Airbrush selection

[DAS-Arts]

I am looking into getting a new airbrush and have narrowed it down to either
a Paasche V1, or a Badger 150-1. Does anybody have any experience with
either of these airbrushes?

[Caterwallin']

David, Hi and welcome!

I have a Paasche VL. Although I do not use it anymore, it is a great airbrush! I have also used the Badger 150 and I think it's a great airbrush! They are both comparable, in most aspects, so choosing one over the other may be difficult. The difference between the two, for me, was how they felt in my hand and which one was easier for me to operate! Using that as my criteria, I would choose the Paasche VL. I suggest that you hold both of them to see which one FITS you better!

I looked at your website to see what type of work you do, Looks Great!

Sam

[Penny220]

Here goes the stats for the two you are looking at, I have been thinking about posting them all in a side by side but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Badger 150
fine .25
medium .50
large .85
atomization rating 6

Paasche VL
#1 .5
#3 .75
#5 1.0
atomization rating 4

the higher the atomization # the better. Iwata's brushes carry ratings of 7 or 8 by comparison.

Your first and second considerations should be, what do you plan on doing with it and how does it feel in your hand. Third would cost and availabilty (this means parts too)

It's a personal choice and nobody has the right to say, "this brush is this and that brush is that". No matter what you buy there will be another airbrush that will do somethings better than yours, and yours will do somethings better than someone elses, this is why it's important to decide now how you plan on using it both for today and in the future.

[Maryl Lehman]

Hi David! I use a Paasche VL #1 all the time, and love it! I have used them for over 25 years (of course not the same airbrush! :p ). I also use the Paasche V---for my real detail work. I love it too, but it is harder to clean. With the VL, I can run a bristle pipe cleaner through it (after taking the needle out!) and it will clean it really well, but you can't fit a pipe cleaner through the V, unfortunately! :(

Make it a great day!

~Maryl

[Caterwallin']

Great advice Penster and Maryl!

How do you suppose they determine the atomization rating? What are the determining factors of atomization? Is it a measurement of micro droplet size? Is it the correlation between the nozzle size and psi that determines the "fineness" of atomization or is the nozzle size just restricting the amount of paint flow that's mixed with the "same" airflow? With that in mind, is the airflow through any airbrush constant? (and don't say OF COURSE silly, you alter the airflow by changing the psi! LOL, I know that!) Unless you have one of the new HI LINE Iwata series, then the airflow through any airbrush, regardless of pressure, is constant (unrestricted). But , the greater the airflow the finer the atomization, right? So is atomization determined by the manufacturing specs of how air is channeled through the body and to the mixing area of any given airbrush design? Or, is atomization determined by the inner diameter and taper of the nozzle and corresponding needle? This would either increase or decrease the amount of paint being mixed with the airflow! So the less the paint flow the greater the atomization, RIGHT? I don't know this! Is an atomization rating determined by generic criteria formulated on the nozzle size? So size really does matter? Or does it? I'm so confused! I need serious help here!

Will somebody just answer me! I'm ramblin' here!

I really don't know! But I would like to!

Please help the obscure!

Sam

[Penny220]

I"m going to hurt you for this Sam, I'm starting a new thread for atomization.

[Caterwallin']

I"m going to hurt you for this Sam

You promise? Will you tie me up first?

David..........did we scare you off!?????/

LOL!!

[Penny220]

I am an artist Sam, I can be more creative than that LOL.

Who says I don't have any class, it might be low class but I have LOTS of it :clap:

[DAS-Arts]

David..........did we scare you off!?????/

LOL!!

No, I'm still here :D. Thank you all for the information and suggestions.

[Caterwallin']

Great David, don't listen to me aggravating Penny! LOL!

I was just talking to her on the phone and she asked me about how I judge the feel of the airbrushes.

So I have tried to explain what I mean.
In the photo, I show the difference between the two as far as the measured length from the trigger/air-intake portion of the airbrushes body and the actual tip of the airbrushes. I also show the difference between the air-intake and the the connection of the paint bottles. Both of these are very important to me and my personal preference, in this comparison, is the Paasche VL. It is bulky but it sits better and I have greater ease in operating it! But remember, that's my take on it! You just have to feel it for yourself! That's what I told the girl in the check out line of the Supermarket yesterday, but she slapped me anyway!

Sam

[Colorfast]

Hi, David. Welcome to the WC.
Get a load of these two Buds. It's a good thing they don't live across the alley from one another. They would be out every evenin' having Squirt Fights across the fence. Sam-Penny-Sam-Penny Ya know they both agree.
It's like a pilot discussin' the brand of tires. All he cares about is if the plane will do a Loop-T-Loop and at what speed. It could be an F-16 or a Piper Cub. Of course, when he rolls into an airport, he would love for it to be the very best---in front of the windows.
They both know I use a Paasche VL and a Paasche AB. I guess I am partial to the Paasche AB. Maybe it's because I get to SEE the color in the little cup, JUST before it goes on the surface, Duh! As I always say, "Life's short, so have fun with it."
Later, Dave
PS: Hi Penny, Sam, Meryln, (speel) and the rest of the Gang :) :) :)

[DAS-Arts]

Well, I finally decided to spend a little more and get a Badger 360. It is really an amazing
airbrush. It can be used as either a top feed with a color cup or as a bottom feed with a jar.
With it, I have been able to get anywhere from a line that is about 1/16 inch wide all the way
up to about a 3 inch spray.

By the way Colorfast, how does the AB work? I have seen them before, and I know a lot
of people who recommend them, but have never been able to try one. Just from pictures
they look very different from other airbrushes.

[Colorfast]

David:
Colorfast Here. It's great you made a purchase of a new airbrush. Now ya got me beat. You can airbrush from every angle... Why you can airbrush all the way around with the Badger 360... I hope ya got that!
Anyway, so ya want to know about the Paasche AB. Well, all I can say is I have purchased 3 of them in my days. I just replace them when the bearing seats wear out. But that is a few years of airbrushin', don't ya know. I bought my first one in '66 and have been goin' ever since. Oh, I still use the VL from time to time, but that is mostly for backgrounds and bigger areas.
About how it works, well David here is my best shot. Ya see, the AB has a turbine in that little round canister in the front. Half of the air from the hose is send into the turbine which in turn sends the turbine spinning. Attached to the turbine is a small pushrod that moves the airbrush needle in the front back and forth. In the back of the airbrush, between your thumb and index finger is another air line. Some of the air is diverted down that line to the Color Cup. In the back of the airbrush, between your thumb and index finger, is another air line. Some of the air is diverted down that line to the Color Cup which has the color in it. When the needle is sent in front of the air from that line, it blows off the color from the needle. It is sort of like a sewing machine needle moving back and forth at a high rate of speed.
Now David, here is the best part. The AB can shoot paint so small that it looks like you were writing your name with an old felt tip pen. But of course, it will spray a path of about 3/8 inch wide as well. I hope this has helped you understand the Paasche AB.
Enjoy!
Later, Dave

:) :) :)

[Colorfast]

David:
Colorfast Here.
I thought I would send ya a pic done with the Paasche AB. This is just a closeup of the lights only. The pic is of the whole car, so ya know that this is approx. about 5 X 7 inches. It was created with acrylics on #100 Bainbridge Board. Enjoy!
Later, Dave :) :) :) :)

[Rage of Reason]

I've extensive experience with both guns, since I demonstrated on fairs for both brands. Personally I prefer the Paasche, it allowed me to spray thinner lines with more ease (more constant and predictable) and is capable of doing larger surfaces as well. The Badger however is not a bad tool; I'm only saying the Paasche matches my locomotive aberations more tightly. Take care,

Rage

[Toxic]

I had a B-150 and loved it compared to the VL I have now.
I am getting an Iwata. But I do think you made a better choice with the B-360 over the other two.

[albertoponno]

Ciao David
I think the better airbrush Paasche is vjr because it is gravity feed and if you need to do a little detail freehand moving a little the trigger ,it is ideal.Ciao david
Alberto