Badger 155 Anthem Review
6/2011
The 155 was my first airbrush, and still my favorite for all around use.
First Impression
Well, since I had never used an airbrush before, I had nothing to compare it with. But, it was comfortable to hold, and felt like a quality instrument. Without a cup, it weighs just 78g. I had beginner's problems, but none of them were the fault of the Anthem.
Here is how it breaks down.
Mine has a rubber pad on the trigger, which I really like. But, Badger has discontinued this feature.
There are more details on the head and trigger assemblies on my Basic Stuff page.
Notice that the needle has a knob on the back. You can't pull it out the front of the brush, but it's very easy to remove from the rear. This is one case where I think the cutout handle really makes sense. The needle chuck is accessible with the handle on.
The needle bearing is Teflon, and Badger will replace it free if it ever wears out or gets damaged.
Everything is finger tightened, so you don't have to keep track of a wrench. I don't think there is a siphon airbrush that's easier to clean and care for. For a step by step pictorial of how I clean this brush, have a look at this page.
The Anthem has a wide range of spray pattern, and the picture below shows why. It has a dual slope needle. The tip opening is a large .76mm. But, the slope of the needle is very shallow when it is fully seated, and this allows pretty fine control for the first part of trigger travel. Then, when the trigger is about half way back, the slope changes to a much steeper taper, and allows broad coverage. When wide open, the 155 will empty a 1/4 oz. cup in about 12 seconds. That's kind of nice when you're cleaning it.
So, it's not a detail airbrush. But, it will go fine enough for most needs, and yet it is also able to do larger jobs without changing anything. And, if you need finer work, parts are available at low cost that will do that. See the 3155 page for details.
The needle extends slightly past the head. So, it can be snagged if you're not careful. But, it's pretty tough.
The Badger 200NH and 175 Crescendo have the same needle profile and perform the same.
Trying it out
Here is a little doodle with food coloring on a paper towel. I can tell you from years of experience and every model I've built, that it does an excellent job with enamels. Conclusion As I wrote at the beginning, it is my favorite all around airbrush. So, I am a bit biased. It is one of the lowest priced Badger brushes, and I think it is a bargain.