New trigger-style airbrush - suggestions?

[atomicholiday]

I’m on the market for another airbrush.  Looking for a trigger-style this time.  Dual action.  This new airbrush will primarily be used for painting bodies (I plan to continue using my Badger Patriot 105 for smaller parts and detail work).
Any suggestions?  My budget is around $150 give or take.

[Matt Bacon]

I’ve heard lots of people being very positive about Gaahleri brushes… a step up from no brand Chinese quality-lottery products, but not A-brand:

https://amzn.eu/d/46gNAVP
 

This is a UK link, but I’m sure they’ll be on Amazon.com. 

Grex are very popular your side of the pond, it seems (hard to get in the UK so I haven’t tried one), and the Tritium fits your need, if you can find an offer at the right price…

best,

Matt

[Mike 1017]

You can look at GREX USA. If you buy from them, you're supporting a Model Cars Magazine advertiser.

Mike

[Cool Hand]

[stinkybritches]

1 hour ago, Cool Hand said:

I have two of these. They are $99 right now on spraygunner.com

[Bill Eh?]

I use two trigger style from Gaahleri, the GHAD-68 and the Swallowtail.

GHAD-68, 1/4 and 1/2 oz cup sizes, 0.38 and 0.5 mm needle nozzle sets, self-centering, drop in nozzle design, $64.99

 

Swallowtail, 1/3 and 2/3 oz cup sizes, 0.28, 0.5 and 0.7 mm needle nozzle sets, self-centering, drop in nozzle design, $119.99

I like them both. They have well machined parts. Available at gaahleri.com

[atomicholiday]

The Grex does look really nice and has excellent reviews.  Anybody here have experience with it?

Also, the Gaahleri B. Rex swallowtail is interesting.  And a lot less money.

Edited September 14, 2024 by atomicholiday

[Nacho Z]

Jeremy, put me in the Gaahleri camp for an affordable, trigger style airbrush.  My Iwata HP-CS will probably always be my favorite, but I wanted a trigger style brush.  The Swallowtail checked all of my boxes.  Trigger, exchangeable paint cups, and the 3 needle sizes.  As Matt said earlier, this is not a top level brush, but it is nice.  It will be my main brush for spraying bodies.

[Phirewriter]

I have a number of Grex airbrushes including the trigger style. They work great but are a bit more fiddly through the cleaning process than some of my other air brushes. They do have excellent customer support from my experience as well and of course work great. The AMT Galaxie was painted with my trigger action Grex using automotive paint.

Edited September 12, 2024 by Phirewriter

[deuces wild]

Nicely done.....??

[Phirewriter]

23 hours ago, deuces wild said:

Nicely done.....??

Thanks!

[atomicholiday]

Thanks to all of you who replied to this thread.  Your input has been invaluable as always!

After reading through the comments, looking at reviews online and watching several videos, I went with the Grex Tritium.  Should have it by the end of the week.

[Nicholas]

On 9/12/2024 at 12:29 PM, Cool Hand said:

THIS... best gun i ever bought,i liked it so much i bought another!,..fan cap is awesome!..a close second is my gaahleeri gh 68 trigger style

[JET.]

I like the creos mr.hobby ps290  and it’s pretty cheap and works with iwata spare parts 

if you’re in no rush to buy something and save up your money i’d recommend the Colani as it’s overall the best airbrush I own.

i don’t know about those Chinese brushes that are everywhere all of a sudden. I can’t find an unbiased  review for that gaahleri brand it seems to be decent but buy at your own risk they are made with cheaper materials etc… and may not last .

 

these ones below will still be working 50 years from now

 

[Bill Eh?]

5 hours ago, JET. said:

I like the creos mr.hobby ps290  and it’s pretty cheap and works with iwata spare parts 

if you’re in no rush to buy something and save up your money i’d recommend the Colani as it’s overall the best airbrush I own.

i don’t know about those Chinese brushes that are everywhere all of a sudden. I can’t find an unbiased  review for that gaahleri brand it seems to be decent but buy at your own risk they are made with cheaper materials etc… and may not last .

 

these ones below will still be working 50 years from now

 

On what basis do you say that Gaahleri airbrushes are made of cheaper materials? Is this just supposition on your part? Do you own a Gaahleri brush? I own a couple of Gaahleri brushes and also a few H & S brushes. However, I have not sent my Gaahleri off to a metallurgist to confirm the composition of the metals. LOL The Colani is a great brush, but takes some time to get used to due to the trigger activation movement.

Edited September 29, 2024 by Bill Eh?

[iBorg]

On 9/12/2024 at 9:00 AM, Matt Bacon said:

I’ve heard lots of people being very positive about Gaahleri brushes… a step up from no brand Chinese quality-lottery products, but not A-brand:

https://amzn.eu/d/46gNAVP
 

This is a UK link, but I’m sure they’ll be on Amazon.com. 

Grex are very popular your side of the pond, it seems (hard to get in the UK so I haven’t tried one), and the Tritium fits your need, if you can find an offer at the right price…

best,

Matt

The best painter I know loves his swallowtail.

[JET.]

On 9/28/2024 at 5:44 PM, Bill Eh? said:

On what basis do you say that Gaahleri airbrushes are made of cheaper materials? Is this just supposition on your part? Do you own a Gaahleri brush? I own a couple of Gaahleri brushes and also a few H & S brushes. However, I have not sent my Gaahleri off to a metallurgist to confirm the composition of the metals. LOL The Colani is a great brush, but takes some time to get used to due to the trigger activation movement.

I own one and there’s no comparison, it  does work fine i’ll be doing a review after a year or so of constant use.