Badger Patriot a good choice?

prisoner_1079 · Post by **prisoner_1079** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:44 pm

I've been meaning to get a decent airbrush for a while now. Dual action, gravity feed. I'd like to get something nice, so I won't have to replace it later, hopefully in the $75-$150 range.

I think I've decided on a Badger 105 over the 360 because the gravity feed paint cup is a bit small on the 360, and i'm not sure that I'd need the bottom-feed feature on the 360. Are there any other features I'd be missing by not getting the 360? Will I be ok doing large surfaces for base coats just using gravity feed?

Is the difference between the 105-1 and the 105-2XR just the size of the paint cup? Are there any other differences?

http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Air-Brush- ... 022&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Air-Brush- ... 022&sr=8-6

Any other insight would be helpful. Also if anyone has a recommendation on another affordable brand/model of airbrush please let me know.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:21 am

Iwata Eclipse http://www.iwata-medea.com/index.php/products/hp_cs from http://www.hummingline.com/hobbyshop/airbrushes.html

Love mine and they last forever. Upgraded to a B+ earlier in the year and love it also (still use my Eclipse a lot tho').

photoguy · Post by **photoguy** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:37 am

You can also get the Neo, Iwata's "beginner" brush at Hobby Lobby for around $50 or less with one of their coupons. Very nice brush, full stainless steel and chrome parts, includes various interchangeable paint cups, and works with all of the Iwata accessories, and also lasts forever.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:41 am

Yes, the Neo is a great starter brush and enables one to get into the arena for under $50. I got to play with the Neo @ iHobby this year and came away quite impressed. Sturdy feel, fine lines, interchangeable cup sizes (why can't they do that on the other brushes!).

apsilon · Post by **apsilon** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:00 pm

I have the 360. Absolutely love it. It was my first "real" airbrush and right from the start I was able to produce great finishes with it. That said the cup size did become a limitation but not as much as you may think. When laying down properly thin coats a little paint goes a long way. As I'm not a fan of siphon feed I did buy another Badger. I can't recall the model but I'm almost certain it's the 105 (if I remember I'll check tonight). Basically the exact same brush as the 360 but with out siphon feed and with a larger cup. It's also fantastic but the 360 is still my primary brush.

If you're only going to buy one and you doubt you'll use siphon feed then you won't be disappointed with the 105 (though don't get that small cup version).

Post by **TER-OR** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:55 pm

Go with gravity feed. Badger's customer service is very good. I have an Omni I use all the time, it's a solid brush with inexpensive replacement parts.

Itwatas are better built, but more expensive parts. I don't have enough experience to say whether the parts last longer, offsetting that benefit.

Chas · Post by **Chas** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 5:12 pm

Kylwell :Upgraded to a B+ earlier in the year

Do you mean the Eclipse series HP-BS, or the High Performance Series HP-B Plus? Just wanna be sure cus I'm in the market for an Airbrush too and I completely trust your judgement. What about compressors? anyone got a great one they wanna praise? or a POC they wanna warn folks away from?

apsilon · Post by **apsilon** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 5:27 pm

Chas wrote:What about compressors? anyone got a great one they wanna praise? or a POC they wanna warn folks away from?

I couldn't be happier with my 5ish year old twin cylinder Sparmax with about a 2l tank. Different than the model they have now but it's been fantastic.

BTW I checked and my other brush is a Badger 105.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:55 pm

Chas wrote:
Kylwell :Upgraded to a B+ earlier in the year
Do you mean the Eclipse series HP-BS, or the High Performance Series HP-B Plus? Just wanna be sure cus I'm in the market for an Airbrush too and I completely trust your judgement. What about compressors? anyone got a great one they wanna praise? or a POC they wanna warn folks away from?

High Performance Series HP-B Plus. Amazingly fine atomization.

prisoner_1079 · Post by **prisoner_1079** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 6:32 pm

Thanks for the responses everyone. I still haven't taken the plunge yet, but the additional info helps a lot, cheers!

Lord Darth Beavis · Post by **Lord Darth Beavis** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 4:16 am

I have an Iwata SmartJet, and it's great. The only thing I would do differently, would be to get the version with the tank that Iwata has now. Other than that, NO complaints.

kenbadger · Post by **kenbadger** » Sun Feb 05, 2012 3:46 pm

prisoner_1079 wrote:I've been meaning to get a decent airbrush for a while now. Dual action, gravity feed. I'd like to get something nice, so I won't have to replace it later, hopefully in the $75-$150 range.

I think I've decided on a Badger 105 over the 360 because the gravity feed paint cup is a bit small on the 360, and i'm not sure that I'd need the bottom-feed feature on the 360. Are there any other features I'd be missing by not getting the 360? Will I be ok doing large surfaces for base coats just using gravity feed?

Is the difference between the 105-1 and the 105-2XR just the size of the paint cup? Are there any other differences?

http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Air-Brush- ... 022&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Air-Brush- ... 022&sr=8-6

Any other insight would be helpful. Also if anyone has a recommendation on another affordable brand/model of airbrush please let me know.

It's a great choice! I personally guarantee it!

iSteve · Post by **iSteve** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:44 am

prisoner_1079 wrote:I've been meaning to get a decent airbrush for a while now. Dual action, gravity feed. I'd like to get something nice, so I won't have to replace it later, hopefully in the $75-$150 range.

I think I've decided on a Badger 105 over the 360 because the gravity feed paint cup is a bit small on the 360, and i'm not sure that I'd need the bottom-feed feature on the 360. Are there any other features I'd be missing by not getting the 360? Will I be ok doing large surfaces for base coats just using gravity feed?

I have a Badger Crescendo and just bought a new 360 Universal for $50 on that auction site. Badger makes a gravity/siphon cup that comes with the Crescendo or as a separate add-on. It would solve your volume issue for the 360's gravity feed.

http://www.badgerairbrush.com/Acessories_8.asp

It doesn't say you can use them on the 360 (probably to not give buyers the impression the 360's cup is too small), but anything that will fit a Crescendo 175 should work on a 360.

kenbadger · Post by **kenbadger** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 10:03 am

iSteve, thanks for sharing that information on our Badger Air-Brush Co. products, but I hope you don't mind if I can clarify a few points for thread readers.

Whether you us the bottom feed jar and adptor or the 1/4 oz. color cup - the Crescendo is still a bottom feed airbrush that must be operated at pressures high enough to siphon paint into the airbrush as well as spray it out of the airbrush. A gravity feed airbrush, like the Patriot, only needs to spray material from the airbush - as gravity pulls the paint into the airbrush. Thus the Patriot can be operated at lower pressures, providing better user control and making detail spray patterns easier to achieve and maintain during detail aspects of a project.

Also - I'm sorry but the 1/4 oz. color cup does not fit into the 360 airbrush, and cannot be used with it. You are limited to just using the funnel shaped cup that is permanently affixed in detail oriented gravity feed usage mode, or using a jar and adaptor when using the 360 in bottom feed mode for more general purpose needs.

Thanks again for your insights, I hope this helps clarify a few points for you and other thread readers.

Post by **TER-OR** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:26 pm

I haven't had the opportunity to use a Patriot, but I've examined them at shows. They look great. I have an older Omni which operates much the same way and threatens to run forever.

Get the gravity feed. You'll be happier in the long run. You can shoot small amounts and more dilute paints at lower pressure. You will want a cap for it, though.

iSteve · Post by **iSteve** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:17 pm

kenbadger wrote:iSteve, thanks for sharing that information on our Badger Air-Brush Co. products, but I hope you don't mind if I can clarify a few points for thread readers.

Whether you us the bottom feed jar and adptor or the 1/4 oz. color cup - the Crescendo is still a bottom feed airbrush that must be operated at pressures high enough to siphon paint into the airbrush as well as spray it out of the airbrush. A gravity feed airbrush, like the Patriot, only needs to spray material from the airbush - as gravity pulls the paint into the airbrush. Thus the Patriot can be operated at lower pressures, providing better user control and making detail spray patterns easier to achieve and maintain during detail aspects of a project.

Also - I'm sorry but the 1/4 oz. color cup does not fit into the 360 airbrush, and cannot be used with it. You are limited to just using the funnel shaped cup that is permanently affixed in detail oriented gravity feed usage mode, or using a jar and adaptor when using the 360 in bottom feed mode for more general purpose needs.

Thanks again for your insights, I hope this helps clarify a few points for you and other thread readers.

Excellent information - thank you!

I can't thank you guys enough for the service I have received from you in repairing my Crescendo. Can't wait to start using my 360 Universal!

One question Ken: the Badger website says fine replacement parts now available for the 360. Does that mean you can use a smaller tip for finer work? Where do you find these parts on the website?

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Badger Patriot a good choice?

Badger Patriot a good choice?

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Re: Badger Patriot a good choice?