Gravity Feed vs. Siphon Feed

I hate to keep bugging everyone with airbrush questions. But I was doing some hard thinking. Everyone was reccommending to me the Iwata Revolution CR(gravity). But wouldnt the BCR(siphon) be better because you can change color cups faster and wouldnt the cups be easier to mix than the built in cup thingy on the CR? What makes the Cr better? Maybe im missing something about gravity being better than siphon feed? I need help... :loser: :loser:

I personally prefer siphon becose you can change color very fast, and you can switch to thinner to clean your airbrus right away.

If you are not sure, Badger make a hybrid airbrus. It's Badger 360 I think, Siphon and gravity.. quite nice airbrush

I use the bottom-fed badger crescendo and it performes well and is easy to clean. The thing i don't like about bottom-fed airbrushes is that you can't use small amounts of paint as compared to a gravity airbrush.
With that said I would recommend the combination brush Vric mentioned. I don't know how well it performs but search for reviews.

I use the bottom-fed badger crescendo and it performes well and is easy to clean. The thing i don't like about bottom-fed airbrushes is that you can't use small amounts of paint as compared to a gravity airbrush.
With that said I would recommend the combination brush Vric mentioned. I don't know how well it performs but search for reviews.


thats the same airbrush as i have. mine has a problem...the paint doesnt come out in a constant stream....it pulses and its giving my paint a rough texture. i clean it every time i use it.....could it be i not cleaning it right? is there another thing that could make that happen?

The thing i don't like about bottom-fed airbrushes is that you can't use small amounts of paint as compared to a gravity airbrush.


I have a Badger Anthem and it come with a metal color cup, about 7ml can enter in it (by the spec) but I put about 4ml in it each time.. This is what I call small amounts of paint.

thats the same airbrush as i have. mine has a problem...the paint doesnt come out in a constant stream....it pulses and its giving my paint a rough texture. i clean it every time i use it.....could it be i not cleaning it right? is there another thing that could make that happen?

Might sound dumb, but are you thinning you paint enough ?

also there is a tutorial in flash that explain how to clean a crescendo
http://fichtenfoo.home.comcast.net/02GiantRobots/02c-abflash.html

Hey Vric, have you had any problems with your crescendo? At this point I also am thinking of getting that because of the fact the set comes with all them jars and stuff...

For big jobs, siphon. For real detail work, gravity.

Big jobs as in model bodies, small jobs as in spraying small objects?

Hey Vric, have you had any problems with your crescendo? At this point I also am thinking of getting that because of the fact the set comes with all them jars and stuff...


I recently got the crescendo 175 set from Dixie art and I wont be changing it anytime soon. It has the small colour cup that is great for doing small parts and when u need only a smal amount of paint.

I know some people find it a hassle to change needles but with this set u get 3 different needles and they can be changed by hand very easily.

For $70 for a double action airbrush with everything you need I highly recommend it. Its also very easy to get used to. Not sure what weaponCIVIC problem with his brush is I certainly have had that problem.

I paid a total of 90EURO for mine to be delivered to Ireland and there is no way I could have got it cheaper.

thats the same airbrush as i have. mine has a problem...the paint doesnt come out in a constant stream....it pulses and its giving my paint a rough texture. i clean it every time i use it.....could it be i not cleaning it right? is there another thing that could make that happen?

If you are getting a pulsing spray the teflon needle bearing seal inside the body of the airbrush that the needle passes through is wore out. Badger will replace it free if you send the airbrush to them. The Crescendo is a great airbrush by the way.

Hey Vric, have you had any problems with your crescendo? At this point I also am thinking of getting that because of the fact the set comes with all them jars and stuff...

I don't have a crescendo, I have an Anthem. Basicly the same airbrush, but Anthem have one Nozzle/Needle that do the same work as the crescendo 3 nozzle/Needle. SO no need to change any part to do small work. As Dublinguy say, the color cup is perfect for small work.
I don't have any problem with it yet (I clean it very carefully at every use)

So is the Iwata CR worth it? Im starting to thnk that the color cup system is easier to change color with.

i have a cr and i love it. when i finish using a color i simply fill the cup, spray thinner through it and if i need i will wipe out the cup and spray a little more thinner. Then i'm ready for the next color. takes a total of a minute and a half at the most to change colors.

^So do you mix colors in separate cups or in the airbrush?

^So do you mix colors in separate cups or in the airbrush?
If you use Gravity: seperate for sure...
For siphon just use the cup ur gonna spray with...

The pulses can be comming from your air source if its not a good compressor. When i originally started spraying with it, I didn't thin the paint out enough and i would get pulses.

Before you send your airbrush to badger just check your compressor and try thinning the paint more.

Definitely gravity from my experience, I went with the Iwata Revolution CR that Jesse already has, and it is amazing, it might seem like a pain to have to clean out the color cup, but it's chrom finish keeps paint from sticking. After painting with my CR, I'll never look back. I very, very highly recommend the Iwata Revolution CR! Good Luck!

If you use Gravity: seperate for sure...
For siphon just use the cup ur gonna spray with...

Dont you kinda waste paint in the transfer?

i mix them in seperate containers, mostly old tamiya paint jars, then just pour them in. only time i'd say i've wasted paint is when i wasn't paying attention and spilt the paint down the side, but hey whose perfect. It helps you to not mix too much b/c most laquers if you mix too much they won't last long after you mix them and will become clumpy if you don't use them now, I mix what i need and be done with it. It all goes back to the first rule of modeling which is have patience, take your time to do the job right and there will be no problems. I make sure my airbrush, brushes, and even mixing cups are clean before and after i use them, dosen't seem like too much trouble to me.
Just depends on what kind of airbrush you feel more comfortable with, buy one and use it a few times if you don't like it try the other. You really can't have too many airbrushes. I think that a siphon feed would probally work well for the body, and a gravity feed for the rest of the car. I'm thinking about buying a siphon feed eventually and it will definately be an Iwata.

what some people can't seem to understand, id good airbrush (like badger) come with a metalic chrome color cup too. it's very easy to clean (get it out and spray thinner in it, in less than 10 seconds, it's completly clean.

I like the siphon airbrush becose you have the choice to use the samll color cup (like gravity airbrush) or use a bigger jar for bigger job. Gravity airbrush need to be refilled every time on big job, quite annoying

Just depends on what kind of airbrush you feel more comfortable with, buy one and use it a few times if you don't like it try the other.
Trust me I would but I dont have the virtue of buying multiple airbrushes right now.

Stephen, I feel your pain re trying to decide what sort to buy when you have limited funds. Maybe this will help...

I have a Paasche VL - which is similar to the Badger Crescendo. It is a syphon-feed. My set came with a 3oz glass bottle, a 1oz glass bottle, and a little 1/4 oz chrome-metal cup. All three are instantly interchangeable.

I keep thinner in the 3oz bottle and use it exclusively to spray through the brush in between color changes or between mist coats of the same color. I use the 1oz bottle when spraying the body because it holds enough to do several mist coats. I use the little cup to spay small parts. The little cup will work even if you put just a few drops of paint/thinner in it so it is great for not wasting paint.

I've never had a gravity-feed brush but my understanding is that they give the same benefits as my little cup - but it is built in. Also I think purists claim that gravity feed gives better "brush strokes" if you are airbrushing things like comic book illustrations or touching up the bodies of those girls in the underwear ads.

So my opinion is: why buy a brush with a built-in little cup when you can get one that is interchangeable with other useful containers. I think my arguement is good unless somebody can give some concrete examples of things you can do with a built-in cup (gravity feed) that you can't do with an unterchangeable cup (syphon feed).

Does that sound like it might help you decide?

^Well that was exactly the logic I was thinking of. I think the Crescendo might be my new pick, or perhaps the Iwata BCR. But I think I might go with the badger on the lifetime warranty!

I think the Crescendo might be my new pick, or perhaps the Iwata BCR.

One more thing. Make sure your compressor can supply enough air pressure for the brush you buy. (Gravity-feeds tend to require less air pressure than syphon-feeds). I purchased an Iwata Sprint Jet compressor first and then a Paasche VL airbrush. The compressor has a rated working pressure of up to 35psi and the airbrush requires 20 to 35 psi for "heavier fluids". Sounds OK doesn't it? But, in reality, when they are connected together, the compressor can only manage a little over 20psi. This has been fine so far (I usually spray at around 15psi) but I expect I will regret this limitation if I ever want to spray something thicker.

I have a tank that is powered by an 80 PSI compressor. Im using a regulator as well so I dont beleive it will be a problem!

I have a tank that is powered by an 80 PSI compressor. Im using a regulator as well so I dont beleive it will be a problem!

Great! Just make sure you put your seat belt on before you fire up that compressor :biggrin2:

Well whats really nice about the tank is I can fill it with the noisy compressor outside and spray with the tank. So I wont have to deal with the noise.

I have a badger Anthem, and the airbrush work as low as 5psi so I don't think it's a problem. I have a 120psi compressor with regulator. Noise wise, when the tank is full, the compressor stop, so I can airbrush for about 10 minutes before it start again

Look for an anthem, cressendo and Iwata BCR. that was the 3 choice I was looking for

I got a five gallon tank which can last a while spraying at only 10-25 psi.

I think Im getting the Crescendo now because the set at Dixieart is 3 bucks more than the anthem, and you get thee 3 different settings. I know I said this about the CR a while back but I think Im sure now! Thanks everyone for your help!

The 3 "different settings" as you said are all reproduced by the single nozzle of the anthem. no need to change nozzle/needle to change the tickness of the line. so Less thing to clean when you need to do small work and bigger work

Then why do they make the crescendo with the 3 settings?

seriously, I don't know. Maybe to have a direct product that have the same spec as the Paasche VL (3 nozzle/needle) ? Maybe you get better control becose each nozzle have a finer range ?
The only thing I know for sure is the 3 nozzle/needle of the crescendo will do the same work as the single nozzle/needle of the anthem (about 1/8" to 2") The Iwata is the same type too (very versatile nozzle)

I talked many time with customminatures, that have the crescendo, anthem and paasche vl. he helped me to do my choice. Crescendo isn't a bad airbrush at all, no matter the choice you make, you will be happy with any of them.

I just prefer the Anthem becose i'm a bit lazy. Cleanning 3 nozles, 3 needles each time and even just stoping airbrushing to change the nozzle and needle (desasemble all the airbrush just for that) wasn't the greatest idea for me. Anyway, like most of the user, if you get the crescendo, you will find yourself using the medium tips for about 90% of your work

Using the different needles will give you finer detail than just 1 size needle. To change the needle on the cresendo is easy, takes 5 seconds at most.

Yea, I dunno its just that the crescendo sounds like it is very versatile. Different colorcups, 3 needles,tips and regulators, dual action. The more the merrier I say so Im doin it!

You just need to know that the crescendo isn't more "versatile" than an Anthem or an Iwata CR or BCR. You will be happy with any of those airbrushes, they are all great quality, but don’t get a crescendo “only” because it has 3 nozzles/needles.

and Mainomega, you can remove the handle, unscrew the Needle Chuck, remove the Needle, unscrew the head, remove the tips, put the new tip, put back the head, put the new needle, screw the Needle Chuck and put back the handle in 5 seconds without loosing any parts? Wow it's like those freak cops that can disassemble and assemble there gun in few seconds :D

I never said it was more versatile than anyother brush. I just said that it was versatile. I choose it over the CR becuase it is siphon feed, over the BCR becuase of price and the anthem im not sure why becuase they seem to be almost identical except for the 3 tip thing. So on the anthem thingy I guess something tells me the 3 tips do more?

No they don't do more

3 nozzles: 1 fine, 1 medium and 1 large. The anthem has only 1 because it is a very versatile brush (so as the Iwata). The tips and needle that comes with it has the same variety in spray width as the 3 tips of the crescendo together. I prefer the anthem because I don’t have to change tips whenever I want a smaller spray pattern.

The anthem has a spray pattern of about 1/8" to about 2.5" in width. Break that up into 3 sections, that’s what the 3 tips are on the crescendo! The Paasche VL uses the same system too.

So, if you plan to use your airbrush to do different work (small detail and wider job) in one use, get anthem or Iwata. If you plan to do your big airbrush job on one moment then do the detail later in the day, then crescendo is a nice choice.

Personally, when I airbrush, I do all my work at one time, airbrushing for many minutes and doing all my work as one shot. Then I carefully clean the airbrush once I have done with this.
If you do that with a crescendo, then you will be bored of changing and cleaning all the part and you will finally only work with the medium tips and have less control than an anthem or an Iwata.

Cleaning the airbrush is the most boring thing about airbrushing. If I would have to clean 3 tips and 3 needles, that would be even more time spent on it.

I look like a pro Anthem, but if you choose to get a Crescendo, don’t get me wrong, it will be a very good airbrush, but it would be sad if after few moment you don’t change the needle and nozzle because you are getting a bit more lazy and you will end with a less good airbrush because you will stick with only one tip that won’t do what other airbrush can do. You will surely use all 3 setup at first. Like everyone, when you have a new toy, you play with it, clean it very well and show it to everyone. But after a moment, we all start to be a bit more precocious about our "older" toy :lol:

So I now get it. Your basically paying more money for the Crescendo for stuff that doesnt do anything different than the Anthem. So Anthem is the new way to go!!!

English is my second language. Sometime it takes 2 or 3 posts to make me clear :D

Crescendo will have better control because the range is smaller. ie: about 1/8 to 3/4" on the small tip. Anthem can do 1/8” line to 2.5" and maybe more. So less range is a bit easier to work at first. You will need to work gently with the trigger on an Anthem or an Iwata because the range is bigger. Badger gives you a small "tutorial" that helps you to get started with few exercises. After about an hour, you are good to start with a model and have fun.