Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Looking to get into my first Airbrush, and Michael's has a 50% off coupon this week. Was curious if any of their Airbrushes or Compressors are worth the investment (even at 50% off)

The only gravity fed airbrush seems to be: http://www.michaels.com/Badger-Model-105-Patriot-Airbrush/fa1721,default,pd.html?start=2&cgid=products-artsupplies-airbrushing-airbrushes
It has some good reviews, but with a .75mm needle that seems twice the size or more than what othe people seem to be recommending (usually seeing .3 recommended and .5 being ok)

Either way, what about the compressors they have? Are either of these worth the investment?
http://www.michaels.com/Badger-Compressor-with-Autoshut-Off/fa1728,default,pd.html?start=3&cgid=products-artsupplies-airbrushing-airbrushcompressors
or
http://www.michaels.com/Badger-1/6-HP-%22Aspire-Pro%22-Compressor/fa1726,default,pd.html?start=1&cgid=products-artsupplies-airbrushing-airbrushcompressors

Thanks in advance for any help.

At 50% they're decent. They are obviously not top of the line but you should be able to get good use out of them.

And I do believe (but I'm not positive) you can buy replacement needles for that Badger .. and I would.

buy one on ebay. get the WD-180 veda airbrush with 0.2 and 0.3 needle

then get a compressor with or without a tank. look on ebay for them it should be your top search.

whats the price of the 105 after the coupon? I have a 105 Patriot and I love it even with the .75 needle. It's a workhorse and you can do alot with that needle as far as learning control. Plus the needle kits to go to a smaller one are cheap on amazon so you have that option too. I did get royally ripped off when i used my coupon at Michaels for a compressor, all they had was the always on badger and it was $180 after the coupon. didnt have a tank, pressure gauge, or water trap, not even autoshut off. I buy most of my stuff on amazon now, got a velocity raptor for $50 one day.

michaels is a pretty general arts and crafts store, i would not trust the airbrush. I would assume it's an airgun, in which case, absolutely not!

The 105 is very well rated.

http://youtu.be/IVQdGE7_YQ4

hell yeah! if you can afford it get it!
the products are great and idk if your used to airbrushing but if you want to get into it this is a great opportunity

Badger airbrushes are actually a brand with a good reputation. I would place them probably second to Iwata as far as quality airbrushes.

the needle measurement is not an adequete measure oif any thing. taper of the point is more important and that Patriot brush I have heard is very good for modelling.

My father has been using a the same Badger for probably 30 years now. I have both the 200 with a fine needle and the 155.

Badger will service your airbrush for free, charging only for replacement parts.

Michael's is an authorized retailer for Badger though they tend to carry more of the lower to mid range airbrushes.
They also stock a decent amount of Badger accessories and parts so replacement needles and other parts are easy to come by.

The Badger/Patriot 105 is a good quality brush, especially for a beginner (or at least this beginner: I picked one up a couple of months ago and have been impressed at its quality). I have been thinking of looking for a smaller needle set for it as well, though: it is difficult to do any particularly small detail work with it.

 tdwg83 wrote:
Badger airbrushes are actually a brand with a good reputation. I would place them probably second to Iwata as far as quality airbrushes.

the needle measurement is not an adequete measure oif any thing. taper of the point is more important and that Patriot brush I have heard is very good for modelling.

My father has been using a the same Badger for probably 30 years now. I have both the 200 with a fine needle and the 155.

Badger will service your airbrush for free, charging only for replacement parts.

Badger is better then Iwata in service and quality! iwata still requires that mini wrench for the needle tip!
badger and harder & steenbeck make their airbrushes so that tools like the mini wrench are no longer required

Make sure to check the Coupon. I thought that when I was in buying a set of cheap brushes earlier this week. The 50% off does not apply to "Specialty items / Special Order Items" and usually Michaels does not stock their airbrushes in store...which makes them both specialty/special order items.

I was really hoping to pick up a new badger & compressor

Faith-Inc wrote:
Make sure to check the Coupon. I thought that when I was in buying a set of cheap brushes earlier this week. The 50% off does not apply to "Specialty items / Special Order Items" and usually Michaels does not stock their airbrushes in store...which makes them both specialty/special order items.

I was really hoping to pick up a new badger & compressor

It really depends on the store you're going to. Most of them that I have been to DO stock the airbrushes and compressors, but they keep them in a locked cage near the cashiers (you won't likely find them on the shelves with the other airbrush parts and accessories).

I used a 50% coupon to get mine last year and this stipulation was on there as well .. of course since they were (and still are) in stock at the store the 50% off applied.

Appreciate all the help on this.

One more quick question to go alone with the original. I found a TC-909 compressor for under $100 new. Even though this compressor doesn't have a tank, is it worth considering at that price, or should I just wait it out and see what is available around Black Friday timeframe?

heavybolter wrote:
whats the price of the 105 after the coupon? I have a 105 Patriot and I love it even with the .75 needle. It's a workhorse and you can do alot with that needle as far as learning control. Plus the needle kits to go to a smaller one are cheap on amazon so you have that option too. I did get royally ripped off when i used my coupon at Michaels for a compressor, all they had was the always on badger and it was $180 after the coupon. didnt have a tank, pressure gauge, or water trap, not even autoshut off. I buy most of my stuff on amazon now, got a velocity raptor for $50 one day.

Most compressors are made by a manufacturer and then branded by other companies. More than likely the compressor is made by Campbell Hausfeld and then branded by Michaels under another name. Home Depot (Husky), Lowes (Kobalt) and many others are all manufactured by Campbell Hausfeld and yes they are a good qaulity air compressor. Read the user manual or download 1 online before you buy it. Somewhere in the front it will state the true manufacturer. Same thing with batteries... 100's of different names on them but all of them are produced by 1 of about 6 manufacturers world wide. Just wanted to let people know this when purchasing a compressor. However, I do not own 1 from Michaels so cannot tell you if they are good or not. If its a campbell, then yes and more than likely its of good qaulity anyways. I own a 30gal. Kobalt compressor made by campbell h. Never had a problem with it except that its heavy. Lol

Rorschach9 wrote:

Faith-Inc wrote:
Make sure to check the Coupon. I thought that when I was in buying a set of cheap brushes earlier this week. The 50% off does not apply to "Specialty items / Special Order Items" and usually Michaels does not stock their airbrushes in store...which makes them both specialty/special order items.

I was really hoping to pick up a new badger & compressor

It really depends on the store you're going to. Most of them that I have been to DO stock the airbrushes and compressors, but they keep them in a locked cage near the cashiers (you won't likely find them on the shelves with the other airbrush parts and accessories).

I used a 50% coupon to get mine last year and this stipulation was on there as well .. of course since they were (and still are) in stock at the store the 50% off applied.

Almost all of the Michael's in my area stock both compressors and airbrushes.

We actually got a 60% coupon the other day, too!!

However, be aware that Michael's starting prices can be way, way higher than competitors. So even heavily discounted, it might not ACTUALLY be cheaper.

For example, Amazon has them (Prime, fast free shipping and hassle free returns, yay) at $74.91

http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Air-Brush-Patriot-Gravity-Airbrush/dp/B002W84GTO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462692145&sr=8-1&keywords=badger+105

badger has a wierd air hose adapter thing. You need an adapter to make it 1/8 to a 1/4

Our Michael's doesn't stock jack.

Also, holy necro post I think the prices may have changed in 4 years? or you know, maybe not.

The 105 works fine for me and the smaller needle kit is not expensive if you shop around.
It will boil down to if it looks right to you and has the features you want.

 Guildenstern wrote:
Our Michael's doesn't stock jack.

Also, holy necro post I think the prices may have changed in 4 years? or you know, maybe not.

Wow, LOL. I didn't even notice that. Yeah, someone should lock this puppy down. If no airbrush dice 2012, it ain't happening

Yeah, this one's a bit past the 'sell by' date!