Hi everyone,

I've managed to work out a lot of the kinks I was having with my Paasche H single-action but I'm still not satisfied with the results I'm getting from it. I would like to test out the realm of dual-action brushes but I'm looking for one that won't break the bank too much. Most of my research is pointing toward the Iwata Neo CN but I'm not sure if I should go for a budget one or aim for slightly more expensive models like the Iwata Revolution series or similar. Bear in mind I've had all sorts of 'fun' with the cup on my siphon-fed Paasche due to my left-handedness, so I'm looking for a gravity-fed brush as well. Thanks in advance!

I don't know if there is a "best" one, people like various brands. I have an Iwata Eclipse gravity fed brush which I like very much and highly recommend it. I payed $130 US for mine. But before I bought it, I looked at different brushes from Grex, Badger, and the Paasche Talon before buying the Iwata. You can buy a cheap siphon-fed double action brush from Harbor Freight Tools for around $20. I have one and it helped me get the hang of a double action and using it, I now prefer a gravity fed brush. You may want to take a look at the Paasche Talon and see if that is something you may consider.

I have an Iwata Eclipse siphon feed and I bought the Neo gravity feed to see if I liked that style better. I have noticed little difference in the performance of both brushes, although the Neo is better for getting into tight places. If you have a Hobby Lobby nearby, sign up for their online sale circular. Alot of times there is a 40% off coupon in there, and it puts the price of the Neo at just a little more than the Harbor Freight brushes. They usually carry both styles of the Eclipse and Neo, and I think they carry a Grex brush as well.

I tried several airbrushes of the years but decided to try the Iwata Neo a couple of years ago. i was sceptical like you but all i can say is that it well worth its cost. It does everything i need from large coverage to fine lines for pannel lining and has never skipped a beat i liked it so much that the following year I bought a Iwata smart jet compressor and a second Neo as a deal. They only have a 5 year guarantee as opposed to the 10 year that Iwata normally give, but i'm okay with that.

The only tip i would advise if you get one is be careful with the o rings and nozzle tip as if these perish or break (i managed to over tighten one of my tips) they are costly to replace (about £5 for each o ring and £35 for the tip) but as the airbrush retails for around £45-50 in the UK its almost just as cheap to by another

If you can't decide try getting to a show here in the UK at some show retailers have various models of airbrushes set up for you to play with so you can make an informed decision of what you'll be buying.

Kevin,
I've been using a Paasche H series airbrush with the 3 different needle/cone/tips for years, and have no issues with it. I can lay down a thin line or fill major areas just like one does with a double action brush.

What issues are you having with it? I've found over the years is that most issues are a caused by poor/bad paint, mixing ratios, and or the psi you're shooting at.

Joel

Thanks for the responses, folks! The main issue here is do I want to purchase an Iwata Neo for ~$50, or seek out a slightly better quality one for $100+.

Joel,

I'm the one who posted the "Airbrush Woes" thread a few months back. Your suggestions were extremely helpful and I followed all of them to a T, but I'm still having issues with my Paasche. The paint is still either too runny or spits and splatters, and I can't seem to find the middle ground between the two. I want to purchase the second airbrush to figure out if it's me that's doing things wrong, or the brush. On top of that, for whatever reason I'm really itching to try my hand at a dual-action brush.

Everyone has airbrush woes! Usually for me it is because there is a clog in the nozzle. So I break down my airbrush after every painting session and clean it thoroughly. Form time to time Finescale Modeler magazine runs articles on airbrush woes. They cover everything from clogs to damaged parts that need to be replaced. You may find this helpful.

I've been there too.

I have an Iwata HP-CS Eclipse I got from HoLo with the 40% of coupon. Ran about $70 bucks after discount. I absolutely love it and have been using it for close to seven years now with only routine maintenance. I shoot just about everything through it and it works great.

IMHO i think a gravity fed brush solves a lot of issues with airbrushing and makes it more user friendly.

My advice would be to spend at the top of your budget and maybe a little over it to get a quality tool you will be happy with for years to come. If you maintain it and keep it CLEAN it'll last a long, long time. Plus, think of it like this... You get a adequate brush and later on as you get further into modelling you want to use new techniques or products and find yourself going through this process again except this time you already have a tool that does the job but not the way you wish it did and the cost becomes much harder to justify.

Maybe a better way to say it would be like buying an elephant gun. You would know that you could reliably kill anything up to and including an elephant. But if you bought a deer rifle the best you could do would be dropping deer. What happens when you get a chance to go hunt a moose or a hippo?

Just my .02$ Hellbent

Kevin,
I see.

Spits and spatters can be caused by several issues. Some times thinning with water to much and moving in close with a low psi will cause that. Also paint that is too thick will not flow smoothly even at a very high psi setting. Those issues will happen with every airbrush and type. Also a needle and cone not completely clean will cause all sorts of major issues.

Nothing wrong with wanting to go with a Duel action airbrush. But the basics are still exactly the same. Feel free to pm me with issues, and I'll be more then happy to try and help you through them.

Joel