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Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User






I ordered the Iwata Eclipse HP-CS (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BQKFAI?keywords=iwata%20eclipse&qid=1453908814&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1), but found there wasn't a preset handle on it when it arrived. I'm new to airbrushing and relying solely on tutorials and you fine people on the forums.

My question: is a preset handle a 'must' for most beginners? Any and all opinions welcome. My second option appears to be the Iwata High Performance Plus C (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018A7QJE?keywords=iwata%20eclipse&qid=1453908814&ref_=sr_1_3&sr=8-3).

Thanks all!
   
Made in no
Cog in the Machine




I don't think I'd say it's a must. It's not needed for priming and basecoats, but it is a good help if you want to get consistent results if you're using the brush to do details on several minis in a row.
   
Made in us
Hardened Veteran Guardsman




Shanghai, China

I do not recall ever using the preset handle on mine. It certainly isn't a must for beginning to airbrush.
   
Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka






It's not a must at all. It's a crutch for beginners, really -- to ensure that you don't yank it all the way back and have too much paint come out. I have a preset handle on every airbrush now other than my HP-CS, and I don't use any of them

While a nice tool for beginners (or if you're airbrushing tons of stuff with thinned paint that will never clog and fatigue is an issue), It's very annoying for people who are more experienced, because you are used to pulling the trigger the right amount anyhow, and with the preset handle, it's harder to clear any minor clogging -- the way you normally do this is to depress the trigger and pull the nut through the cutaway handle, which opens up the amount of paint that is let through more than is normally possible. But that doesn't work if the preset handle is set. When you unscrew the preset handle to unclog the paint -- you lose your preset position.

There is a very cool multifunction preset handle on Amazon.com for Iwata airbrushes. It allows you to do a preset thing, and also eject the needle for cleaning, without messing with your preset. And, it has a storage space on the back (a thread) for the crown when you take it off. About $20.

However, I don't use it, because it ejects the needle back, and I prefer to remove the needle forwards, to prevent paint from going into the back of the airbrush (which is much harder to clean).

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2016/01/27 19:20:42


 
   
Made in au
Incorporating Wet-Blending




Sydney

I don't know why they put them on more expensive brushes, no one that buys those brushes uses them.

I have the cs too, my first brush and i love it. Robust add hell, versatile. Great brush, you won't be disappointed.

Practice on paper doing lines and dots and dotted lines and such - when you get a better feel for it, put paint to model. When you inevitably run in to problems, ask. Collectively I'd say we've had every possible problem you can have with that exact brush.
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Nottinghamshire

What's a preset handle? Like a brake?


[ Mordian 183rd ] - an ongoing Imperial Guard story with crayon drawings!
[ "I can't believe it's not Dakka!" ] - a buttery painting and crafting blog
 
   
Made in no
Cog in the Machine




 Talys wrote:


There is a very cool multifunction preset handle on Amazon.com for Iwata airbrushes. It allows you to do a preset thing, and also eject the needle for cleaning, without messing with your preset. And, it has a storage space on the back (a thread) for the crown when you take it off. About $20.

The H&S Infinity has one that will save your last setting, allowing you to disable the stop and being able to return to it. You can also get this as an upgrade for the Evo, although I don't think there's a cutaway on that part like with the Infinity.


Personally I've found the stop to be of limited use so far due to clogging, although this might change once I get more experienced with thinning etc.
I don't think I'd say it's worth bothering with unless you have one of the fancy ones mentioned above. Just seems like too much of a hassle.
   
Made in au
Incorporating Wet-Blending




Sydney

 Buttery Commissar wrote:
What's a preset handle? Like a brake?

Basically.

You can set it to 50% and it stops you from pulling the trigger back past that point. I can understand the logic if you're spaying ink on canvas, but not for us
   
Made in ca
Boosting Ultramarine Biker





Vancouver, BC

You will probably learn how much paint is sprayed relative to how far you are pulling back before you figure out where to set the stop for desired amount of spray.

Assuming that you drive a car, compare it to the accelerator. It's all muscle memory and feedback from the vehicle that you rely on and not preset stops.

Excellent brush btw. Good medium sized needle/nozzle that is forgiving for paint thinned to different levels. Although I use an ultra-sonic jewellery cleaner for mine, I would suggest you watch Next Level Paintings vid on cleaning. In this vid, Kenny breaks down and re-assembles the same model.


This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/01/28 06:27:46


 
   
Made in us
Trustworthy Shas'vre




DFW area Texas - Rarely

To answer the OP:

No, not even remotely for me.

Have several airbrushes, used for many years, never really needed them.


DavePak
"Remember, in life, the only thing you absolutely control is your own attitude - do not squander that power."
Fully Painted armies:
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Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka






 Buttery Commissar wrote:
What's a preset handle? Like a brake?


It's just a screw at the back of the handle. When you turn it, the screw limits how far back the needle can travel. No magic
   
 
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