Harder and Steenbeck Infinity Review

Harder-Steenbeck-Infinity-13

I’m going to talk about Infinity Two in One from Harder and Steenbeck. I have posted a review for Evolution airbrush from same manufacturer last week, and I was getting replies mostly about Infinity, so I decided to make separate review for this one too. The main purpose of this review is to compare these two airbrush guns.

This airbrush isn’t mine (I don’t own it); I borrowed it just for review purpose only. So let’s see what we’ve got in here… I’m not going to show unpacking process as I think box is not as important as it’s quality and performance. Anyway, here is the box:

Harder and Steenbeck Infinity Review image.   

This airbrush is rated as Hi-End class airbrush. It means that it is one of the top-notch airbrushes you can get on the market these days and because of that not everyone can afford it.

What is in The Box?

  • Nozzle with needle for 0.15 mm integrated
  • Nozzle with needle for 0.4 mm included
  • Paint cup 2 ml integrated
  • Paint cup 5 ml included
  • Quick-fix end piece with dial and distance cap
  • User manual

and the airbrush itself. The box isn’t something like in set of Aztek 7778 but it’s nice too. This is basic set only, but there are more parts you can buy separately such as nozzles with different sizes, protective lids for cups (as the basic set comes without lids).

Harder and Steenbeck Infinity Review image.   

The Technology of Infinity

Similar to the previous patient it is equipped with self-centering socket-type nozzle. The pros of this nozzle is that it has no threads and fixes by nozzle cap from one side and by air pressure on the Teflon seal from other side.

Harder and Steenbeck Infinity Review image.   

The trigger is regulated (by excenter technology), so it could be set to different levels (adjustable trigger resistance). This particular property makes this airbrush real double action.

That’s not everything yet. The “Quick-Fix” mechanism adjusts the needle traveling. This results in maximum paint flow adjustment.

Quick adjust and release mechanism comes with a numbered dial. If you need a fine line detail all you do during your work is that you push the quick-fix button at the back of the airbrush, set the dial to desired (pre-tested) maximum and draw your line.

Harder and Steenbeck Infinity Review image.   

On the next picture you can see two screws in opened quick fix (One is responsible for needle extinction and one for trigger adjustment). If you want to spray larger area pull the quick-fix button out and you are in full paint flow capacity. Push it back and you will get to fixed dial spray level again.

Harder and Steenbeck Infinity Review image.   

Swap of the needle caps is literally plug and play. In combination with distance cap, Harder and Steenbeck Infinity Two in One becomes almost unbeatable.

Harder and Steenbeck Infinity Review image.   

Two cups are beveled so it gives it some plus even comparing to Iwata and especially if you don’t use a lid. To have a beveled cup is great because you can hold the brush even at accurate angle without spilling paint (that’s probably the reason they ship it without lids, but you can additionally buy it if your type of work requires it).

Harder and Steenbeck Infinity Review image.   

Cleaning of Infinity

When it comes to cleaning, you will not have a problem pulling the gun apart and clean it, just be careful with the fine needle. Don’t worry if you are taking the airbrush apart for first time because when you start putting it all back again you find that all parts will fit one way only.

Harder and Steenbeck Infinity Review image.   

Harder and Steenbeck Infinity Review image.   

Harder and Steenbeck Infinity Review image.   

Functionality

The airbrush fits into hand very well. The trigger really reacts to every finger move very sensitively. Easy to take apart and put it back again helps to make cleaning process easy and quick. If you won’t kill the needle with lacquer the rest is easy to clean and restore.

The Infinity requires a 1/8” connector for the airbrush hose. so if you’re using Iwata airbrush you should be fine. If you use Badger or Paasche, then an adaptor will be required.

Conclusion

As positive properties I will mention the quality (German precision says for itself), self-centering nozzle, distance cap for perfect lines, opened quick fix and its numbered dial. Overall feel is that airbrush is very user friendly.

Another great thing about Harder & Steenback airbrushes is their compatibility. Infinity, Evolution, Evolution Silverline, Ultra and some extent the Grafo use many common accessories and spare parts. For example many needles and nozzles for the Evolution also fit the Grafo, Ultra and the Infinity series.

The only con of this tool is its price. But quality always cost more. Overall I am very impressed by the work, look and feel of this very well balanced airbrush and can recommend it to everyone. If you don’t have enough finances for this guy I would recommend Evolution 2 in1 as it’s almost exact copy of infinity (or the other way around) except for few details that gives Inifnity the right to carry its name.

Buy H&S Infinity 2in1 from Chicago Supply

Next time I’ll try to get my hands on my brother’s Iwata Custom Micron.

If you like my review please share it.

June 1, 2011 Sergej Voronko
  • Dr Raz

    I have an Infinity 2in1 with the FPC valve, and an Iwata HP-CS, this H&S is superb, I would recomend it over anything else I’ve tried, and it may not be cheap, but it’s alot cheaper than a H&S CM C+ and personally, I think it has alot more going for it

    • Dr Raz

      sorry I ment cheaper than IWATA CM C+

      • http://airbrushdoc.com serzomanik

        Thanks for your comment. Now I see that I’m not the only one amazed by this tool. I had it for a few days only but now I’m considering to buy it (even that I have Evolution).

        Yep I get it anyway, I think that only Iwata has this CM C+ ;)

  • Oskar

    Nice review Sergej, thanks!
    I’m just starting using H&S airbrushes and I’m also amazed how well-considered they are.
    I have a question about one of the parts (see photo). Is’t only for the safety of needle during the transport or also for something else?

    I review you wrote “ The pros of this nozzle is that it has no treats”. I belive you meant threads. :-) English isn’t my mother tounge, so it took me a second to figure out what did you mean.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sergej-Voronko/100002008246176 Sergej Voronko

      Thanks Oscar for pointing this out. English isn’t my mother tongue too but my mistake is unforgivable as the sentence doesn’t make sense after that :). So, I fixed it. Thanks again.

      About that part on the photo. Yes it is for protection only…
      Thanks ;)

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  • L.

    Is this airbrush capable of making a spatter effect? I’m not very experienced with that, but I need it with my next airbrush… 

    • http://airbrushdoc.com/ Sergej Voronko

      Hey L.
      I’m not very familiar with that effect either. But as much as I know it depends more on the technique to create those spatters than on airbrush gun. I’ll ask someone else to find out more and let you know later.
      btw, thanks for this question.

      • chris

        You can make any conventional airbrush spatter without buying a spatter cap. Turn down the air pressure so that the paint only just comes out of the airbrush. It should give a rather wide, irregular line. Then pull back the trigger all the way, quickly lift the index finger to release it, letting the spring push it back into the rest position. Depending on the water : paint mix ratio (I use between 10 : 1 and 20 : 1) you should get a controllable spatter pattern. You could do it as quick as you read, tic, tic, tic in this line to cover small or large areas with spattering. The lower the air pressure, the bigger the spatter droplets will be.

        And about the Infinity, what I like about the airbrush is that it has a tall trigger, which makes controlling the amount of mixture that is released by the gun quite accurate. But in my opinion it does not spray better than the Evolution. An advantage of both the Infinity and Evolution is the self-centering nozzle that allows artists to remove and insert the needle from the front end of the gun, which can prevent damaging the needle tip while cleaning the needle, beside the fact that no tools are required to remove and mount the nozzle.

        An other nice accessory by H&S is the reamer that is meant to clean the inside of the nozzle. If used with care this can be a useful tool.

        • http://airbrushdoc.com/ Sergej Voronko

          Wow Chris,
          really informative and useful comment here. I agree that the self-centering is a great advantage and it should be implemented in all the airbrushes. H&S rules ;)

    • http://airbrushdoc.com/ Sergej Voronko

      Just confirmed. It does not depend on the gun. You can do this effect with any airbrush, just have to learn that technique

    • Mike

      Harder & Steenbeck sells a spatter cap that fits all needle sizes from 0.15 to0.6 for $20.

      • http://airbrushdoc.com/ Sergej Voronko

        Thanks for Info Mike :)

  • domdom751

    i have an infinity, my opinion :
    it s a not a airbrush very fine i sell it for a little euro :(
    very bad my opionion.
    i have iwata badger and devilbiss but iwata it s better but nozle and nedle very expensive so becarefull
    (i m french sory for my english)
    nb : in France iwata it s expensive more usa

    • http://airbrushdoc.com/ Sergej Voronko

      thanks for your comment man, every opinion counts. Did you sell your infinity already? How much did you ask?

  • Rijafern

    I have The Infinity 2&1, for my, is the rolls rolls of the airbrush. I’m very happy with this piece of art, also i have, Evolution 2&1, Evolution silverline fpc and Grafo T2. No complaint!

    • http://airbrushdoc.com/ Sergej Voronko

       Thanks for your opinion Rijafern,
      Every comment counts to help people decide on buying the best stuff ;)

  • LazyCat

    Love it!

  • LazyCat

    BTW, I got it on 50 (or 40?)% off. Deal of the lifetime!
    I use it for very fine work on small plastic models, only sometimes for an small drawings (my regular drawings are on average 22″X30″ – so Talon get more use).

    • http://airbrushdoc.com/ Sergej Voronko

      Awesome deal, I would like to have this kind of deals. ;)