Renegade, Hi-Line HP-BH, or Infinity

[gotarheelz14]

Hey all,

I am honestly sorry to flood the board with yet another "which airbrush" but it is that time a year, I don't have that much money---meaning its an actual investment for me, and I haven't heard a lot of talk about the Iwata and the Badger.

So here is my situation. I already have an HP-CS Eclipse. It is great for everything. It can do fine lines but it takes a little more coaxing to do post shading, preshading fine lines, etc. I need something more fool proof if you will.

I am kind of leaning towards the Iwata. I know Iwatas are good and I really like that the HP-BH has the MAC valve for detailing. It also has the regulator at the end. It looks like it is meant to be a detail brush.

The infinity has gotten rave reviews. I am a bit concerned that it might not be as much of a detail brush as the Iwata. I will not get the 2-1 options so that's a bit of a mute point with me. I already have the HP-CS as my main brush and I won't trade it.

Finally, the Renegade has been generating a lot of hype. Some people swear it's as good as the Micron. This is also about $100 dollars which is half the price of the other two.

My question to you all; Does the MAC valve really do that much of a difference? If not, I am kind of leaning towards the Renegade.

Let me know what you guys think

Edited December 22, 2009 by gotarheelz14

[Frankhenrylee]

I've got the Renegade. I chose it because it was cheaper and supposed to be just as good as the others. Its parts are cheaper and it will do an extremely fine line. The only thing I don't like is the groove in the bottom of the cup. It is a little more difficult to clean and the needle HAS to be pulled everytime. I haven't used the others so I can't offer a comparison. For what its worth, I think its a badass little brush for the price. It shoots such a fine line that it really is strictly a detail brush. I've only ever used Badger and haven't been airbrushing long so my opinion is a little one sided. I do like the chrome plating on the Iwata and the smaller cups that are on some. Detail brushes don't need big cups, the one on the renegade holds enough paint to paint for an hour. I think after getting this one that I would like something thats not quite such a fine point, I could use it for more stuff, and it wouldn't clog as easily. Have to use a strainer with these brushes if you don't already. Hope this helps.

[little-cars]

I think I've only seen one bench test of the Renegade, it was up against the Entry level Iwata and another brush. It was placed second ot third from memory, the Iwata Revolution was placed first.

The mac valve is a great tool, either on the brush or as an add on. Most compressor regulators are not that precise so bieng able to precisely set the airflow using a control at the brush end of the setup is great for fine detail work.

The infinity has been designed as a graphic artists brush, the head allows you to get very close to the subject and still get good airflow, the back end is a needle restrictor that has been designed to switch on and off while keeping the setting. Very useful for repetative detail work, or splitting your detail work over several sessions. As far as I know all the other brushes just have a screw that goes in and out, once you have unscrewed it you have lost the setting you had.

The Hiline is a very old design, very tiny screw in nozzles, the same as the tiny brass piece on the end of the Eclipse nozzle. can be difficult to take off and on and clean. The Infinity nozzles by comparison are compresion fit, sit in the head and self centre. H&S produce a litle bottle brush that is the right size to clean the main parts of the brush and a metal reamer that you can buy if you find the nozzle is clogging up. The nozzle is also finer than the hiline at 0.15mm.

It is also worth having a look at just buying the preset handle and a mac valve for the brush you already have, this may give you enough control for your needs.

[denstore]

If you already have an Eclipse, I would clearly go with the HP-BH. It´s a very nice airbrush, and in my opinion the best of these three.

If you´re not attracted to the multiple needle choice of the H&S, I can´t see any reason for the Infinity. And if you still are, gowith the Evolution Silverline instead, since they really are the same, but without the red and gold trimmings.