Best airbrush for fish????????

[Kerby Ross]

That pic is from the Gibson's in Junction City, Kansas.  Not there anymore...I believe it is a call center now.

Kerby...

[Terry]

Kerby,

I didn't think that was the one from Salina, but seeing the storefront brought back the memories of the Salina store. I actually bought my first bow (a Ben Pearson recurve) at the Salina Gibson's when I was 13. I mowed a lot of lawns to get that bow. 

The last time I bothered to look (years ago) the building in Salina was an Ace hardware store. The way things turn over, it's probably gone as well. Where's PossumHawk?... He could tell us.

Oops. This is off the airbrush topic, so I'll stop there. 

[Old Fart]

Ever notice, how the guys who think the Iwata is not the best airbrush out there, are the ones who've never tried one!

[KBauman]

I own a Badger 150 (never use it).  I own a Vega 2000 (use it for larger applications, like stripers).  I own 2 Iwata HP-BCs (use them for most everything that come through the shop and some fine detailing).  I own one HP-B plus  (Best fine detail brush in the bunch)  I cannot get the super fine detail out of the Vega like I can any of the Iwatas.  Someday when I grow up, I am buying a Iwata Custom Micron.

[Aaron Stehling]

Wow Kerby... thanks for the blast from the past, remembering shopping at Gibson's (the Salina store) in the 70's and early 80's. As a very young lad, Gibson's was cool: the toys, outdoor gear and pet department was all in very close proximity- very handy.

Marc... you make another very good point, with regards to the use of any of the tools we use (such as airbrushes). How a person plans to work could also factor into the selection of tools. You mass paint fish at times, whereas mine is one at a time. Heck, even if I had the clientele base to mass paint, I certainly don't have the room right now. Maybe if I pushed my Paasche H harder (multiple fish) I would see a difference. For my one fish at a time approach, it is more than ample (and I like the simplicity of it, knowing I cannot screw it up).

There are reasons everyone chooses what they do, and why that particular choice works for them.

I'm curious... Aaron: Have you been reading this? Your family's operation- you go through a lot of fish a year, so I am guessing maybe you use the same approach as Marc at times. What do you guys use? It's possible you've posted this before and I'm just not remembering....

We us the Paasche H. No awards here either( never entered a competition), but after 30 years of full time fish taxidermy and over 20,000 fish completed  , We have found the H to be the best bet for multiple fish painting( we normally paint ten at a time).
We do things a bit different( like using 90 psi and not thinning our paints).

I have tried many of the other airbrushes, and found them to all work fine, but the H is our favorite.
As many of you know, most spots on live fish are not "perfect"...they have a slight haze around each spot. The H seems to capture this look well.

[Terry]

Aaron... Thanks for chiming in! Cool- another H user. 

Old Fart... You make a good point, in a roundabout sort of way, about being willing to try other tools/techniques. As stated, I did try an Iwata, and have found I prefer my Paasche H. The only way for each individual to find what works best for them IS to be open-minded and willing to try other ways.

[Heck]

Good info so far fellas...another question...I run a badger, I want finer detail. I have been looking at the custom micron....can the heads & needles be changed? Is there a noticeable difference between the two tip sizes that are available? Will the larger tip iwata still do "finer" work than the badger with a fine tip? I am not afraid to spend the money on quality, but if I need 2 guns to do what my badger does now? And what does the dial on the bottom front of the plus model control? paint or air or what?

[Kerby Ross]

**open-minded and willing to try other ways.**

The first time I tried the Iwata, it took me a few hours of frustration until I figured it out............my wife left the house and came back AFTER I figured it out LOL

Although I love my Iwata over my Passche..........I'm still willing to see/try something better.

Kerby...

[Old Fart]

Good question, Heck. Do you have any idea what the opening size(in mm) that the tip on you Badger is?

The idea that you need to change tip size on an Iwata, like you can on a Paasche, probably shouldn't be a consideration.  By the time you buy all the parts you would probably be close to the price of the second airbrush. I would love to try a CM to see if the difference in tip size(.18 as opposed to .20) and the price difference would make THAT much difference over my HP-B. Keep in mind that I thought I was doing a pretty good job with the Paasche VL #1(.55mm) when I was introduced to the Iwata HP-B(.20 mm) back in the early 1980's.

That brings us back to the original question about your Badger tip size. If you don't know that then I would say it would be hard to answer. If Paasche made a .20 tip I suspect that you could get the same detail in your painting that you can with an Iwata, but they don't! That tip size is critical to the fine painting that can be done.

Kirby, when I first switched over from the Paasche H to the VL I experienced that same(throw the airbrush across the room!) frustration.  I had no problem going from the VL to the Iwata.

[bradc]

That brings us back to the original question about your Badger tip size. If you don't know that then I would say it would be hard to answer. If Paasche made a .20 tip I suspect that you could get the same detail in your painting that you can with an Iwata, but they don't! That tip size is critical to the fine painting that can be done.

the new badger renegade series has a .21 mm tip, i will be tryin one soon so i will let yous know how i like it

[kosmonot]

Kerby,  you make my point.  So many artist think the Iwata guns will make them a better artist.  Only practice makes one a better artist.  Obviously guys like the World Champion have put in a lot of time - but at the end of the day even the most talented artist needs capable tools.  If the World Champion chooses Badger, it is unlikely it is inferior and can't do anything the Iwata can't do.  and at virtually 30% less $$$.  Say what you want about how much of it is airbrush and how much is artist.  They work in concert with each other and both are part of the process.  Even Mr. Schreibeis needs a worthy tool, other wise he cannot create at the level of excellence he does.  You almost imply he can do what he does with a straw and a deep breath.  He may be able to envision his creation as well, but certainly the end result is different with an incapable tool.  I'm just saying there is good evidence in the work of Clark Schreibeis and others that anything Badger is as up to the task as an Iwata, a Paasche, a Richpen - whatever, and regardless of where it is made. 

Kosmonot out.

[Jim Tucker]

I use a Paashe H.  I have tried everything but still go back to the H.

It is big and feels good in my big hands.

It's not the TOOL it is the APPLICATION of the tool.