I like this airbrush. Now that I have laid my cards on the table you can either stop reading this article and buy this airbrush, or you can read on and I will qualify my first statement.
The Infinity is the flagship airbrush from Harder and Steenbeck. Introduced in 2007, the brush quickly earned a reputation for its quality, design & functionality, and of course it’s aesthetic appeal. The airbrush would go on to be one of their most popular lines, only second to their mid-tier offering, the Evolution. It has undergone minor revisions since its debut, with a new CR+ version introduced in 2011, but more about that later.
My airbrush was purchased locally through Scott Millican, owner of Elm City Hobbies , in New Brunswick, Canada. Everything about the Infinity tells you that this is a quality product. It came shipped in a hard black case emblazoned with the Infinity logo. Upon opening I was greeted by a beautiful chrome, red and gold accented airbrush, along with accessories, all secured in a fitted insert that held my new airbrush safely inside.
I chose the Infinity CR+ 2 in 1 with the new V2 needle sets in 0.15mm and 0.4mm. The CR+ has some subtle differences from their standard Infinity. First, it is shipped with a chrome finish, rather than their standard nickel one. This means that the brush will withstand the wear and tear of daily use better, and maintain that shiny finish longer. Secondly, it ships with triple PTFE seals in the needle seal cap and a single PTFE seal in the air valve. Although all H&S brushes come equipped with single PTFE needle seals, the triple seal ensures that little to no paint will leak back into the body of the airbrush, creating jams or other obstructions. This will also allow the user to spray any type of paint through the airbrush, as PTFE is solvent proof.
Harder and Steenbeck produces 0.15mm, 0.2mm, 0.4mm and 0.6mm needle /nozzle sets that universally fit the Ultra / Evolution / Infinity and Grafo line of airbrushes. The 0.15mm is their super detail needle set and is the smallest offered on the market. This will allow the use to spray hair width lines, with the appropriate mediums. The V2 needles are a new innovation into the market. Made from a harder material, the needles are stronger and coated to better resist tip dry. Harder and Steenbeck has also introduced a needle identification system at the end of the needles with their V2 needles, allowing users to identify the diameter of the needle at a glance.
The Infinity comes with a removable, pronged crown cap. The pronged cap provides protection from accidental bumps, while allowing the user to quickly remove any dried paint without disassembling the airbrush. Users who need to get in closer to their project can choose to remove the crown cap entirely, completely exposing the needle tip. The CR+ 2 in 1 also comes with a distance cap that allows the users to keep the needle at a predetermined distance, allowing for consistent lines.
Switching the needle/nozzle is a snap. The airbrush is designed to not need tools to remove the parts. Simply remove the handle, loosen the needle chuck and carefully remove the needle. Then unscrew the air cap and crown from the body, pull out the nozzle (it is not screw in), and then replace the new nozzle and air cap, reinsert the needle, tighten the chuck and you are swapped over. The nozzle uses a PTFE seal to ensure a perfect seal every time. I truly love the fact that these nozzles are substantial. I have used Iwata airbrushes and my greatest fear was always that I would lose that small nozzle. You don’t have that fear with the Infinity.
One of the selling features of the Infinity (for me, at least) is the removable colour cup. The 2 in 1 comes with both a 2mm and 5mm color cup (and cover) allowing you to choose the appropriate size for your project. One of the complaints I had with my other airbrush was that I had to balance my desire of not having an obstructed view of my project with a decent capacity cup so I wasn’t refilling every 2 minutes. With the Infinity I can choose large, small, or if I have a really small quantity of paint to spray, no color cup at all. As with the other seals, they are PTFE, allowing you to spray solvent based paints.
The handle has a needle limiter. This allows you to limit how far back the needle will travel giving you the ability to replicate your pressure very consistently. Harder and Steenbeck has taken it one step further and has added a memory function. With this feature you can depress the quick set, dial it to where you need it to be, and then when you are done, pull the limiter back into its original position with full travel, but at any point you can click the limiter again and be back to your preset. This would be great for those who pre-shade or are looking for a consistent line pattern.
Disassembling the Infinity is a dream. It does require a tool to unlock the waist of the airbrush, but if you don’t tighten it down with excessive force, it can be removed with ease in the future. The waist holds the needle chuck, a trigger tension adjust and spring and the needle clamping nut. They all come apart easily and you can tell that they were machined precisely with a lot of polishing. The trigger and trigger rocker is one piece and comes out easily. I like this as it is dead simple to put back in, and you can’t lose any parts upon removal. The trigger has a lot of travel and you can really vary the airflow as a result. This will be especially useful for those who want to feather paint, or create fine lines.
It lays down paint very smoothly. The 0.4mm needle @18 psi likes to chew through paint. Bringing the PSI down and playing with the trigger tension tames that down. I like the fact that you can access the trigger tension through the handle cutout and adjust it on the fly.
This is the easiest brush to disassemble and clean. It comes apart easily and the chrome plating resists paint sticking to it. Loosen the needle clamping nut and remove the needle, unscrew the waist from the body, pull out the trigger and then remove the air cap and nozzle and you are field stripped to the point where must users should be. Remove the trigger tension screw and you are full disassembled.
So back to my initial comment – I’ve changed my mind – I LOVE this airbrush! It is well made, it feels great in the hand, it sprays paint well, its easy to clean, and it looks great. I know that the price tag may scare some people away, but you know what they say, “buy cheap, buy twice.” If you are looking for the last airbrush you will ever own, pick up an Infinity. Take care of it, and it will last you a lifetime.
