Will the H&S adjustable air valve fit a Hansa airbrush?

Nessus

Needle-chuck Ninja
I love how H&S makes a MAC valve for the Infinity/Ultra that intrinsically replaces the stock valve stem, rather than being an add-on extension. I've been making eyes at a Hansa 281, and I've noticed that the valve design looks, in pictures at least, like it might be the same as the Infinity/Ultra (housing shape is different, but the internal interface with the body looks like it might be the same).

I'm wondering if that MAC valve stem for the Infinity/Ultra might be compatible with the Hansa. On the one hand, Hansa is owned and manufactured by H&S, so it would make sense if some production line standardization/consolidation is in play. On the other hand, Hansa used to be a separate company, so it'd also make sense if their original designs might have been preserved for the benefit of part back-compatibility. And on the gripping hand, since Hansa brushes use a different type of trigger action, it might also make sense if the valve needs to be different in some way (it's hard to tell, but in some pics I found it looks like maybe the valve pin might be slightly longer on the Hansa, but that could be trick of perspective).

Can anyone who owns both tell me if H&S/Hansa valves are interchangeable? Thanks!
 
I will look in the morning, but I think you guessed why it won't work when you mentioned that the Hansa uses a different trigger.
 
OK, got both brushes out - At the very least, you will need a custom length air valve stem to make the conversion.

The two air valve casings are interchangeable in that they will each screw onto the other brush. Where they vary is in the amount of air valve protrusion from the top of the valve, and into the body of the brush. Looking at the parts, you can see the two OEM air valve stems are actually the same length, so this makes the internal dimensions of the air valve casings different. The Hansa being pocketed deeper. In order for an Infinity style valve, or the interchangeable MAC valve to work on the Hansa, you would then need a valve stem that would protrude as much as it does from the OEM Hansa air valve... Not impossible, but not something that will simply be accomplished by purchasing OEM parts...

DSC_9948.jpg

DSC_9949.jpg

DSC_9950.jpg
 
Thanks very much for checking. I kinda expected something like that, but the possibility seemed cool enough that I had to ask.

I'll bet it might also be doable with a printed metal pin, but I'd take some iteration to get it right (metal printing requires offset for shrinkage to be designed into the 3D file). Plus I dunno how user-serviceable the H&S MAC valve is.
 
Back
Top