Air Brush Compressors

[jlong]

You folks helped me with an issue awile back on the nominal width of a city street and I really appreciated the information. Now I'm back with another question--what brand and model of compressor would you recommend for someone just learning how to use an airbrush. I don't think I want to buy a top-of-the-line unit and then find out airbrushing is just something I can't or don't want to do. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jim

[cacole]

Until you decide whether or not an airbrush is right for you, why not use cans of compressed air instead of buying a compressor? One member of our train club used to use a spare tire as a portable air source for his airbrush, and would then pump it back up with a larger compressor at his house. I don't know what he would have done if he had a flat tire on his way back home, though. Another possibility would be to buy an inner tube for a car tire, and inflate it. After you experiment with these temporary air sources, then you can start looking for an air compressor if you decide that you like the airbrush. One thing I would never try to use for an airbrush, though, is one of those emergency air compressors that run off of a car's cigarette lighter socket, because they have no air reservoir or filter, and don't give you a constant, even pressure,

[bogp40]

Jim,
Before buying a smaller shop compressor, I got real tired of dragging my nail gun one down to the basement, I would fill an air tank for air brushing. This particular tank is like the service station type. I would fill it to 120 lb - this would last for about 2-3 complete spray jobs. I still use it for various paint jobs where setting up a compressor is too much work. Of coarse using the small shop one is a pleasure- flip a switch and paint away. The tire or tube method is a waste of time. You can gain only volume with very little pressure in no time the pressure will start to equilize w/ the regulated/ spraying pressure causing the airbru***o perform poorly.
Bob K.

[Bikerdad]

If you're willing to spend the additional bucks, the best multi-use compressor for the small shop is something along the lines of a Makita "hot dog." However, there is one significant drawback to using a purpose built "shop/construction" compressor as opposed to an airbrush compressor - the shop compressor is a lot noisier. You can get one for anywhere from about $100 to about $200, and use them for filling air toys, inflating bicycle tires and bouncy balls, keeping your car and motorcycle tires properly inflated, airbrushing and touch-up painting, blowing off your worksurfaces. They're portable, very durable if properly cared for, tough, and can be resold if need be to a much larger market than an airbrush compressor.

But they are noisier.

Go with a larger compressor an you can run a lot more airtools with it, but along with larger comes reduced portability. Take a look at compressors at your local Borg (big box, aka Home Depot/Lowes/Menards/???) or Sears.

[Pennsy58]

I might be out thinking my brain but if you use a air tool type compressor, how are you regulating or reducing the pressure to suit the airbrush?

[mrgstrain]

Jim. Some smaller general purpose compressors ( air tool type) are not much more $ than air bru***ype and have alot more uses. They have an air supply tank so they do not run constantly, I use one for my air brush. My compressor (smaller type with wheels so it can be moved if need be even taken outside) is in a work shop behind my garage, my modeling room is on the opposite side of the house. Air hose can be purchased wather cheeply at Harbor Freight, i ran air hose to my hobby room which is by my train room. I have a regulator & moisture filter at the compressor, i use a regulator at my paint booth to cut down the air pressure. From there i can run another hose to the train room to use it in there and no compressor noise.

Larry

[scole100]

I also use a small air tank. You can get a regulator and filter for them cheap. They last quite awhile between fills, and are completely silent. Instead of using a dedicated compressor,you can get a small regular type compressor, and still use it to inflate basketballs and tires when needed.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps someone could answer this to stop my confusion. Alot of the compressors at Wal-Mart, Home Depot etc (the ones with the tanks and really good price points) are oil lubricated. I've noticed that all the hobby ones seem to be oilless. Is there a danger of oil getting into the airline if you use the former for airbrushing models? Or is the lube being done somewhere other than the pistons? Or is there an oil trap somewhere in the line? I know silly question, but the thought of throwing a drop of oil (even if it is only one in a thousand chance) has me leaning towards getting one of the hobby compressors.

[bogp40]

Jim,
Any of these compressors that you contemplate buying will have some type of regulator. I use a filter/ drier in line and have never had any problems. If the compressor doesn't have even the separator bowl (glass or plastic) just add one. Even the Emglow or Hitachi compressors that I use professionally, those plastic or weak regulators are always changed out in no time with more reliable/ durable ones at reasonable cost.

Bob K.

[Leon Silverman]

If you go the shop (general use) compressor route, be aware that some compressors have an oil sump while others are oil free. You want to stick with the oiless designs. They can still be used with most air tools if they have the capacity. Since hobby spray painting is relatively low pressure and low flow, any size compressor witha tank will suffice.

[Anonymous]

Leon,

What are the disadvantages of an oil sump? Will some oil work its way into the air supply? Would a moisture trap or filter stop that? Seems that any risk of throwing oil onto a paint job would be too much.

[bogp40]

Moisture/ water droplets are far more a problem than oil for fouling a paint job. Even under severe contiuous CFM use blowguns, body work DA or air files would you encounter oil beginning to mix with the moisture. A regulator and filter/ drier would prevent this. Pick the compressor of choice- oil less is nice but not nec.
Bob K.

[Anonymous]

Bob K.

Thanks for the information. I've seen those compressors at Wal-Mart, Target etc. and always wondered if they would work. Gosh darn it, guess I'm going to spend some money this weekend!!

Dave

[Anonymous]

I work as an industrial maintenance tech and we have air compressors up to 350 horsepower. I however do not have any experience with air brushes , but do have some with automotive painting. Most of what we as modelers/ homeowners will be doing can be more than well done using a small compressor from Wal-mart/lowe's/ homedepot. You can buy oil/water seperators and pressure regulators at most any big box or auto parts store. I am in the building /planning stage of my layout, and have a 3 horsepower compressor from lowes with a 15 gallon tank that will power my airbrush when the time comes, and if water or oil become a problem i'll get a filter/seperator at that time. It doesn't have to be fancy it just has to work for me. I guess what my long winded speech is saying is for my money get something universal, you'll never regret having more air than you need as you will find more ways to use it in the long run.

[jlong]

As before, you folks have been extremely helpful and I appreciate it. As it happens, I do have a compressor for use with air tools, airing up my truck and tractor tires, etc. I just didn't know if it could be used for airbrushing because of it's size. Now that I have been educated a bit more, it seems I need to acquire a moisture trap and filter and start practicing. One more question--about how much paint is normally used in painting ,say, an HO scale box car one color? Again, many thanks for all of your help.[:)]

[Anonymous]

Just an FYI, if anyone is looking for a compressor -- I was in WalMart over the weekend, and they've reduced the price of the Campbell Hausfeld oil-less compressor w/2 gallon tank to about $64. Of course I got one, and I'm glad I did! It's much easier to control the airbrush with constant/regulated air than it was from the propellant cans.

[Anonymous]

What is the proper PSI to run the compressor at for the airbru***o work properly? i have a craftsman compressor and want to use it for my badger airbrush. Any help would be great. Thanks

[Anonymous]

This is for the old farts reading this thread - old farts (or nearing old fart status) like me. I like the small compressors for one very important reason. I have to move mine around a lot. I do most of my air brushing outside - I have no inside specialized area for air brushing; by the way, most do their air brushing outside for the same reason. If I have described you - an old fart and air brushing outside - you might prefer the smaller compressors because if you have ever worked with the "real" compressors, they're a young man's tool; their weight is just too cumbersome. Now I know some 99 year old is going to come on here and say he handles a 60 pound air compressor with no problems, but he's the exception that proves the rule.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 02F350PSD

What is the proper PSI to run the compressor at for the airbru***o work properly? i have a craftsman compressor and want to use it for my badger airbrush. Any help would be great. Thanks

Don't know what it is for solvent-based lacquers like Floquil, but for acrylic paints like PollyS the recommendation is 20-30psi. If memory serves from watching the Kalmbach Airbrush & Scenery DVD, they said this is higher than for solvent-based paints, so I'm guessing for those it would be 15psi or so.

[Leon Silverman]

rsn48:
Infomation from a 58 year old fart to another. I just purchased a $90 Duralux Air Compressor kit from Target that included a pneumatic nailer. It weighs 80 pounds but has wheels and a handle. Since I want to use from paint spraying, I purchased an inline moisture separator from Walmart for $12.00

[Anonymous]

Leon, I have to carry mine up and down stairs... lol.... and I'm 57... but I definitely don't want to deal with 80 lbs of air compressor. I have a "young" friend who builds fences; he hates his now, it weighs so much and he has to lug it everywhere. If some guy can make a light weight air compressor that does it all, he'll make a fortune in construction contracts.

[Leon Silverman]

rsn48
The 80 pound weight is the boxed weight, which includes the nailer. Admittedly, I do not have to lug the unit up and down any stairs since I live in a rancher with no basement, but the pneumatic tubing is available in 25 and 50 ft lengths than can be spliced together.
By the way, I specifically mentioned the Target brand because it has the wheels. A fence builder should not have to carry a compressor up and down stairs or a ladder. The duralux compressor has a cylindrical tank with the wheels at one end and a handle at the other. This means you have to lift only half the weight to transport it around the jobsite. The total weight becomes a factor only at the beginning and end of the day when the entire unit has to be lifted into or out of a vehicle if you have no ramp.

[GAPPLEG]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jsalemi

Just an FYI, if anyone is looking for a compressor -- I was in WalMart over the weekend, and they've reduced the price of the Campbell Hausfeld oil-less compressor w/2 gallon tank to about $64. Of course I got one, and I'm glad I did! It's much easier to control the airbrush with constant/regulated air than it was from the propellant cans.

I use the above model, have for years, except with a 3 gallon tank, fitted a moisture filter and an extra regulator on the output, works great. And it can be used for many other uses as well.

[PennsyHoosier]

That is a very usable compressor. Menard's has something similar for about the same price.

[Anonymous]

I have been a scale aircraft modeler for a few years and am just coming into model railroading. With my modeling hobby I do a lot of airbrushing, and found a great little compressor.
Look in a Harbor Frieght catalog. I can't remember the model number right off, but this compressor is great. There is no storage tank, but it can give a constant output to run almost any airbrush. It can be regulated down to almost no pressure as well.
It is a diaphragm type compressor but is relativly quiet. It comes with a 3 or 4 foot coiled hose and a little "stand" for your airbru***o put right on the handle. It is less than a foot long, maybe 7 inches wide and just as tall.
A great little machione, and not to pricy if I remember correctly.

[Anonymous]

I agree with most of the responses to this post. A good, small, lightweight compressor with a tank is the real deal. However, when I first started using an airbrush, I had the same fears/misgivings stated in this post. About the same time, MR ran an article about using a garden sprayer as the air source for airbrushing. You will need to purchase a regulator, separator and pressure gauge no matter what your air source, so the only "extra" expense in using a sprayer is the cost of the sprayer. I followed the article and used a Chapin 5 gal sprayer made out of plastic. When the sprayer is fully pumped up (takes only a few seconds), I can use the airbrush for around 12-15 minutes before the pressure drops to the point that spraying becomes erratic. If you want to start out dirt cheap, I would recommend this approach. Incidentally, I still have mine and use it on the layout because it is extremely portable and lightweight. I am very sorry I cannot reference the MR the article appeared in, but if memory serves me it was back in the 60's (right, I am another of those old farts).

Tom

[Anonymous]

hey i paint cars and a small airbrush if you get a good one like a pasch is great and easy to learn to use you can get one at a local crafts store along with the compressor and all the fittings, regulaters and filters good luck an dhope this helps

[camarokid]

Probably off the subject some but, has anyone out there used the compressor from Micromark? I was thinking of getting one for all my vehicles (4). It's on wheels which I like since I will be moving it around entirely too much. I could use the accessory set and universal moisture/oil filter for air brushing too. Any help from the best people in the world would be most appreciated. Thank you in advance. Archie

[karle]

Well guys, I see the point on buying a big compressor and have considered it myself, but after 10 years of air brushig I like my very quiet, very reliable Badger diaphragm compressor. So you fire those bigger compressors up at 10PM when the wife is in bed eh? All those others you are buying are noisey and take more mainatence, and take up more space. I could run my Badger in an apartment w/o complaints. And next time you are in Sears, see how many are in the "returned it cause it already broke" pile. I'm not saying big is all bad, I'm just saying my Badger has some real advantages. One thing for sure though, regardless of what you get, a moisture trap is mandatory. Without one, It won't happen every time, but when it does, and water vapor starts coming out that air brush with your solvent based paint, I'll bet you won't be happy. As far as how much paint is used, figure 1/3-1/2 oz. for a box car... not that that much actually hits the model, you just loose it in overspray, residual left in the air brush paint jar and body, etc.