Badger airbrushes for cheap money.

[muktown128]

Nice summary of the various Badger air brushes.  I'm looking for an air brush and your comments are very informative. 

Based on your experience, what would you recommend if I'm looking to do primarily weathering?

Thanks,
Scott

[Ntrainz1]

To keep spray can tips clean, I spray compressed air from a can of duster through the tip after use.

Bob.

[peteski]

To keep spray can tips clean, I spray compressed air from a can of duster through the tip after use.

Bob.

Sometimes the paint valve itself, not just the nozzle, can get clogged.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Nice summary of the various Badger air brushes.  I'm looking for an air brush and your comments are very informative. 

Based on your experience, what would you recommend if I'm looking to do primarily weathering?

Thanks,
Scott

Will this be your first/only airbrush? Would recommend the 360 as a general use airbrush without hesitation. You should always have a general airbrush before moving to specific project brushes. The 360 will do good work for weathering.

If this will be an additional brush just for weathering, go with the Badger Sotar 2020. From what I remember trying it out, it is built better than the Omni Matrix that I have. The 2020 has three different tips and needles. I think the large needle will spray the same as a fine needle in the 360. Go with the -2 model which has a cup suitable for model work (it can hold 1/12 oz). The -1 cup is so small that it does not protrude from the airbrush body (it can only hold 2-3 drops of paint at a time).

So 2020-2 with large needle and tip and LOTS of Tamiya paint thinner for your acrylics.
To get the best deal on Amazon, buy the 2020-2F (fine) brush and purchase the large needle and nozzle separately. The 2020-2L costs $350 while a 2020-2F + large needle and nozzle is about $100.

[muktown128]

Will this be your first/only airbrush? Would recommend the 360 as a general use airbrush without hesitation. You should always have a general airbrush before moving to specific project brushes. The 360 will do good work for weathering.

Yes, it will be my first airbrush.  Although I work for a paint company and formulate paint and spray some paint (not as much as I used to), I've never used an airbrush. 

Thanks for the follow up comments and additional information.  It is greatly appreciated.

Scott

[Scottl]

I bought a Badger Patriot a few years ago.  Two things that make it my go-to brush is the paint cup on the top for small jobs like rolling stock and weathering, and the internal mix, which gives a better finish.  The paint cup means I waste less paint, and clean up is a snap.  I have a few older Badger brushes for scenery work, including a cheapo external mix that was something like $15 and is great for painting track and clouds on the backdrop. 

I paired mine with a 2 gallon compressor and have had trouble-free use since.  The compressor comes in handy for other uses, including some finishing nailers and bleeding water lines for freeze up and similar tasks. 

[mcjaco]

Most spray-can lovers I know have a deep aversion to cleaning the airbrush after spraying (not to the cost of the equipment).  I don't get it - I have no problems keeping my airbrush clean (and it is easy to do).

I picked up couple of bargains at Michael's few years back. My favorite airbrush for spraying color on models (not weathering) is model 200.

I hate cleaning my internal Thayer & Chandler (or is it Chandler & Thayer....).  I'm notorious for running cleaning solution through it, then disassembling, and letting it soak for a few days, just to avoid it.  Still not tough.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I really should make this into a tips and tricks thread.

One thing I swear by now is the use of pipettes and coffee stirrers. Stirrer to mix the paint in the bottle and the pipette to transfer it to the airbrush cup. Both are cheap and will help greatly reduce clogging paint from the "shake and pour" method.

[peteski]

The thought never crossed my mind that it wasn't a common knowledge about using pipettes for all sorts of modeling tasks (transferring and measuring paints being the main use). 

I have all sorts of pipettes: small, large, glass and plastic.  They are all very handy.

[Scottl]

I bought empty dropper bottles from a local art store.   When I mix up a batch of something, they are great for applying a small amount to the cup.   No waste of pipettes.

The stir sticks are a good idea, I should pick some up at Starbucks the next time I visit (in about 30 minutes or so, LOL).

[mmagliaro]

Oh!  Yeah!   I use those rubbery 1-piece pipettes.  Like these:
http://www.bmelabandscience.com/store/?main_page=product_info&products_id=446
(500 for 17 bucks)

I don't even bother trying to clean them.  It's not worth it.   It makes transferring paint from bottles
to the feed cup or jar so much easier and precise.  Yes.  Before I used these, it was a pain to use a straw or something,
with your finger over the end, to suck up measured quantities of paint and thinner.

[wazzou]

You can purchase packs of 100 pipettes on Amazon for as little as <$3.00.

[Kisatchie]

You can purchase packs of 100 pipettes on Amazon for as little as <$3.00.

Thanks for the heads up! I just ordered some. I'm hoping to get back into airbrushing before the year ends, preferably by summer.


Hmm... good, my tree
house needs painting...

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Added photos:
Badger 250


Badger 350


Badger 200


Badger 155

Syphon cup in the background.

Badger 360


Badger (Thayer and Chandler) Omni Matrix


Omni Matrix and 360 in syphon mode.


Note that I have added quick disconnect air lines to all brushes but the 250 and 350. I have noticed that the angle of the 350's syphon jar interferes with the quick disconnect.

[Philip H]

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