Badger 100LG VS Renegade Velocity

The Renegade series are designed to be detail airbrushes.  The Velocity and the Spirit have a .21 tip and needle combo while the Rage has a .33 tip and needle.  The max line width is about one inch and you have to have fairly thin mediums to use with it.  The 100LG can be fitted with everything from a fine tip (.26mm) up to medium and large tip (.53mm and .77mm respectively).  This setup allows for the 100LG to be used for a multitude of mediums from inks to glazes.  HTH.  FWIW, I have 4 100LG's ( for my kids who have since disavowed airbrushing) and the Rage.  The Velocity is in transit.

E

Thanks for your replies!

I like the possibility to change the tip/needle on the 100LG. I´m not sure, but I get the feeling that the 100LG is a bit tougher than the Renegade i.e. the tip/needle is less prone to damage.

The Renegade seems like a very nice airbrush, but probably a bit overkill when it comes to my personal skills. I only use Tamiya or Gunze acrylic paints, so I´m not sure if the .21 tip/needle of the Renegade is actually to tiny? Ok, the 100LG´s .26 tip/needle is not that larger, but in that case I have the choise to fit the .53 tip/needle.

Comments, anybody?

/Stefan

Just to clarify, Badger does not normally associate tip size descriptions to the 100/150 series illustration brushes.  In everyday use they are refered to as fine, medium, and large.  Other things to consider when comparing these two brushes are how the tip and head mate.  The Renegades use a drop in tip that centers the needle in a similiar fashion to an Iwata HP-CS tip.  Then the hold down ring and spray regulator pretty much seal everything up for the proper atomization to occur.  The 100 uses a screw in tip in a head assembly for needle centering and a teflon compression washer to seal the head for the regulated airflow.  The head assembly is wrench tightened on the 100, whereas the hold down ring and spray regulator is hand tightened on the Renegade.  The last thing to consider is airbrush maintenance.  If you replace a 100's tip only, the part is about $7-$8.  However, you need a three cornered reamer and beeswax to change it correctly, or go the easy route and replace the entire head assembly for about $15-$16.  The tip on a Renegade is $7-$8 and is a drop in fit assembly. Renegade needles are $11 and the 100 needles are around $5.  Go to Badger's website and download the instruction books for both brushes.  Tons of info on the site for both brushes, especially trhe Renegade.  Lenghty post but HTH.

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H3nav wrote:

The Renegade series are designed to be detail airbrushes.  I have 4 100LG's ( for my kids who have since disavowed airbrushing) and the Rage.  The Velocity is in transit.

BADGER wrote:

These innovative airbrushes feature Badger's "tensionsense" trigger action, "stopset" trigger setting system, exact taper micro-precise paint tips, "pointperfect" carbide polished needles, "smartcenter" nozzle assemblies, precise paint tips and linear air flow needle angles, and many other features never before available in a Badger.

Are these innovative features good, bad or "don't matter" for the modelers? The difference in price between 100LG and Renegade is $15, less than the cost of most model kits.

Better atomization, pressure-feedback trigger, more linear control, self-centered needle are good for all modeler. I don't see anything holding back the Renegade.

Here is the impression of Renegade vs 100LG by one modeler.

I am not a Badger owner. These are questions, not comments.

Simply put, it's a matter of preference.  Having said that, and I hope the next statement doesn't upset Ken Schlotfeldt, but it's hard for Badger to beat a Badger.  Their illustration brushes, when fitted with a fine tip and needle, polished winged back lever, and oversized Omni trigger, are second to none, including the Iwata's.  My 100, 100LG's, 150's, 155/360's all have counterbalance handles and Badger quick disconnects. I've also tricked out the inner workings.  However, the Renegades are excellent brushes out of the box and are easier to maintain than the illustration series.  Specifically, the tip drops in like a cone tip but centers like a screw in tip due to the "cupcake" bottom profile where it mates with the body.  The trigger tension can be adjusted from very tight to very loose to accomodate a wide range of preferences.  Would I recommend one to someone in the market for a new brush; in a word, yes.  Played with the Rage tonite shooting water on a mirror.  If a brush can atomize and pull a fine line w/ tap water on a polished mirror without spatter, that's saying something.  Badger dropped shipped my Velocity today and it is scheduled to arrive Wednesday by UPS.  It'll be a couple of weeks before I get to play with it due to Guard commitments.

E

Thanks everybody for the replies.

To H3nav; Since you own the Rage, what do you think about the needle? What I mean is, I´ve read about the Renegade needles being "easy to bend/damage" but I think that applies for the .21 needle (Velocity/Spirit). Rumours, not true?

Actually, I´ve also the Rage in mind since the .33 needle is (probably) less prone to damage and also (perhaps) better suited to spraying acrylics like Tamiya/Gunze? Of course, I don´t get the gravity feed feature but I believe the performance is still very, very good.

A bent needle or tip damage can occur with any brush, especially the fine tipped ones.  Anytime that you do maintenance or heavy cleaning retract or remove the needle.  When it is out of the brush, place it so that it cannot roll and fall on the floor.  When you reinsert the needle, make sure the trigger is depressed to the full down position and carefully guide the needle back in until it stops at the tip.  Also, a dedicated airbrush holder is a wise investment so as to reduce the chance of the brush falling from the workbench or paint table.  If you are in the habit of painting with an exposed needle, be extra careful not to bump or snag the needle when holding the brush.

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H3nav wrote:

When you reinsert the needle, make sure the trigger is depressed to the full down position and carefully guide the needle back in until it stops at the tip.

That's a new one to me. There is no reason to have to depress the trigger for the needle to pass smoothly through the slot in the trigger stem. 

Mike, as recommended by Badger in their instruction booklets, including the SOTAR 2020 :).  If someone is new to airbrushing and they are reassembling their brush, sometimes it may seem as though the trigger is seated, but it may not be and can snag a needle.  Now for something like the Crescendo's roofing nail needles that may not be a big deal, but for the fine tipped needles, it can cause big headaches.  Pressing down insures a fully seated trigger and is just extra insurance against damage that can be avoided.

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H3nav wrote:

Mike, as recommended by Badger in their instruction booklets, including the SOTAR 2020 :).  If someone is new to airbrushing and they are reassembling their brush, sometimes it may seem as though the trigger is seated, but it may not be and can snag a needle.  Now for something like the Crescendo's roofing nail needles that may not be a big deal, but for the fine tipped needles, it can cause big headaches.  Pressing down insures a fully seated trigger and is just extra insurance against damage that can be avoided.   E

Well if that is what Badger recommends then go for it. I have never heard of doing this before so I guess an old dog can indeed learn new tricks.

Just to let you know, I ordered the 100lg with fine tip/needle + medium tip/needle. It´s a proven design that has been around for several years now (well,when was it introduced?). Spare parts are easy to get by and they are not very expensive. The Renegade is surely a very fine AB, but I have yet to see one let alone try it. Maybe I´ll buy a Renegade in the future, who knows...

Thanks everybody and greetings from Sweden!

/Stefan