Badger airbrushes for cheap money.

[C855B]

Added photos:
Badger 250

Ah. The "classic" Badger. I have one rattling around in a junk box, I think, acquired 50 years ago. I ruined more rolling stock with it than I would care to admit.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Daniel,
How's the action on that 350? And why do you have so many?

The 350? That's the black single action external mix brush. The trigger push is very short and rubbery, just like the 250. Honestly, I only bought the brush after reading some good reviews in MR. Also it was dirt cheap. So far I have not been impressed.

I bought a few for different jobs.... the 250 is good for bulk scenery spraying for example. I wouldn't hesitate to use it with corrosive chemicals or glue since they are $4 each. Others, like the 155 was a step up from a previous brush. I have quick disconnects on the brushes so I can use more than one for a different job during each session and that cuts down on setup and breakdown time a lot. Use the 155 to paint a group of cars and the Omni Matrix to weather a few engines for example.

[TLOC]

Great timing. I've used a Badger 100 on and off for years. Yesterday I was using it and thought I had secured it after cleaning and it hit the cement floor. I will buy replacement parts but this helps my thought process on a new one.

Tom

[Ngineer]

Are those Badger airbrushes sold by Amazon new or refurbished?

Does anybody know?

Some Amazon comments suggest that they may be refurbished, at least in 2014.

   Javier

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Mine were new.

[Ngineer]

Well, I got mine today and it looks refurbished.

In general, it looks nice but the tip of the needle is bent (just the very tip, not the length of the needle). 

And the inside of the cup looks, well not rusty, but oxidized. 

Guess I'll try to clean it and check if the bent needle tip produces a strange pattern. The rest looks normal. The valve assembly doesn't move at all, so cleaning the cup and shell will be very difficult.

   Javier

[peteski]

Sounds like it wasn't very well refurbished.  To me refurbished means that some previously-used item is restored to a fully functional condition (almost like new).

[Ngineer]

I managed to clean most of the oxidized looking parts of the airbrush with NEVR-DULL and an ensuing ultrasonic bath. It looks much better now.

   Javier

[jmlaboda]

For a beginner (haven't painted with an air brush in nearly 40 years), what would you folks recommend?  I am watching a pair of Badgers, a 100 and a 150, on eBay... would they be good brushes to start with?  Really don't need a lot of extras...

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I really like my 155. It is more forgiving than my Omni Matrix. Parts are easily cleaned and replaced. The model can take a paint cup or syphon bottle. If you don't need a gravity feed but want the control of a dual action brush, this is a great choice.

[wazzou]

Look at the Iwata NEO.