posted
Where do you buy your airbrushes? I need to get a new gravity feed airbrush so I went to my normal supplier, Bear Air and with all the stuff out of stock on their web site I'm wondering if they are going out of business. Their prices were always the best I've seen but now they don't even sell Iwata anymore.
Now I've never owned an Iwata, I've always been a fan of Thayer & Chandler. I tried an Iwata when they copied the T&C Omni and found it not as smooth or balanced as the Omni. But if Mike Lavallee recommends the Iwata, with all the air brushing he does, maybe the Iwata is a better airbrush now. They're certainly more expensive. I've found prices ranging from $108 to over $200 for the HPCS where as the Omni equivilent is only $62.50.
My Omni air brushes have been real workhorses, never any problem and always smooth and easy to clean but I'm ready to try a switch if any of you Iwata fans can convince me that the Iwata is worth it at almost double the price.
-------------------- 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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My take on Airbrushes... They're all good. But like cars, you're going to have your Chevy vs. Ford guys. Some guys recommend things because they have sponsors and deals from suppliers. I have many different guns and each have their purpose. When I go somewhere and try another gun, and like it, I'll buy one or so. I like my Iwatas but they are daintier than some of the others. What are the guys at the big parks using??? Mostly Paasche Vl's.
That's your inside scoop from AirbrushBobby, Busch Gardens Tampa
[ March 24, 2006, 10:22 PM: Message edited by: Robert Salyers ]
-------------------- 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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posted
I get my stuff at Pearl Arts & Crafts, in the Atlanta area. They have nearly every kind of aitbrush and accessory imaginable in stock, along with gold leaf, One Shot paints, mica powders and just about any artistic needs. One stop shopping...it rocks.
I currently have a pair of Iwata HPCs for the detailed stuff like motorcycles and small piece work, and a half dozen Paasche VLs set up with different tip/needle combinations for the bigger stuff.
Is one better than the other? I like to think of it as the right tool fits the job....both work when I need them to. Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Iwata ceased supplying Bear Air with airbrushes after Bear started stocking a new airbrush branded "Peak" which some thought to be an Iwata knockoff. It uses Iwata parts, but at a fraction of the price.
Bear still carry all other supplies & brands that they used to have, just not Iwata.
-------------------- "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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dixie arts...damn good prices...well at least when i was buying airbrush stuff
-------------------- You ever notice how easily accessible people are when they are requiring your services but once they get invoice you can't reach them anymore
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Dave - I will talk to Bruce and tell him to get ahold of you. He had some extra new ones, and I think he was thinking about selling them. Maybe you guys can work something out!
... um, that is IF he can find them in the giant pile of boxes in my folks' garage! lol!
-------------------- Dana Ferry St Cloud, MN Posts: 1556 | From: St Cloud, MN | Registered: May 1999
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Fast shipping and excellent customer service too,(even if it wasnt their fault)
Prices are about as good as it gets too.
-------------------- 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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