Gravity or siphon feed airbrush best?

[Richard Baker]

I am going to get an airbrush to help celebrate my sixtieth birthday soon. I will be using it mostly for custom color spraying, don't have deep pockets so something simple and reliable with double action..

I see advantages to either gravity or siphon feeds, what are your opinions?

[Rogviler]

I never ever got a siphon feed airbrush to work ever. They seem pretty finicky to set up, although I'm sure they make fancy ones that work great. I wouldn't even consider it as an option and can't think of a good reason to pick one. I'm sure someone somewhere has one, which you'll hear shortly...

-Rog

[irishtrek]

I have a TESTORS aztek single action airbrush which I bought 7 years ago and it came with siphon and gravity paint cups. This particular airbrush also comes with dual action.

[seam-filler]

I've had a Badger IL-150 (double action) for years. It's bottom fed, so you can use either a cup or syphon. Although the syphon works OK it seems that getting the paint thinning absolutely right is much more critical.

However, the main reason I don't bother with the syphon is that it adds weight to the brush and my hand cramps up long before I've emptied the jar!

[gsb5w]

I've been using an Iwata siphon fed airbrush for years now with no problems even at low pressure.

I've always wanted to pick up a gravity fed one for the ease of switching out colors and perhaps tighter lines when I'm painting gaming minis.

[Richard Baker]

Thanks for the advice!
I had to get it ordered last night so the winner is:
Paasche VL-3W
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BR0OXU/_e ... MKNS&psc=0

I went for a name brand for parts/service and this unit supports both gravity and siphon feeds. The Testors looked good, but the plastic nozzles and cost held me back. I have a great compressor at the house for running air tools which can be also used for airbrushing (one reason I bought it) so in a couple of weeks I will be exploring this new capability

[Tracy White]

Gravity feed all the way for me. Hope the Paasche serves you well!

[Blappy]

I'm a gravity feed convert. You can mix a tiny amount of paint to spray very small areas without wasting a lot of paint. It's great for Alclad for the same reason.