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Airbrush ?

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Airbrush ?
Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 2:49 PM

I sometimes use canned air to clean hard to reach bits in our hobby. Sometimes it blows too hard, sometimes not hard enough. 

So I was watching a video on a FaceBook modeling site on cleaning delicate surfaces on models. It was a bit of a DUH! moment for me as he was using his airbrush to clean these things by just using air through it. He could adjust the pressure depending on what he needed as far as blow power.

 My question is, what is the maximum pressure you could put through and airbrush? The parts in mine seem to be all metal, but I sure don't want to damage it. My compressor goes up to 200PSI and I would never turn it up that high as the hose would blow apart if nothing else. But what about say 75lbs, too much?

Thoughts?

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by dh28473 on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 3:39 PM
Do not go that high 50 or 60 can blow the lines on the brush becareful happened to me
  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 3:43 PM

This thing right here is the cat's meow when it comes to using compressed air to clean parts.

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I set my air regulator (same one I use for the airbrush) to 30 PSI, and this really does the trick. I think it is a better option than using an airbush.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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Posted by doctorwayne on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 3:47 PM

Unless you're doing this cleaning outdoors, you're simply moving the dust to a fresh locale.

Wayne

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    March 2017
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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 6:42 PM

I would have to agree you're blowing dust from one place to another.

When we go do a smaller job in one of these upscale houses. Dust is really frowned upon, especially by the misses of the house. We use an extra guy holding the Shop-Vac nozzle catching the dust behind the tool being used. It's actually quite effective.

I could see this working on a smaller scale as well.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 6:52 PM

I do my painting and cleaning in the garage. Even in winter, I can warm it up quite quickly to work on a project. 

I have all the big tools for the compressor and use them a lot for cleaning the John Deere and stuff. Doing delicate work with the airbrush is much better than working with canned air, I can't believe I didn't think of it before. I will keep the pressure down, thanks. 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 6:57 PM

I remove the dust from models in the garage, and blow the dust outside.

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The garage is where the air compressor is.

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-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by PennCentral99 on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 9:45 PM

BATMAN

My question is, what is the maximum pressure you could put through and airbrush? 

Depends, each manufacturer is different. Check the manual that came with the airbrush. It should list an operating range and a maximum pressure.

My Harbor Freight is different than my TCP Global, which is different than my Neo for Iwata

Terry

Inspired by Addiction

See more on my YouTube Channel

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Posted by Howard Zane on Thursday, August 30, 2018 3:30 PM

I've tried pressures from 15 to 80 pounds and found that 25 lbs. works best for me. But this may vary with different brushes...still 25lbs seems to work best with every brush that I have used. Presently I'm using only Iwata double action brushes as I have found them way far superior to any I have used in the past 50 years or so.

HZ

Howard Zane
  • Member since
    March 2012
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Posted by trwroute on Friday, August 31, 2018 8:23 AM

Howard Zane

25lbs seems to work best with every brush that I have used. Presently I'm using only Iwata double action brushes as I have found them way far superior to any I have used in the past 50 years or so.

Same here, except the last 40 years.  I've used numerous airbrushes and am the most happiest with the gravity fed dual action Iwata.  Easy to clean and just easy to use.

Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge

  • Member since
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  • From: Clinton, MO, US
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Posted by Medina1128 on Monday, September 3, 2018 2:24 PM

I bought a set of shop vac accessories. The curved brush, lower left, works well to remove dust. Suck dust away with a vacuum, instead of blowing it around. The attachment on the far right attaches to a standard shop vac hose. The curved brush also works well to remove dust from the layout. A similar set can be bought from Micromark.

Miniature vacuum kit

  • Member since
    September 2018
  • 2 posts
Posted by gazmitch on Thursday, September 20, 2018 3:06 AM

I have found that this brush method works a treat, as you said if you have someone holding the small shop vac any airborne particles are collected up. 

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