Master Airbrush G233 Review

[@stanpatterson4379]

Spot on Trevor! I had made several mods to the Master Air Brushes to make them more efficient. First thing was to polish the needles with a drill, soft cloth and polishing compound. Out of the 6 brush set some polished out some didn't! The quality of the steel used was not good and some remained pitted. Next I actually removed two coils from the springs making the trigger easier but sticky. Next I closely looked at the nozzles. They were burred from the way they were made! I took an old needle with polishing compound and spun it inside by hand. All said, these are the things that are already done with a good quality air brush! Out of the 6 brush set 4 are still working, 2 have failed and are used for parts. When I decided to get back to brushing I purchased a Paasche TG Talon (prior to your vids) and it has done very well in what I do. I bought the Iwata Eclipse after watching your videos and love it! You truly get what you pay for! In the 1960's I started with a single action Paasche that I still have and still works well but it's very limited to old school techniques! Thank you for providing us with the informative and educational videos! I'm an example of the "old dog learning new tricks"! What's next?

[@wickedartstudio]

Hey Stan! I agree. One could spend some time "tuning" one of these airbrushes and reduce the gap in performance between it and the name brand offerings. Personally, I don't have the time or desire to do that. I was genuinely surprised by the G233 though. I wanted to be fair, but I honestly thought I would have more bad things to say about it than good when I ordered it. That wasn't the case. It is a decent brush. I owned a Paasche Airbrush years ago at the very beginning of my career. It was a siphon feed, maybe a VL... I don't recall. I've had my eye on the TGX-2F for a while now, but I really don't need another airbrush in my collection either, lol.

[@icarustanovic3097]

I always asked my self about these ones in particular. Big thanks for this professional answer to that dilemma once and for all. 😊

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you! I'm glad you found the content helpful.

[@richardgray4109]

Hi Trevor 👋 As always thanks..don't remember the models I bought when I wanted to start learning to air brush, but after getting my first Iwata eclipse it was so much better in getting muscle memory to work & not thinking about quitting 😊 I like backing off spring tension, like you do.. This is a hobby for me & doing paintings for friends and family sometimes I charge mostly I don't 😮 Thanks 😊 Take care

[@wickedartstudio]

Hey Rich! Yes, the name brand airbrushes are still a far better purchase in terms of quality, durability and reliability. I was surprised by this particular brush though. I thought I would have more bad things to say about it compared to good. That wasn't the case.

[@Compliment_Thief]

Does the balance fall backwards with the cup lid on? Ok so just rewound and see you had the lid on then but not when you were painting.

[@glennracoma7481]

thanks that was very informative. I was thinking on getting a Master Brush but I think I'll save up and settle for a brand name. I tend to keep my stuff for a long time rather than repeat buying which would be costly in the long run. My thoughts. Again thank you for being very clear on the pros and cons of the product. Your mini scull painting is cool

[@icarustanovic3097]

Save money and buy a Creos Csi or Iwata.

[@wickedartstudio]

I think that is a wise decision!

[@Compliment_Thief]

You’re very welcome! 🙏🏾

[@Rick-Williams59]

I've been using a G233 for years and I think it does a descent job. I am by no means a professional airbrush artist, I do more hand lettering than anything. I picked up the airbrush hobby about 20 years ago and tried the really cheap brushes until I ran up on the Master Airbrush brand. Thanks for your review of the G233.

[@wickedartstudio]

I agree. It is a decent airbrush. When I initially ordered the brush, I honestly thought I would have far more negative things to say about it than positive. I wanted to be fair, but I didn't have high expectations. This brush surprised me. The difference between this airbrush and a name brand brush are still night and day, but with a little bit of tuning that margin could be reduced even further.

[@kallinreyj]

Hello @Rick-Williams59 I just got the G233. What compressor do you use with yours? I have a regular full size compressor. Can I use that or do I need a compressor specifically for airbrushes?

[@kausemustream4455]

Thanks for this. Im just starting getting in to airbrushing and hoped this $40 would be a nice intro to see how it works and then step up a bit once I get more comfy. And if I ruin it it's low impact lol

[@deshawn4077]

Would a Gaahleri be better?

[@pedrogiavani2330]

Good information!! I may get one to play with as I am a raw beginner. Thanks.

[@wickedartstudio]

I'm glad you found the content helpful. I would still recommend using a name brand brush as a beginner. I think the learning curve and frustration factor will both be reduced with better equipment.

[@mr.midnight7423]

I have a master airbrush. It sadly only lasted a year and a half. Maby it’s my fault for cleaning too roughly but the 3 mm nozzle broke up the first day and now air is leaking from all the different places, the O rings got crumbly and I won’t be able to use it anymore. I would recommend a Harder steenbeck Ultra or a revolution as an upgrade!

[@landwand]

They sell generic Chinese airbrush nozzles that are very affordable. O-rings as well (or you can use beeswax in its stead). It's worth rescuing, even if it's a backup airbrush

[@mr.midnight7423]

@@landwand Yea i will get some new o rings and use the other 2 nozzles given. Wil use it for priming and basic coating. For details ill use my new H&S

[@wickedartstudio]

I would agree with @landwand in that it is worth rescuing because you already own it even if you only plan to use it as a backup brush, but I would also highly recommend purchasing a better quality, known brand for your needs in the future.

[@Fortunes.Fool.]

I bought one of these over the summer as my first airbrush to spray miniatures and I’m just getting to using it. I see what you mean about the needle, just pushing water through it I can see the turbulence.

[@wickedartstudio]

It is a decent brush for the price, but the quality is also on par with that price.

[@CrucesNomad1]

The master airbrush is a good way to learn how to clean, paint, and maintain a airbrush.

[@gvargas2]

A Friend game one of these but it didn’t come a with a cable to connect to a compressor, can I get one somewhere?

[@joemoore4027]

I've been airbrushing for 50 years and thought I'd get one to use as a junker to rough spray and not worry about using my good airbrushes. All I can say after playing with it and trying all the tricks to get it work at all, it now resides in a landfill somewhere. Never judge a book by it's cover.

[@jflemingsandiego]

Great review. I teach airbrushing and often get asked the same questions about Master, Harbor Freight, etc. I generally try to direct students away from these. If they are on a budget, I sometimes steer them to the used market for a good Iwata, Grex or other on your list. I have a few Master airbrushes including this one and find the manufacturing quality to be subpar. Can they be improved? Sure, but a beginner will not have the ability to do that on their own.

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you and I agree. Not only would a beginner likely not have the ability to improve a subpar airbrush on their own, but I fear the issues one would experience with these airbrushes would also lead to more frustration while trying to learn a new skill.

[@tonyheath626]

Hi, I've had my G233 since August 2023 and have only ever gotten it to work one time. After the initial use on one of my larger models, It has never consistently sprayed paint again. I've tried airbrush specific paints from Vallejo, GW, and Army Painter and they all see the same results even with added airbrush thinner to try and help, clogged nozzle and little to no paint flow which results in gloopy splattered paint, even after meticulous cleaning and polishing. The threads of the nozzle also seem incredibly weak and I have now snapped 2 nozzles off during reassembly. Do I just have a faulty one from the manufacturer or is this a common theme amongst these models of airbrush?

[@wickedartstudio]

I honestly can't speak to a "common theme" because the only one of these airbrushes I have any experience with is the one I actually purchased and reviewed. Based on my own experience with that one brush, I stand by what I said about quality control regarding Master Airbrush airbrushes.... I doubt there is any quality control based on the price point. I was genuinely surprised at how the airbrush I bought actually performed. It wasn't as bad as I anticipated. There are some flaws and complaints, but it is a Chinese knockoff. You get what you pay for, and I didn't expect much from this purchase in the first place. If I planned to continue using it, I might find other issues like what you've described. I understand nobody knows what they don't know, especially when one is new to airbrushing or just looking to save a few bucks to see if they want to stick with the hobby. I get it. I've been an airbrush artist for thirty years. I've tried a lot of different brands and makes of airbrushes during that time. If you want a quality airbrush that will last you a lifetime with proper care and maintenance, I suggest any Japanese manufactured airbrush (or any name brand airbrush company for that matter). If you decide to give it up later, you'll get a better return on your investment trying to sell that brush compared to a Chinese knockoff.

[@UWPcustombaits]

Im having trouble spraying pearls out of my smaller airbrush needles. Paint recommended .5 needle. Think this would be worth picking up to spray pearls/metallics only ?

[@wickedartstudio]

A 0.5mm will work better, but you'll still have clogging issues when spraying a pearl or metallic based on my own experience. If you rarely spray those types of colors the aggravation factor may not rise to the level of purchasing another brush specifically for that purpose. If you spray those often it would probably be worth it. I would recommend the Grex Tritium Micro Gun Set. It's a spray gun style airbrush with a 0.7mm needle and nozzle set (it has a conical tip and a fan tip). Not only will the 0.7mm spray a metallic or pearl better, but the fan tip also makes it easier to keep the coverage even.

[@UWPcustombaits]

@wickedartstudio I'm painting small crankbaits for fishing, I rarely use pearls but sometimes customers request it, and you can ruin a project quick like lol the spray gun you mentioned looks great but wasn't looking to spend that on a dedicated metallic sprayer, 95% all my work is done with my current brush. It might boil down to user error. I experimented with thinning and psi, and my brush just won't lay down an even coat.

[@carloscastellanos8956]

Dios te bendiga hermano! Aparte de los iwatas y otros modelos de aerógrafos que tengo, tengo uno de esa marca pero el modelo G444SET, la única diferencia con ese que presentas es que esté puedes regalarle el aire en el mismo aerógrafo, me salió bueno, Bendiciones

[@wickedartstudio]

Estaba placenteramente sorprendida. Pensé que tendría más cosas malas que decir sobre el cepillo que buenas. Ese no fue el caso. Es un aerógrafo decente, pero está muy por debajo de la competencia de marca. ¡Te agradezco que me mires y que siempre te tomes el tiempo para dejar un comentario! ¡Gracias mi amigo!

[@craigfiles7067]

Polishing the needle with 3000 grit wet & dry soaked in water, needle in a Dremel on slowest speed polish for approx 3-5 seconds with needle between folded wet & dry between thumb & index finger after that a damp corner of a micro fibre towel with some Autosol polish on it & polishing between thumb & index finger again will greatly increase the over all performance of the brush i would also add a little bees wax on the threads of the body for the head assembly to stop any & all air leaks which can also cause pulsation.

[@wickedartstudio]

I agree. I've never been a fan of polishing an airbrush needle for the reasons I mention in the video though. This airbrush isn't pulsing due to an air leak either. The erratic lines are from the questionable finish on the needle.

[@lydiadevries8408]

Thanks!

[@wickedartstudio]

Thank you!

[@johnnypenso9574]

This airbrush is more suited for modelers who aren't doing much fine work and are just looking to get a good coat of paint on small plastic parts. The lack of smoothness when trying to paint tiny little effects is probably an advantage when trying to paint on weathering effects, rust patina, etc.

[@kallinreyj]

I ordered this recently to use primarily for painting 28 mm models. Mainly to paint the individual components with the base colors. I assume it will do fine for that? And can I use my regular 6 gallon pancake compressor for this or do airbrushes require specific type or sized air compressors?

[@Indyjeeplover]

I’ve been an avid airbrush user for about a year. I use a DeWalt 2gallon compressor and prefer it to the airbrush specific ones that turn off and on every time you use air. Mine has a pressure regulator that I leave set at 50#, then use a small wall mounted regulator mounted on the wall of my booth to get the pressure down to +/- 20# for use. It only stops and starts every 10-15 minutes I have mine outside the booth and run the air hose through the wall to shield from noise. I had a Craftsman pancake compressor and it was loud.

[@kallinreyj]

@@Indyjeeplover Thank you so much for the info!

[@wickedartstudio]

As @chuckhepler4157 already mentioned, you can use any compressor to run your airbrush, provided you have a regulator attached to it in order to adjust your pressure. In fact, I would recommend any compressor other than the small, air-cooled compressors you generally find marketed toward airbrush use for the same reason Chuck mentioned, they run constantly, creating heat, which creates condensation and excessive heat kills compressors prematurely. As far as whether or not the G233 will work for painting your models, it should be fine for that purpose.

[@kennedysamarakody4925]

Do you need an air compressor to spray the paint out?

[@wickedartstudio]

Yes, you will need an air source to operate any airbrush. There are other options, but only a compressor will continuously regenerate your air supply.

[@bobbyspenser7304]

That's is a nice air brush I am still using a zeny an I know it's not the best but what you have here is a really nice brush thank you for sharing your videos

[@GarryMurray-i1y]

Just purchased this airbrush for a back up but now may have to be my main brush as my expensive Iwata eclipse hp cs is done. Tried complete cleaning and the so calls need wax and it just bubbles in the cup. Completely useless. I’m done spending that kind of money on a brush that should last longer than 2 years especially when I’m painting lures that don’t require extreme detail work. You don’t always get what you pay for imo.

[@wickedartstudio]

The issue you're experiencing is absolutely created by air pressure entering the gravity feed cup. An air leak in the head cap and/or nozzle is the most common cause of this particular problem. If you have ruled an air leak out, there are some other things to check that can cause the same issue. During a complete cleaning it is important to separate the tip of the fluid nozzle from the fluid nozzle base on the Eclipse. Paint will dry within the fluid nozzle during normal use. Over time that dried film of paint will continue to grow until it reaches a point that affects the performance of the airbrush in a negative way (the needle won't be able to seat completely which will allow air pressure to back feed into the brush). Soak those parts in whatever solvent is suitable for the paint you choose to use. It may take 15 minutes. It may require soaking overnight. I prefer to use an interdental brush to scrub out the larger part of the fluid nozzle (the compression fit end). I use the airbrush needle to gently scrub the inside of the fluid nozzle tip and/or push any loosened dried paint out of it before reassembly. I say gently because using too much force or jamming the needle into the tip of the fluid nozzle in order to force any blockage out can result in damaging the fluid nozzle tip. The other problem that can cause the issue you're experiencing is a damaged or split fluid nozzle. The fluid nozzle is a very delicate part that is easily damaged as mentioned above. There are many ways the fluid nozzle can get damaged. If you suspect that might be the cause of your problem, I suggest getting a cheap jeweler's loupe. A jeweler's loupe is a very economical way to examine the tip of your airbrush needle and/or nozzle for damage. The fluid nozzle tip should be perfectly round as opposed to oblong or split. I hope that helps!

[@mikebalis9963]

Will polishing fix the needle?

[@wickedartstudio]

Polishing the needle would very likely improve performance to some degree; however, I'm not sure one could polish out all of the defects on a cheap needle. On the flip side, polishing the needle can also alter the needle taper, and that would degrade performance.

[@mikebalis9963]

@@wickedartstudio I guess limiting the polishing to the polishing chemical and cloth is wise

[@wickedartstudio]

@@mikebalis9963 I agree, but again, I'm almost certain a polishing compound alone would not remove enough of the defects seen in the cheaper needle to make a difference (your time is still worth something even from a hobbyist perspective). The difference between the two needles is pretty stark even with my less than expensive camera equipment.

[@mikebalis9963]

@@wickedartstudio thank you

[@aviatorsandastronauts]

Mr Bezos, one of the wealthiest people on the planet, thanks you for the free plug.

[@wickedartstudio]

Thanks.

[@drsofaking]

Weight distribution - put some paint in it - that's more weight to the front.

[@wickedartstudio]

That is true; however, that's not enough to tip the scale with this particular brush.

[@augustk2652]

I gave the G29 and its terrible

[@wickedartstudio]

I have no experience with that particular model. You get what you pay for most of the time, especially when the subject is a precision tool. I stand by my recommendation to spend a little more and purchase a known brand.

[@deshawn4077]

Whats wrong with it?

[@213stefela6]

Master airbrushes break after a few months

[@wickedartstudio]

I've had one for a little over a year now and nothing has broken on it yet. Having said that, I doubt there is any real quality control associated with this brand.