I am trying to learn how to airbrush. What kind should I get and where? Got this piece of junk off ebay, it never worked or else I didn't know enough to make it work. Also what are some good books or websites to check out.
posted
It depends mostly on what you're going to be shooting thru it. If you're doing T-shirts or automotive work get an Iwata Eclipse or Millenium. If you're going to be doing illustration work go for the Custom Micron. On the "piece of junk" that you bought, try breaking it down and cleaning it good. Remember how you take it apart if you're not familiar with them, so you can reassemble it. About 95% of all airbrush problems is due to it being dirty.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
If your learning, I would stick to something a little less expensive, and upgrade later.
I started with a Badger 175, and it works good for a varity of media, but it didn't break the bank.
When I got more work, I stepped up and bought a Iwata.
-------------------- Mark Kottwitz Kottwitz Graphics Ridgely, MD www.SeeMySignWork.com -------------------------- Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein Posts: 746 | From: Ridgely, MD | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I wonder how the Iwata air brushes got so popular. It is made by a Japanese company that out right stold the design from an American company, Thayer & Chandler. I'll buy their Omni airbrush any day over the Iwata. In fact, I had a chance to try an Iwata and I could definatly tell the difference. The trigger just wasn't as smooth as the Omni. Plus the basic models are half the price of an Iwata.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5398 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
Blake, there are any number of good airbrushes out there---Binks, Thayer and Chandler, Iwata, Paasche, Badger, among others.
For versatility and learning, I'd go with a Paasche VL1-3-5. Three different needles and tips will allow very fine work, to a coarser spray for heavier coverage. Tip/needle size determines how thick or thin the material going through has to be.
On the books thing, do a search at top of the page.
Whatever brand you get, be sure to get the parts list with an exploded drawing of the airbrush. It will save you a lot of grief when you take it apart for cleaning. Also, some of the air passages in these things are tiny in the extreme, and make air passages in say, a carburetor look as big as a barn door by comparison.
Good luck, and have fun.
bill preston
-------------------- Bill Preston Fly Creek, N.Y. USA Posts: 943 | From: Fly Creek, N.Y. USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
Dave...I don't know if the Iwata line is all THAT popular in the "BIG PICTURE" world wide..
But they do have a lot of fans here in Letterville.
When I was looking to buy an airbrush I asked here and several people recommended them, and several of those who did were folks whose opinions I respected. I have enjoyed using mine.
As a result, if someone askes for a recommendation I would also point them to the Iwata's.
It's the same as our own work...positive word of mouth recommendations produce good results.
I am definitly a "low level" airbrush user but what I really like about mine is it's ease of cleaning. I can take it apart and put it back together so easily. THAT makes it a good product for me.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
Dave, those features were designed into the Thayer & Chandler Omni series and then copied by Iwata.
It's just a little thiing that bugs me. I know why the Iwata is so popular. Iwata had a better marketing plan aimed at sign painters. Namely, get a bunch of high profile sign air brushers to endorse their line. I'm sure a bunch of free airbrushes were involved. It wouldn't have worked if their product was junk, it isn't. I just don't like the tactics they used. I'm sure they took a page out of Bill Gates book.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5398 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
The Badger 150 set (called 150-7) has three sizes of needle & tip, like the Paache VL-set. I have both & for finer work prefer the Badger. Then the Badger 155 (called Anthem) has a 2-in-1 kind of tip to go from fine to medium without needing to unscrew heads & change needles.
Badger bought out or took over Thayer & Chandler (Vega & Omni brushes). I don't know equivalents, but a bloke I know who's done a lot of top stuff said in his opinion the Vega's leave all Iwata's behind in their quality & use. (I'll probably get flamed for that from the Iwata fans here, but I wonder how many have tried a variety of other brands of airbrush before settling on the Iwata of choice?)
The two secrets are 1. Practise & 2. Cleanliness. Probably in reverse order.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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All I need is a gun that I can use and abuse and clean up easily. To me it is just a smaller version of the "touch-up" gun I have, which is also a smaller version of the "real" spray gun I use for coating out panels or spraying vehicles.
If I were in need of an airbrush to maximise my artistic abilities I would be looking around at all of the options. But for my humble needs what I have works just fine.
(edited to say...Ian, if I had the talent with an airbrush that you do, evidenced by the portrait you displayed a while back, I would definitly be checking out higher quality airbrushes)
[ November 03, 2005, 07:45 PM: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
for beginners paasche vl's or badger vega2000 are good starter brushes...parts are cheaper to replace and you can get the same thin hair line with a paasche or vega as a iwata...i personally don't recommend starting with a iwata.there twice as expensive plus parts are expensive..
posted
Dave, if you only knew how much of a beginner I really was......you're probably right there beside me in terms of talent! (to me it's just hard work, not talent, but a bit of progress & feedback spurs one on to further heights )
(PS I didn't mean to sound harsh- I've had one of the VLs since the 1980s, but never could get it to do what I really wanted, then I bought another after the first suffered from a few falls, but it was barely any better, just a bit, then I bought the badger after much deliberation (and I nearly went for an Iwata eclipse!), and I hardly touch the Paaches any more except for junky/imprecise stuff like backgrounds in enamel, though I did do that Brahman bull in Sept with the Paache, in enamel.
To me, the difference is- the Paache has plenty of air variation as you press the trigger down, but not a lot of paint variation as you pull it back. The Badger 150 is the opposite- the air is either on or off, but there's a huge range in the paint/needle position, which I like.
That's enough from this newbie...someone who knows what they're talking about can chip in now!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Well there you go Blake....every major airbrush on the market has been recommended.
If you bought one of the no-name double action Chinese brushes off ebay go ahead and save yourself a lot of headache and chunk it. Airbrushes tolerances are a lot tighter that Chinese cheap manufacturing, plus you'll never be able to find replacement tips and needles. Personally the Paasche VL (I use a 3 tip with a #1 needle) is about as bulletproof a brush as you'll find. Easy to maintain, parts are readilly available, and you can get them cheap. The Badger Crescendo is essentially the same gun, just a little harder to find.
-------------------- Pat Whatley Montgomery, AL (334) 262-7446 office (334) 324-8465 cell Posts: 1306 | From: Wetumpka, AL USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Personally I don't see the advantage in buying a "cheap" airbrush to learn on then buying a better one later, unless you just can't afford it. My collection includes 2 Iwata Custom Microns, 2 Eclipses, an RG-80 "jam gun", 2 Paasche VL's, 2 Paasche VSR-90's and 2 Paasche AB's. I'm not including the dozen or so Badgers that I threw away when the metal hose coupling popped out after a few hours. These were, fortunately, freebies given to me by our federal giveament while donating my time to the Air Force "quality of life" program. After tossing a dozen or so of the Badgers I brought my VL's from the shop. Once you get used to a double-action brush there is no going back. Why not start out with the good stuff.
Dave, it wouldn't surprise me that Iwata copied T&C's design (and I'm not saying they did) but that's what the Japanese are famous for. They don't invent anything; they just take something already invented and improve it. If they had totally ripped off the design then T&C could go after them for patent infringement. If it is the same brush then T&C must be one heck of a great tool also.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I like my paasche VL's, then again I started with them, learned with them and have never given anything else a good enough run to compare. I've tried Iwatas briefly and didn't see any major instant improvements over my VLs, most likely because the Iwata works a little differently, along with every other airbrush out there.
I agree with Stephen, it's not about the tool, but the person holding it. Given enough time with a tool you learn to work with it and make the best of it.
As far as Iwata's "practices" - they haven't done anything out of the ordinary. Name a company that *hasn't* given free product to a prominent player in a field to help promote the product.
Ironically, in the radio world it's called "payola" and it's illegal, but in the rest of the world it's considered a "sponsorship", and perfectly legal.
-------------------- "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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