I also have the Aztek and its fabulous. I don't love my airbrush city compressor, though. I broke my airbrush by soaking it, thinking I'd get it really good and clean. Then when it wouldn't work and I looked back at the instructions it has "DO NOT SOAK" all over the place! Whoops! I contacted the manufacturer, they told me to send it back to them for evaluation. They replaced it with a brand new one for free! Isn't THAT awesome?!

Thanks for the info on the cocoa/colors switch....VERY good to know. Now I want an airbrush even more!!!

In regards to the compressor, does this mean you can use any compressor with the Aztek? I found the Aztek for $109 at http://www.aswexpress.com/art-supply/catalogs/0049709000000

Don't know if that helps at all. Make sure to leave ME one though!!!

saberger, that looks like a great price. What do you think about the aztek blue mini compressor on the BearAir? Seems like a good price also. Anyone know about this one?

What are cocoa colors, are they those simmer airbrush ones.?

You guys should try Harbor Freight! They have good deals and there guns work great. I dont personally have one but I know a few people that have bought from there and their cakes look great.

Hey everyone, I have been following all the posts since I have been looking for an airbrush as well. After hours of research I decided that the system Roland Winbeckler recommends (the one Tiggy2 has) is the way to go. Unfortunately it was out of my budget. Well, I did lots of searching and ended up getting the Aztek airbrush kit from ASW Express for $98.99 (it sells for $109.99 but you can get an additional 10% off if you enter HDCC in the coupon code). The link is:
http://www.aswexpress.com/art-supply/catalogs/0049709000000

I then bought the same air compressor at Harbor Frieight for $69.99. It is the same one that Winbeckler sells for $165 in his sight. The link for that is: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92403

So I ended up getting the whole set up for $168.98 (not including shipping), as opposed to $344.95 on Winbeckler's site! I hope it works as good as everyone says it does. I can't wait to play!

Hope this helps some of you. Thanks for all the posts to help me on this decision.

I've been following this thread and just in time or I would have made a costly mistake and bought the wrong product. Thanks so much CC'ers cos I'm getting me an Aztec very obviously.THANKS so much!!!!

Shopchefrubber.com is where you can get the cocoa butter spray colors. They are $19.50 a can but will last you a while.

Call the company to ask if your airbrush is compatible for the cocoa butters first. A lot of them are not because they can not handle it and will get ruined.

lovemyhusband thank you so much. I am going to jump on in and get this too. Don't know what to do with it when I have it but am looking forward to it.

Has anybody looked at / used these on ebay?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Powercat-Deluxe-Cake-Decorating-Airbrush-Compressor_W0QQitemZ180303714570QQihZ008QQcategoryZ134557QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

I don't do that many cakes, so the price looked pretty good to me...

lovemyhusband. That's a great deal. I ordered mine for $250 with delivery and thought that was a good price. Dang it. Oh well, if I would have waited I wouldn't have bought it. The rational part of my brain would have taken over the compulsive part and reminded me about my house payment, health insurance payment and car insurance payment due 2 days after I bought it.
Congrats on the good deal.

lovemyhusband - are you serious!? That is awesome about the compressor.....that really is the same one? I was trying to figure out which one it was! Thanks so much for sharing that info. I think I may just have to go ahead and get it now! Hhhmmmm....I wonder if my DH will notice it when it shows up on the credit card statement? (I'm so naughty!)

Well, I did it. I ordered the Aztek. I am so nervous and excited. You know, spending that much $ on something I may love or hate and I don't even know how to use it yet! Now I have to get the colors and compressor. Any good deals on the colors?

I didn't get the compressor yet, because I thought that the one from Winbeckler's site included some kind of moisture trap thingy. Isn't that necessary? And does it come with the one from Harbor Freights?

As far as I could tell the compressor from Harbor Freight is the same one that Winbeckler sells. It doesn't say on the web site if it has the built in moisture trap but it seems to be the same one so I am hoping it does. I guess I won't know for sure until I receive it. I tried calling Harbor Freight to ask but, after being on hold for 15 minutes, I hung up. My husband says I can buy a moisture trap and add it on if it doesn't end up coming with it. I looked back at Winbecklers site and saw that he also sells moisture trap attachments for other compressors so I don't think it would be that big of a deal. Hopefully it is the same exact one and I won't have to worry about that, though. I'll let you know for sure once I receive it.

FYI for anyone with a local Harbor freight store. I was looking on this site earlier and I saw what everyone had mentioned and I am looking for a airbrush set myself. I went to my local Harbor Freight and the same compressor is on sale until 11/10/08 for 49.95 down from 69.99.

I know everyone is trying to save, including me.....and I just wanted to pass the savings along. I live in PA hopefully the sale will be cross country.

Moisture traps; yes you need one. Due to the air compressor heating and cooling down condensation will build. This moisture will get pumped through the lines.

Mike

What about this one? It includes the moisture trap and is the same price as the other one at Harbor Freight? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93657

I will also call to see if the store near me has it in stock.

Saberger: the one that you mentioned from Harbor freight the one that is 40psi is the one that is 49.99 right now. Not the 30 psi...... I am actually going to purchase one right now, and I have decided on purchasing a Aztec air brush thank you to all of you for the great posts, I am rather excited.

You can use a compressor that goes higher as long as it has a guage to drop the psi to between 12 and 20. I prefer my craftsman tank compressor (yeah the kind you have in the garage and can use for airtools) The problem with low psi compressors- like ones that only go 18- is that when you work with pearl sometimes you need a little higher. And they don't maintain the 18 psi consistantly for long periods. They drop lower and you get grainy results. If you have a higher compressor- it is rated to maintain a higher psi- so when you drop it to 18 or so it can hold that 18 for a while..(does that make sense?) But if you are not planning on airbrushing for long periods like in a class- then it probably doesn't matter as much.

The problem with non name-brand airbrushes isn't that they don't work, it's where they are made to make them cheaper. Make sure your airbrush is not made in China. If it has lead components in that could be a problem. Double action brushes are the best if you want to do more than just mist colors. Try Chigagoairbrushsupply.com and you can get a good name brand that will support it's product for just as cheap. You can get a double action for around $60.

Aztecs are good and when they were came out in the 80's they were supposed to revolutionize airbrushing. Their plastic cups do break tho. Badgers and Iwatas are great too. Kopy Kakes are OK- but the KK- airmaster red compressor is one of the best I've seen and used. My fav is Paasche- the Millenium,the Vl and Paasche just came out with the Talon- that has a top cup and it has a cover- I think it is the best brush I've ever used.(I've used alot) But that is just a personal opinion.

Yes, You can adapt the Airmaster compressor to work with other brushes. You do have to open up the box and install a $2.50 part. Or, If your brush has the braided hose- you could snip the universal compressor end off and jam it onto the KK nipple. It might pop off sometimes- but it should work.
hth Janet

jennarose: it's $49.99 at the store there? Wow! Good deal. I called my tore here and the 30 psi was actually 79.99 rather than the 69.99 that's on the web. I'll have to check about the 40psi one. Customer service said that the pressure can be adjusted - it actually goes up to @56psi - not that I need it. She seemed to think that this was better overall than the 30psi one.

JanetBme: thanks for all of the very helpful info! I really appreciate it!

Has anyone found a good deal on the colors?

saberger: and anyone else I don't want to misleading. I went to Harbor Freight last night and found the 40 psi one for 49.99. I held off till today and went back to purchase it, now mind you 2 different people last night told me about the sale and it's price.....well needless to say it rung up at 79.99, but because the sign was wrong they did honor the 49.99 price. So I just wanted to let everyone know that the sign in my local store was wrong that the 40 psi is not the discounted price. Sorry!!!!!

thanks jennarose. I will be careful. When I did call the store, they said the 30psi was 79.99 and I said the website said 69.99, so the said to print it and then they would honor that price. So try that angle as well.