Airbrush specifications always mention siphon feed or gravity feed. The terms describe how paint reaches the airbrush, and the difference matters more in practice than most people expect.
Siphon feed
The bottle sits below the airbrush. Air rushing past the head creates suction that draws paint up a tube.
Strengths
- Holds a lot of paint — 1 to 3 ounce bottles let you spray for a long time without stopping
- Very fast colour changes: swap one bottle for another without washing the body
- Clear view of the work, with nothing sitting on top
- Suits paints that need frequent mixing, since the bottle is sealed
Limits
- Needs slightly higher air pressure to create the suction
- Paint always remains in the pick-up tube, so it wastes more on small jobs
- Heavier in the hand with a full bottle
Gravity feed
The cup sits on top and paint falls straight in.
Strengths
- Works at lower pressure, atomises more finely, and produces less overspray
- Almost no paint left behind — good for expensive or custom-mixed colours
- Lighter and better balanced, so it is comfortable for long sessions
- Easier to work close to the surface
Limits
- Small cup, so frequent refills on large areas
- Every colour change means washing the cup
- The cup can block your view at some angles
How to choose
Ask two questions. How much paint does a job use? Large areas or the same piece repeated all day clearly favour siphon feed. A few drops at a time favours gravity feed. How often do you change colour? If it is every few minutes, having several bottles ready and swapping them is the fastest method there is.
Professionals with varied work usually own both and pick per job rather than committing to one.
What we stock
Siphon feed: H, VL, VLS, Millennium, TS and SI, with 1 oz, 3 oz and 8 oz bottles.
Gravity feed: Talon, Vision, RG and TG, with metal cups from 1/4 oz to 2 oz.
Some models convert either way with a different cup or bottle assembly. If you are not sure whether yours can, send us the part number and we will check.