Electric Cat Dude
Needle-chuck Ninja
Or better titled: “Why Iwata owes me royalties for advertising their products.”
last spring I acquired a H&S Infinity CR Plus and returned to airbrush art after a 22 year hiatus. I have enjoyed using the Infinity CR Plus and it is a well made brush. But recently I gained access to all of my old airbrush equipment from long ago, including my CM-B and CM-SB and started using them again. And I can make this report back.
Most newcomers to airbrush art will react with sticker shock to the Custom Micron price tag and wonder why on earth anyone would pay $500 for an airbrush. In truth it’s not an easy justification to make for newcomers but, after you’ve logged some trigger time, the answers become very clear.
I make this comparison largely against the H&S Infinity because it’s another high end fine art and illustrator’s airbrush. Both the Infinity and the Micron have excellent fit and finish and both can deliver exacting fine lines. The Infinity does come more accessorized than the Micron does and even has a few nicer features like a superior pre-set handle design to the Micron.
but what drives my decision toward the Micron over any other airbrush line is the absolute functionality, dependability, and repeatability. The airbrush has an exceptional feel and balance in one’s hands. The trigger is silky smooth with no binding or hang-ups noticeable during operation. The machining, fit and polish on critical parts and interfaces is second to none. This translates into a very reliable and exacting airbrush that is highly controllable. I know when I pull the trigger on my CM-B or CM-SB exactly how much paint I will get for a given draw and I will repeat this every time I pull the trigger. I have not found this to be possible on the Infinity airbrush line. The trigger on the infinity does not often release paint at the same rate or quantity with every drawback, which means I cannot rely on the dependable application of paint. The highly polished needles on the Microns are far more resistant to tip buildup, though it will occur after time. I’ve had instances with the Infinity where the brush would release paint before the needle was drawn back or it would spatter paint before pulling back the trigger ( BIG NO NO in a fine art airbrush!). Both airbrushes do best with transparent media like watercolors, dyes, etc. and both can draw excellent fine lines. But the Micron, with its sheer controllability and reliability wins out. You just don’t have to fuss or worry about it and can trust the performance of the gun to apply the exact amount of paint exactly where you want it, when you want it. That’s a major hallmark of a good art tool, sense you can start depending on his feedback from things like trigger pull, position from the work surface, etc. to render from your mind’s dictates. There’s just no other airbrush I have seen which can do that like a Micron.
Anyways, that’s just my two cents. And Iwata? You can start mailing your checks to me now!
last spring I acquired a H&S Infinity CR Plus and returned to airbrush art after a 22 year hiatus. I have enjoyed using the Infinity CR Plus and it is a well made brush. But recently I gained access to all of my old airbrush equipment from long ago, including my CM-B and CM-SB and started using them again. And I can make this report back.
Most newcomers to airbrush art will react with sticker shock to the Custom Micron price tag and wonder why on earth anyone would pay $500 for an airbrush. In truth it’s not an easy justification to make for newcomers but, after you’ve logged some trigger time, the answers become very clear.
I make this comparison largely against the H&S Infinity because it’s another high end fine art and illustrator’s airbrush. Both the Infinity and the Micron have excellent fit and finish and both can deliver exacting fine lines. The Infinity does come more accessorized than the Micron does and even has a few nicer features like a superior pre-set handle design to the Micron.
but what drives my decision toward the Micron over any other airbrush line is the absolute functionality, dependability, and repeatability. The airbrush has an exceptional feel and balance in one’s hands. The trigger is silky smooth with no binding or hang-ups noticeable during operation. The machining, fit and polish on critical parts and interfaces is second to none. This translates into a very reliable and exacting airbrush that is highly controllable. I know when I pull the trigger on my CM-B or CM-SB exactly how much paint I will get for a given draw and I will repeat this every time I pull the trigger. I have not found this to be possible on the Infinity airbrush line. The trigger on the infinity does not often release paint at the same rate or quantity with every drawback, which means I cannot rely on the dependable application of paint. The highly polished needles on the Microns are far more resistant to tip buildup, though it will occur after time. I’ve had instances with the Infinity where the brush would release paint before the needle was drawn back or it would spatter paint before pulling back the trigger ( BIG NO NO in a fine art airbrush!). Both airbrushes do best with transparent media like watercolors, dyes, etc. and both can draw excellent fine lines. But the Micron, with its sheer controllability and reliability wins out. You just don’t have to fuss or worry about it and can trust the performance of the gun to apply the exact amount of paint exactly where you want it, when you want it. That’s a major hallmark of a good art tool, sense you can start depending on his feedback from things like trigger pull, position from the work surface, etc. to render from your mind’s dictates. There’s just no other airbrush I have seen which can do that like a Micron.
Anyways, that’s just my two cents. And Iwata? You can start mailing your checks to me now!