some advice needed

[rewston]

hi folks
my first post here
Ive had an aztec airbrush for about a year but sadly i think its just bitten the dust as the plastic gravity feeder cup snapped off leaving part of it inside it last week and although i did manage to get it out eventually its now spluttering, leaking and the paint spray is hideously grainy even on the fine nozzel. so...im wondering if anyone can recommend me an airbrush to buy? Ive been having issues with the aztec being grainy for a while actually and after looking at some reveiws ive seen that its not the best of airbrushes.
Ive not used it exclusively for a painting as i cant seem to get fine enough lines with it even with the fine nozzel, but i use it for both backgrounds with a wider spray to putting depth of shading in on my brush work.
Im just a bit lost looking at all the airbrushes out there, though badgers and iwatas seem to have the best feedback?
Ive worked with it so much over the past year that now i dont know how im going to do without it! i work in acrylic but i also use it for ink on scratchboard.
heres a couple of examples of what ive done with it in backgrounds, although like i said i do use it in combination with brush work





Im hoping someone can give me advice on what to replace it with before i spend my money on something ill regret buying

thanks

Katy

[Stacey3352]

I bought my 1st airbrush about a month ago. It is a Badger Crescendo 175-7 along with a Sparmax ac100 compressor which are working out fine for me and reviews I read after I bought them seem good but from what I have found out, proper pressure, mix, use(skill) and making sure the few working parts on the airbrush are functioning properly will play a bigger part on quality of spray. if your airbrush is sputtering have you checked out your needle. Do you have the right one in for what you are using? How about the paint, is it too thick? Have you ever been able to get the thin lines that you are looking for with your airbrush.
Anyway from what I found out, it is quite hard to destroy an airbrush. Try replacing or adjusting the few moving or breakable parts on the machine and see how it runs. I would suggest taking it in to someone who is good at airbrushing and let them have a run at it with funtioning parts and see what happens.
By the way, your paintings are well done.

[rewston]

nothing has changed since the incident of the plastic getting broken off in it and i think i may have damaged something inside it when i was trying to get it out. The needle is fine, ive checked it, and it was working fine before the piece was broken its almost like its flooding too much paint into it now and i cant seem to alter it, as well as it leaking out of the side of where the paint goes in. I think i need a new one anyway, this was second hand when i got it to start with!

[rewston]

i just got a tiny piece of plastic out of it that must have been affecting things, its working better now and nowhere near as spluttery but its still not producing as fine a line as id like to, and its still leaking a bit where the side feeder goes in, i guess its useable just for doing cover for backgrounds but i still need something that goes a bit finer in detail, preferably something that doesnt have a plastic body!
i had a look at the badgers and they look far more sturdy then this one and seem far more serviceable. i may just treat myself and have a go at some full airbrush work rather then just using it to compliment my brush work

[jumpforjoy61]

Badger are OK i suppose ,Iwata are much better Rich from Japan are just as good as Iwata but lots cheaper ,they also share many common componants

Harder and Steenbeck of germany make some very fine airbrushes ,extemly good quality and not too pricey either

presently i am very impressed with the Paasche Talon ,not at all pricey and a very capable airbrush with many nozzle options ,bang for buck it would be hard to beat ,spares are also very cheap for them

if you do want an Iwata talk to Mick Niel from the custompaintstudio ,tell him Paul AKA Artspray recomended him to you, he can cut you a very good deal ,he should be able to beat any price on the internet and as an authourised UK agent can also give the full ten year warrenty ,also he is very skilled and experianced award winning airbrush artist who can give you solid advise on which model will serve you best


Paul

his number is 01922497303

[Rapunzelgold]

Reply to Rewston. oh my what beautiful work you do. This is my 1st look around for advice and to come across your work was such a treat. I am looking for the 1st step to start airbrushing and seeing your work was a real treat.

[Steve Orin]

Looking at your work, I'd suggest sumthin like Iwata's HP-C or a knock-off. The Sparmaxes are very good & much cheaper. These guns offer a topfeed, good for quick color changes. I tried the plastic AB when they first came out & didn't like them.

[dragonsfire]

IMO, the Iwata microns are simply the best airbrushes out there right now. Yes, they are expensive, but, I think, worth the price. If you want fine detail, the CM-SB or CM-B are your best bets. The Olympos MP microns are even better, but hard to find, hard to get parts for, and expensive. I think they're going for $650 or so for a new one from Japan right now.

For non-micron airbrushes, my favorite is the Olympos HP100-B, which is pretty reasonably priced, and simply out-performs any of the copies of its design. The Iwata HP-B is close, but I still prefer the Olympos.
Iwata is always a safe bet, though, and parts are widely available and cheaper than Olympos parts. I have yet to use any "as good as Iwata" airbrushes that where, in fact, as good as Iwata. Every one I've used makes a compromise somewhere in order to undercut the price. I'd say Richpens are good airbrushes, but I wouldn't buy one instead of an Iwata or Olympos. Grex are pretty solid units, and a good value for the price, as well.
H&S are nice units as well. The only real gripes I have with them in that their nozzles are made of a cheaper material, and don't last very long. Their needles are very prone to bending (especially the .15 needles), and their nickle finish is easily destroyed by any amonia-containing cleaners (my once-shiney Infinity is now a dull grey. Although, to be fair, I did leave it in my ultrasonic cleaner soaking in a Fantastik solution overnight).

Despite being a "buy American" consumer, I don't like any of the Badger or Paasche brushes that I've tried, and have read a lot of complaints on both. The people who are satisfied seem either to have never used a higher end brush, and don't realize what they're missing, or have had to extensively modify and tune the brushes to get them to work even decently. Even Mike Learns Talon-based "Mojo III" seem to be having quite a few problems.

One of my favorite "hidden jems" is the Holbien "dash" series. Very reasonably priced, but very high quality, great spray characteristics, innovate but proven design. It's a bit off the beaten path, but good brushes none the less.

[rewston]

thanks for the advice! ill take a look at those ones youve mentioned and see what i can find

[AndreZA]

Wow! If that is the work you are producing with an Aztek then I would recommend you get another one. Stick with what you know or maybe get the one with the metal body.

[Freudenberg]

Respect ... impressive work

[Loxley]

I love your work, your paintings are superb, really really good! If you buy a great airbrush, just think, you are already very good, the skies the limit!