Question regarding Grex TG3 airbrush

[karbuildr]

It's been several years since I posted on this site. Because of advanced arthritis in both hands, I'm unable to use either of my Paasche airbrushes. I've been considering a purchase of the Grex TG3, mostly because of the pistol grip feature. I'm curious if anyone has practical experience using this particular airbrush. If so, would you be good enough to share your thoughts. I've been making do with rattle cans but I really miss airbrushing. If you have experience with the airbrush do you think this tool would allow someone with advanced arthritis to be able to paint with it comfortably? Many thanks for any responses.

http://grexusa.com/grexairbrush/products.php5?id=MF.TG

Edited November 2, 2021 by karbuildr
Link added

[Rick L]

I like my Grex. I’m slightly arthritic and the pistol grip is smooth for me. 

[karbuildr]

Rick,

Thanks for your response. I wanted to ask before I made the investment because this airbrush isn't cheap. Do you find it easy to clean as well? I've never used a gravity feed airbrush but it looks well made and fairly easy to use.

[Rick L]

As with any gravity fed airbrush, the paint runs throughout the gun. So it must be meticulously cleaned. Check out the Grex cleaning video online to see if your capable of working with such small equipment. Good luck.

[mr moto]

I have a Grex and an Iwata. Both are excellent airbrushes. The small parts of the Grex, especially the nozzle, are much more substantial and easier to handle. The trigger action is a great feature.

[DPNM]

I'd suggest looking at SprayGunner. They seem to have the lowest prices, IMO.

https://spraygunner.com/grex-tritium-tg3-pistol-grip-airbrush/

https://spraygunner.com/airbrush-kits/grex/tritium-series/grex-tritium-tg-micro-spray-gun-set-0-3mm/

[karbuildr]

Thanks to all of you for your responses. Rick, I'll be sure to check out that video, thanks. Mr. Moto, great input, I wasn't aware of that information, I'm just starting my research on the TG3 airbrush. DPNM, thanks for the links. I saw Spraygunner on Amazon but apparently a purchase direct from the company is a bit cheaper. That would be  the way to go if I decide to make the investment. Input like this is why forums like this one can be very valuable knowledge wise. Lots for me to think about too.

[stinkybritches]

I don't have any input on the airbrush, but I give 2 thumbs up for Spraygunner. Always received excellent service from them.

[Dave G.]

Have you tried just changing your gripping position and trigger finger ? I've seen where various types of hand and finger pain has been avoided in using a conventional airbrush by changing how it is gripped and using the thumb on the trigger button. I believe I've seen Will Patterson do that in his videos.

[karbuildr]

Dave, yes I have tried changing my gripping position. No dice. The arthritis is so bad I can't even grip the paint bottle attached to my current Paasche airbrushes. My workhorse has always been my Paasche H series, and from time to time I use my VL series. The problem for me is I can't hold the paint bottle. It simply falls out of my hand. I even tried to tape the paint bottle to the airbrush by wrapping the tape around the bottle then to the airbrush but that isn't stable enough. I'll take a look at Mr. Patterson's videos anyway, never know.

Rob, thanks for your positive review of the Spraygunner, good info.

[Dave G.]

On 11/5/2021 at 11:49 AM, karbuildr said:

Dave, yes I have tried changing my gripping position. No dice. The arthritis is so bad I can't even grip the paint bottle attached to my current Paasche airbrushes. My workhorse has always been my Paasche H series, and from time to time I use my VL series. The problem for me is I can't hold the paint bottle. It simply falls out of my hand. I even tried to tape the paint bottle to the airbrush by wrapping the tape around the bottle then to the airbrush but that isn't stable enough. I'll take a look at Mr. Patterson's videos anyway, never know.

Rob, thanks for your positive review of the Spraygunner, good info.

David, about 2/3 of the time on my siphon brushes I use the metal side cup. Now you have no bottle to screw on there. Just trying to help here, not saying any of this is your answer but I do find the metal cups to be convenient. I only use the bottles on high volume jobs ( 1/16-1/8 scale, ship hulls, my now passed on wife's ceramics jobs for clear coat, though I won't be doing those any longer).

[karbuildr]

I know you’re trying to help. Believe me I appreciate the suggestions and I thank you for taking the time to do so. I’m not sure what you mean by metal side cup. I have metal color cups for both my Paasche’s, but neither holds enough paint. I need the bottle because of the amount of paint it holds. I’ll normally use the color cups when doing finer details like the red on this Olds 442, which only needed a small amount of paint after masking. But even the color cups I have issues with holding.

[Mike C]

I have the Grex Tritium which is also a pistol grip. It works great. You have to make the paint as thin as water as it very finely atomizes the paint and it needs to be very thin to flow properly.

[mr moto]

A good opportunity came up the other day take these photos to illustrate my comment about the difference between Grex and Iwata nozzles.

The one on the left is Iwata and the one on the right is the Grex. You can see that there's a great difference in size even though the opening sizes are the same. I  find the Iwata can be hard to handle and hard to find if it's dropped.

Also, very large paint cups are available for the Grex. Here's the one that I use when painting car bodies:

As you can see, my Grex is a side-feed but similar size cups are available for top-feed and if I was was doing it over again I'd get the top-feed brush. They're just a little bit simpler and easier to clean. When I bought mine the large cups hadn't come out yet.

As far as thinning the paint, I don't find that it has any special requirements that are different from any other airbrush. For instance, if I've decanted some paint from a rattle can I don't thin it any further than how it came out of the can. Lacquer is what I typically spray.  I don't know if enamels might be different.

Hope this helps out!

[karbuildr]

Mike C, thanks for your input. Good information about thinning the paint. I imagine some experimentation would determine what might work for me. Mr. Moto, thank you for the photos. I see what you mean about the size of the nozzles. I've been so attached to my Paasche's for so many years, I find it difficult to consider any other airbrush. But your photos are leading me to a decision to make the purchase of the Grex. I'm wondering if their hose attachment points will fit my braided air hoses or will I have to purchase the Grex brand air hose. I can't thank all of you enough for keeping this thread alive and continuing to offer input.