Side feed or top feed airbrush

R

rcam1977

Guest
I know this question is probably a highly opinionated question, but I'm interested to hear your experiences and the pros and cons of the two.
 
For me it's side feed all the way...Own and used many versions of both....They say the top feed has better trigger response with the gravity feed..But if there is any difference I've never noticed....I just love being able to move the cup to spray at any angle I choose....Straight up/down, whatever....That and I like the cup being out of the way, so i'm not looking around/over it..........Like you said it's all about preference, that's just mine :)
 
I use all gravity feed. It's my preference. I've used Iwata side feeds and the cup and airbrush itself were more of a bitch to clean. I've used the CM-SB and the HP-SB Plus, didn't really like cleaning either one.
 
I tend to use gravity feed for larger scale work and side feed for smaller stuff on paper. A lot people complain about the side feeds being harder to clean but I find the opposite. I find my AB doesn't clog as much with the side feed due to less chance of dried paint in the bowl getting into the nozzle. I just use a new cup with water to back flush and rinse the AB. At the end of a session I can soak all the dirty cups and clean them out properly.
 
I've been checking out the Iwata HP-SBS, , I think a saw that badger offers a side feed as well
 
First choice will be side feed. Then top feed. Colour changes are easier with side feeds. And I do not have a problem with cleaning it. I find it easier then top feed. The only Badger side feed I will use is from the 100 series. The Renegade series' side feed is crap. The cups are huge and you can not remove the cup and set it aside. It can not stand by itself. But I will fit the 100 series with a Sotar head and needle. Then that thing will kick ass.
 
I am awaiting for my new Holbein Y2 and Y3 dash at the moment to arrive but I see the neo Hohmi which is the side feed version can take the 0.3mm needle and nozzle. For years I have been looking for a o.3mm Japanese made side feed with removebale cups, If I like the Y2 I might need to invest in one since they are half the price of an Iwata HP-SB. I had a Y1 years ago....back in the early 80s and its was from memory very well made with VERY hard needle and nozzle. I need to find out if they can take the Iwata side cups.
 
I think I'm just about sold on the Iwata HP-SBS, Chicago Airbrush has it for $155.70 for the Autographics model which comes with the larger 1/2 oz paint cup and a 1 oz bottle and a 10ft hose, ... Is that a good buy
 
For detail stuff I use a side feed as it enables me to look straight over the airbrush instead off having to look around it. Aslo with a side feed you can just put a couple off cups with paint ready making it a lot easier to switch colors.

For larger parts I use graviy or bottom feed as (the one I use at least) has a bigger cup. I also have a big cup for my side feed but this gets too heavy and pulls the brush out off balance.

Maintanance wise I do have the impression the side feet is a little less prone to clogging up, but you do need to make sure you clean the cups thouroughly after use. If you forget to clean one and leave it with paint in it for a day or so you'll have a hard time getting it to work again.

For me both have pro's and con's and their use just depends on what I'm doing.
 
Sekta51 said:
I am awaiting for my new Holbein Y2 and Y3 dash at the moment to arrive but I see the neo Hohmi which is the side feed version can take the 0.3mm needle and nozzle. For years I have been looking for a o.3mm Japanese made side feed with removebale cups, If I like the Y2 I might need to invest in one since they are half the price of an Iwata HP-SB. I had a Y1 years ago....back in the early 80s and its was from memory very well made with VERY hard needle and nozzle. I need to find out if they can take the Iwata side cups.
Click to expand...

The HP-SBS is Japanese made and .3. If your Holbein can take Iwata cups, I would not go that route. They are very expensive. Go for the Aztek cups.
 
Well I pulled the trigger and ordered the Iwata HP-SBS and some reducer for my wicked paint, I did find a coupon code for 10% off so I ended up getting the reducer for free after the coupon,...... Now comes the dredded wait for my package to ship and arrive
 
I guess I'm alone in I don't like side feed. I always had issues with it hitting my surface and I spray at an angle to control overspray which I found hard to do with the cup because if you try to spray up and away, the cup is now in your line of site. I learned with a sidefeed, got a gravity feed and never looked back. Looking around the cup becomes second nature and I don't even see the cup anymore. Also as stated before, side feed are a pain to clean. I let my paints sit overnight or up to a week without cleaning during projects, and being I use uro this is feasible. With waterbased gotta clean up ASAP and the tube that goes into the ab body loves to clog up. Also forces you to run slightly higher psi. It'd basically in between a gravity and bottle feed.
 
@Immortal Concepts, I first learned on a bottom feed and loved the chance to go top feed. I don't look straight over the gun so the line of sight thing is not a selling point for me. I have never had an issue with cleaning my micron. I only use water based and sometimes leave the paint in for hours with just a piece of tape over the top. And I actually think you use lower air pressure with side feed. Maybe it's just the design of the micron. I've set my compressor to 5psi and then the pressure still drops a bit when I pressed the trigger and it sprays perfectly. But each painter has their preferences and till you have tried all, it is hard to go with what you read.
 
I appreciate all the advise guys, I also took (Immortals) advise and ordered the wicked reducer
, I'm gonna need more paint soon, all I got are 3, 2oz bottles of wicked and one of them is probably alreD over 1/2 gone, does anybody have any suggestions where to get wicked paints on the che, I'm really going to be working tight budget for a while after this purchase , again thanks for all the info, I can't wait to get my new AB and see how a quality AB works compared to my Harbor-freight model .
 
I've used an HP-SBS for years, tiz a good rig..Only reason I dont use it now is because I have the CM-SB, it's a bit more bulky than the HP..(Witch is a good thing, more comfy in my hands).......I'm surprised to see so many mentions about side feed being hard to clean...I clean all my AB's the same way..Toss in some thinner, blow/backflush/blow. (rinse and repeat)..I rarely tare them down, just make sure their flushed of paint, no reason to get finicky...Never made a diff between top or side feed, they all clean the same, easy peezy..haha
 
rcam1977 said:
I appreciate all the advise guys, I also took (Immortals) advise and ordered the wicked reducer
, I'm gonna need more paint soon, all I got are 3, 2oz bottles of wicked and one of them is probably alreD over 1/2 gone, does anybody have any suggestions where to get wicked paints on the che, I'm really going to be working tight budget for a while after this purchase , again thanks for all the info, I can't wait to get my new AB and see how a quality AB works compared to my Harbor-freight model .
Click to expand...
Cheapest bet is really hobby lobby if it's local. Shipping doesn't really offset cost. Just be glad you aren't using urethane. I pay up to $40 a bottle of paint.
 
Well I got my new airbrush today from Chicago Airbrush, but they sent my the wrong one, on their website there are 2 different HP-SBS MODELS, a ECL3500. & a ECL3550, if I'm UNDERSTANDING this correctly the only difference I'd the 3550 comes with the 1/2oz cup instead of the 1/8oz cup and also comes with the 1oc bottle, other than that the actual AB is the same, if any body has the time or gets the chance could you check their website and see if I'm interpreting this correctly,
I paid the extra for the 3550 so I could get the bigger paint cup and the bottle but got the 3500 instead with the small paint cup,I have calll their Customer Service and they are supposed to be sending me the other paint cup and the bottle, just wondering if one of you guys would mind checking out there website for to verify that both of the Iwata HP-SBS side feed AB's are the same, ...thanks in advance , hope everybody is having a wonderful Friday
 
The ecl3550 is considered the auto graphics version and comes with 1/2 oz cup and 1 oz bottle so you are correct in your understanding.
 
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