There are 2 airbruses I'm looking at and have to choose which one I want to purchase. One is gravity feed (from the top) and the other bottom feed. (Iwata brand) What are the pros & cons of each?
While we are on the subject, I would ask what is the difference? I think I would understand the gravity feed from a cup. My Paasche H pulls paint directly from the bottle below the brush by using a special top for the paint bottle. I think that it is some type of suction feed. Obviously, I have no recommendation for one system or the other.
Bernard, I've been investigating the same thing. I found this ....... A gravity feed, internal mix airbrush is utilized in acrylic painting for fine line work (and it is acrylics that most artists use when working on canvas). With a gravity feed airbrush, the paint is loaded into a top-mounted color cup which enables the spraying of extremely fine lines at a fairly low air pressure— 15 to 20 pounds. The lower the air pressure, the slower the artist can move his hand; and the slower the artist moves his hand, the more control he has over the spray. Also, beacuse of the design, this airbrush cleans quickly for fast color changes. When working larger and needing more volume of paint, e.g. background work or murals, the artist may choose to work with a siphonor bottom-feed airbrush, such as the IWATA Models HP-BC or Eclipse. This airbrush is adaptable to various size jars that plug into the bottom of the airbrush and enable the artist to work with a large volume of paint for extended lengths of time with the convenience of only periodic refills. Since the jars plug easily into the bottom of the airbrush, quick color changes can be made. When using a bottomfeed airbrush, the artist can lay out his or her palette in a variety of jars. The colors are ready to be sprayed, and one jar is filled with the appropriate cleaner. (When airbrushing acrylics, use Medea Airbrush Cleaner.) In this way, the artist can spray one color, plug in the cleaner to flush the airbrush and then go to the next color quicly and with ease.
espeeman: That certainly clears things up. It was new information to me. I only spray 2-3 different colors at a time using the botom feed method described above. As an external mix, it is easy to clean between colors. Thanks for the research!
espeeman, Thank you that really helps me with my decision. I was interested in the weight of the bush and controlling the paint flow. Your reseach was valuable.
Badger 360 is both a gravity and bottom feed brush. I looked at it when I got my 155 and wish I would have spent the extra for the flexibility... be sure to check it out http://www.badger-airbrush.com/airbrush.htm
I have a top feed air brush and a 'normal' spray gun that plugs into my 6hp compressor.... Big areas are noooooo problem with the big boy, and the fine stuff is all airbrush (which I absolutely suck at!). I'm kinda like a cheap mechanic when it comes to painting.... if a hammer and screwdriver cant fix it, replace it.
espeeman, Thanks for the explanation. I have both kinds, mostly because I've never mastered the twin-action of the gravity feed! I think a good quality, single-action, external mix (gravity or suction) is just fine for most modeling purposes. It's a bit easier to use for most people who do not do a lot of airbrushing. It takes quite a bit of dexterity and practice to master the twin-action ones. I've worked with artists all my life, and I'm amazed at the skills they develop, and the effects they can create. I'm just not in their category. I also have a spray gun and big compressor for big jobs, and still use spray cans when I'm lazy.
Yes, 155 Anthem. Love it. Absoulty love it. It was designed for acrylics and that's what I use it for. The 360 and the 155 share the same internals (needle, tip etc) and are basiclly the same brushes. (just that the 360 let's you gravity feed)
yankinoz, doesn't that bottom fitting side cup serve the same purpose? I have the anthem and only use the bottom jars to spray thinner or cleaner through it. Thanks, Loco1999
It's not gravity feed from the side cup - the paint is still sucked up the tube and into the air stream by air pressure. Gravity feed is a small cup that is built into the TOP of the airbrush. It won't hold much paint, but it's not meant to. The paint is fed into the air stream by gravity. You can use very low air pressure, very little paint and get very fine lines but; this is not easy to do, and these are designed for art illustration and highly detailed work. This is a gravity feed brush (Badger 200) This is the 360 I have been talking about The cup actually rotates so you can also stick a cup or bottle on the bottom. Best of both worlds. You might also want to look a the archives at my ModelAirbrush email group.
yankinoz , I just picked up a 155-7 for $40. Seemed like a good price. I'll give it a wirl this weekend.
espeeman, Now that you've tried your 155-7 badger airbush, how do you like it? I recommend picking up an extra needle and tip. They are very sensitive and the worst thing that can happen is being in the middle of painting and have the needle break. It happened to me when I was cleaning the needle and it slipped out of my hands. I couldn't finish what I was painting.
Shamefully, I haven't tried it yet. Last weekend was my wedding anniversary and I haven't had 5 minutes since to hook it up. This weekend I'll have time. I'll let you know what i think!
Bernard, I finally put the 155 to use this weekend. I've painted an HO GP-35 and an N-Scale Kato F7B unit both in SP Dark Lark Gray. WOW!!!! this brush is fabulous (as I suppose most internal mix brushes are)!!! Amazing control and it wasn't as hard to get use to as I thought! For $40 bucks this has to be one of the best deals I've got in a while.
