The Natural Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 I studied up on airbrushes via past threads...nozzle diameter, models, etc...but I don't see where anybody mentions whether they are using top or bottom feeds. I thought top feed at first, but how would you switch paints effeciently? Hobby Lobby sells bottom mounted paint reservoirs pretty cheap, and it seems I could have a bunch of different colors ready to go. This seems like it would be critical in painting multi-colored baits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomah21 Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 I use a top feed and only mix enough paint for use of that area...from there they take 5 seconds to shoot some windex through them and wipe them with a paper towel and on to the next color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassn1 Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 IMO, a top feed is better, it uses less paint and less pressure. Like boomah says, it only take seconds to switch colors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 Yeah, like boomah21 says, you have to clean it between colors and cleaning a gravity brush is easier and faster than a syphon brush because it holds less paint internally. The gravity brush will shoot paint at lower pressure because you are not using suction power to get paint into the mix chamber. That helps when you shoot finer lines at low pressure. A syphon model is good when you're shooting lots of paint, like if you need to basecoat 15-20 baits at a time and want to connect a large jar to the airbrush. For me, that doesn't happen often so I prefer gravity brushes. If I'm doing colors on 2-3 baits, 4-5 drops of paint in my gravity airbrush is often enough. You rinse more than that out of the paint tube of a syphon brush when you clean it. My Iwata has a 1/16 oz top cup and that's proven to be "just right" for my hobby painting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR KNOW IT ALL KIND OF Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 I used bottom feed for 1 year!!! Then I finally purchased a gravity feed.... I wish all my guns were gravity.. Im slowly replacing them as money comes in.. Bottom feed is not that bad of purchase if you get a good deal on a good gun.. but in the long run..Gravity is the ticket! I agree with the rest of these guys! The Rookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pikester Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 Ditto on the gravity feed being the way to go. I used to fight with a Paasche VL syphon feed (arghhhhh!) & wasted paint like nobody's business but since switched to an Iwata HP-C+ WOW - what a difference!!! Also, the gravity feed is wayyyyyyyyy easier to clean which is also right up my alley:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benton B Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 gravity feed for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJ Smith Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 One more for the road........... Gravity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captsully18 Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 Gotta add my vote for gravity. Uses less paint, quicker clean-up. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverMan Posted May 29, 2008 Report Share Posted May 29, 2008 Gravity feed........I threw all my bottles away!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palmetto Balsa Posted May 29, 2008 Report Share Posted May 29, 2008 Yep, the siphon and bottles waste too much paint. Gravity feed for the details and I use the color cup on my bottom feed to spray basecoats and topcoats. Gravity Feed, everything they have already said. Fast color changes is the best part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clamboni Posted May 29, 2008 Report Share Posted May 29, 2008 No one must me using the same brush as me, but my gravity feed is takes a lot more time to change colors then my bottom feed. Or maybe it's just me. As far as painting, gravity feed all the way. Like was said, the ability to shoot at such low air pressure outweighs the cleaning issues I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcb19983 Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 go with the gravity feed brush, its easier to clean the brush out, and it paints better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
