with one needle or does it have different sizes. I usually use just one but would like the flexibilty to have options.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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they come with one needle usually, but if you give Coast Airbrush a call they can hook you up with multiple needles. Better yet, go check out Iwata's website WWW.anestiwata.com see what they offer and what it is your looking for, then give Coast Airbrush a call, theyre pretty knowledgable in the Iwata stuff and they have some special modifications they do to make them ven better. The teflon needle was their thing for years but now its standard on most Iwata brushes.
good luck
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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Hiya, Bob........I love my Iwata Eclipse too. I got it from BearAir.com. They're down the pike in Natick and have GREAT prices. Hope all is well........Spud.
-------------------- Mike"Spud"Kelly zipperhead design Westminster, MA Posts: 367 | From: Westminster, MA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Paasche VL- but for me it's because they are so versitile, relativly inexpensive, & last forever. I mainly use them for t-shirt airbrushing, but I have put just about wverything thru them at one time or another.
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1735 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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Iwata eclipse i use because they can put a lot of paint on or you can do fine lines as well, very versatile. Badger have an anthem which is there equilivant to the eclipse.I have a badger 150 as well that is a good airbrush as well.
-------------------- Mark Stokes Mark Stokes Signs Mount Barker South Australia Posts: 388 | From: Mount Barker | Registered: Jan 2005
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Vega 2000 is my workhorse. It is the Glock of airbrushes, IMHO. I do not always have, nor do I always take the time to clean this brush as I should. I hate to say that out loud but it's true. But it is not as finicky as the iwata. It'll take a licking and come back for more.
Now, for detail work, go with the Eclipse. But for sign work... blends, fades, bevels and such the Vega is a very good tool. If you can spring for both I don't think you'll be sorry.
Wayne
-------------------- Berry Signs & Stripes Hattiesburg, MS Signs, lines, lettering & other neat stuff. Posts: 82 | From: Hattiesburg, MS | Registered: Jan 2000
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Hey, this is a very neat & informative thread! I too prefer Iwata airbrushes, although they are "slimmer" like a pen. I think I'll jump on board and try out one of their gravity fed guns. I have an Iwata Anest gravity fed "detail" gun I use for murals (and I love it for coverage)...but I also love my Eclipse airbrush for details. I use water based acrylics alot, and they work beautifully with that medium.
-------------------- Nancie W. Phillips White Dove Painting Studio 74 Dacula Road, Dacula, GA 30019 678-887-3339
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in saying that you "have been using badger airbrushes.. and I prefer a heavy feeling airbrush not the dainty ones like a pencil, easy cleaning, not too delicate it has to take a beating lol. I don't do fancy art work with it I just do mostly blends. the paasche VL3 would probably be most comfortable for you. I still have maybe six on my rig and a couple of them fell quite a ways several times. still sprays nice and easy to rebuild! my 2!
-------------------- AirbrushBobby.com Clearwater, FL The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.1Cor1:18 “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord”Rom6:23 Posts: 505 | From: Clearwater Florida USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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The Custom Micron does blends very well, better than anything else I've tried but it is a detail gun so it's obviously meant for small areas. It's great for fixing a blend too (if ya know what I mean)!
[ January 31, 2005, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: Jim Upchurch ]
-------------------- Jim Upchurch Artworks Olympia WA Posts: 797 | From: Olympia, WA | Registered: Nov 1998
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If ya don't want anything that feels like a pencil, go with a Paasche VL. I won't try to tell ya it's better than any of the others, but it's thick and heavier. I like the VL because of that too, and yeah it's easy as it gets to clean out and doesn't need any special hardware to handle waterbased or solvents.
I like the 3 needle sets the VL uses, I normally use oddball combinations of one size needle, another size cone and yet another size air cap to fine tune it.
Airbrushes are good for simple highlights and shadows on vinyl but if I need to fade a larger job, I put the airbrush down and grab a mini HVLP gun.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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