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Marilyn Grant
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Writer
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reviewed
Reviewed By
Julie Flores
Julie Flores
Expert Consultant
Julie owns a shop specializing in sewing equipment and accessories. No wonder she knows everything when it comes to technical specifications of practically anything we revie read more
Last updated: September 01, 2023

Iwata Revolution Review – Perfect Airbrush for Beginners

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By
Marilyn Grant
Marilyn Grant
Writer
Marilyn knows how to present the dullest topic in an interesting and easy-to-read way. When she’s not teaching English Literature at a local school or writing for our site read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Julie Flores
Julie Flores
Expert Consultant
Julie owns a shop specializing in sewing equipment and accessories. No wonder she knows everything when it comes to technical specifications of practically anything we revie read more
Last updated: September 01, 2023
CraftyHangouts is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here
Ideal for
  • Beginners
  • Casual Artists
  • Serious Artists
Key features
  • Clogging
  • Weak Nozzle
  • Needles bend easily
Editor's Rating
?
CraftyHangouts is a ranking system developed by our team of experts. It aggregates all the scores given to a product in various aspects including the individual product’s features evaluation given by each expert independently, its customers’ feedback rank, and sales rank.
9,2
out of 10
  • Nozzle
    9.2
  • Spray scale
    9.3
  • Pressure
    9.1
  • Overall
    9.2
Users’ Rating
4.1
out of 5
85 Users’ Rating
rating rating rating rating rating
rating
rating rating rating rating rating
4.1
out of
5
85 Users’ Rating
  • 5 stars
    19%
  • 4 stars
    74%
  • 3 stars
    6%
  • 2 stars
    1%
  • 1 stars
    0%
Add your rating:

This Iwata Revolution review covers all of the key features of the Iwata Revolution Airbrush, including what sets it apart from the competition. This is a gravity feed airbrush, which means that the paint is stored at the top of the airbrush, and gravity then pulls it into the mixing chamber, where it becomes atomized into a fine mist.

This product's also been included into these rankings:

Our #4 pick for the best airbrush for models

Specifications

Nozzle
0.5 mm
Spray scale
Fine to Wide
Optimal working pressure
20 - 30 psi (0.14 - 0.21 Mpa)
Nozzle type
Screw-On
Head system
R5 - Needle, Needle Cap, Nozzle, Nozzle Cap
Feed style
Gravity
Paint capacity
0.24 oz (7.0 ml)
Dimensions
4.4 x 7.8 x 2.2 inches
Weight
8.8 oz

Iwata Revolution Review

This model is affordable and is a great option for people who are new to airbrushing or are looking for a lower-cost model that can deliver great results. The spray scale is fine too wide, which makes it great for larger areas as well as more precise details. As a general rule, Iwata tools tend to be very easy to work with and don’t take very long to get the hang of it you’re new to airbrushing. Indeed, the Iwata Revolution outstrips others in the price category by a considerable margin and delivers great results without breaking the bank.

Overall performance and functions

Airbrush painting Trusted Source Advice for tackling that weekend painting project - The Washington Post Painting is the perfect cool weather weekend project. www.washingtonpost.com is a great way to achieve beautiful and even application that is challenging to achieve with other application styles Trusted Source How to make that DIY paint job more professional - The Washington Post As restless renters and homeowners search for ways to spruce up their living spaces during the pandemic, they often find themselves in the paint-swatch aisle. It’s easy to see why. Painting is one of the quickest and cheapest ways to transform a room — and it seems like one of the simplest, too. Except it isn’t. Not exactly. www.washingtonpost.com .  The Iwata Revolution airbrush is a fantastic new brush that will help you achieve the airbrushing results of your dreams. Iwata is an industry leader in airbrushing, and the Revolution is great for all skill levels. It has an ergonomic handle, an internal mix airbrush, a fine detail spray pattern, a larger nozzle for heavier application, a state-of-the-art trigger mechanism, and much more.

The Iwata Revolution features a 1-1/2” spray pattern and can handle heavy and thick paints (which is a rarity for many airbrushes on the market, especially in this price range).

Nozzle

The nozzle of the Iwata Revolution is a screw-on nozzle. The nozzle and the needle are both .5mm, which makes the tool a great all-purpose airbrush. The nozzle has a 1/16 cc cup but can also function with the purchase of a conversion kit for a 1/3 cc cup, although this increases the price slightly.

Iwata Revolution Review - Perfect Airbrush for Beginners
A larger nozzle (like this one) is a better choice for beginners who have yet to learn precise airbrush control and need to hone their technique.

Spray scale

The spray scale of the Iwata Revolution Airbrush is super versatile, and you can achieve precise and narrow flow as easily as heavier and wider airbrushing. It’s classified as being fine too wide and can cover a good range. This is perfect if you’re working on a project that requires a lot of precision and has tiny detailing. Achieving super fine spray is difficult with many airbrushes on the market, but the Iwata Revolution makes it easy to achieve and control. On the flip side, if you’re interested in heavier and more efficient applications of a lot of colors at once, the Revolution is also capable of delivering great results and can cover a lot of surface area in a short amount of time.

Working pressure

The working pressure used by all Iwata airbrushes— including the Revolution series— is soft and allows the user to achieve effortless coverage. This makes the Revolution airbrush great for general purpose use. The optimal working pressure of this model is 20-30 psi or 0.14-0.21 Mpa.

Some types of airbrushing— like airbrushing designs onto T-shirts— are better performed with higher working pressures of around 65 psi. If you intend to create designs on T-shirts or other fabric items, you may want to consider a different airbrush that can operate at higher psi.

As stated above, the nozzle size of this model is slightly larger than some of the other ones available. Typically, the smaller the nozzle/needle size, the lower the air pressure (and thinner paint) required. Larger nozzle sizes, like the one on the Iwata Revolution, require higher air pressure (although not as high as 65psi) and can also function very well with thicker paint.

Ease of use

This model is very easy to use and is a great option for beginners and for more experienced airbrush artists. The design of the tool contributes to how easy it is to control and use, which allows artists of all skill levels to achieve the precision they require with very little practice. The gravity feed airbrush style is another feature that allows users to get the hang of the Iwata Revolution quickly, even if they have little experience.

Maintenance

As with any airbrush, keeping the Iwata Revolution clean is one of the ways to ensure top-quality performance with every use. In order to properly maintain your Iwata Revolution, you should thoroughly clean it after every use without letting the paint dry. You can purchase an Iwata Airbrush Cleaning Kit from the Iwata website, and this will include all of the necessary tools to ensure that your Iwata Airbrush stays in tip-top shape. While the practice of deep cleaning your airbrush after each use may feel annoying if you’re new to the hobby, all seasoned airbrush artists can tell you that this step is crucial if you want maximum performance and consistent results.

Price tag

Another great feature of the Iwata Revolution Airbrush is that it’s exceptionally affordable. You really get a lot of bang for your buck with purchase, especially considering that Iwata is an industry leader for airbrushes. This airbrush costs around $115, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more capable airbrush for a lower price. There are some models on the market that cost around $60, but these have features that are significantly less well-engineered and also require the purchase of expensive accessories. These cheaper models often degrade in quality a lot more quickly than the Iwata model and can require expensive replacements after a short amount of use.

Key features

This model includes many features that set it apart from the competition. One of the most notable is the special ergonomic handle which makes application easy and steady while giving the artist maximum comfort. This model also comes with Teflon Needle Packaging and a larger nozzle which makes it an excellent choice for beginners. This model is an internal mix, dual-action top-feed (gravity feed) airbrush and also features a completely redesigned trigger mechanism for ease of use— another benefit if you’re new to airbrushing.

PROS CONS
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Teflon Needle Packaging
  • Redesigned Trigger Mechanism
  • Larger Nozzle
  • Precision Control
  • Clogging
  • Weak Nozzle
  • Needles bend easily

Conclusion

The Iwata Revolution Airbrush is an excellent choice if you’re new to airbrushing or if you’re a seasoned airbrush artist looking to play with a new toy. The Iwata Revolution delivers the usual standard that Iwata fans have come to expect from their products and is a great option if you want some state-of-the-art features at a lower price point.

References

1.
Advice for tackling that weekend painting project - The Washington Post
Painting is the perfect cool weather weekend project.
2.
How to make that DIY paint job more professional - The Washington Post
As restless renters and homeowners search for ways to spruce up their living spaces during the pandemic, they often find themselves in the paint-swatch aisle. It’s easy to see why. Painting is one of the quickest and cheapest ways to transform a room — and it seems like one of the simplest, too. Except it isn’t. Not exactly.
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