I have seen a lot of discussion of airbrushing here. And I have noted that some have said that you can use an airtank to run your airbrush rather than from a direct line to a compressor.
I have a large compressor (20 gal) which obviously is very noisy. So I am looking at using a 5 gallon tank that I fill from the compressor in the garage then I can take the tank to the basement to use for airbrushing. My questions are: Will a 5 gallon tank be enough to finish a project without having to stop to refill the tank? And if the tank doesn't come with a pressure regulator and/or filter, can I get these as add ons? And are there any negatives to consider in this suggested method?
thanks
wdcrvr
A five gallon tank MAY be sufficient but that depends on how much airbrushing is being done at any one time. You can buy filters and regulators to fit the added tank with no problem. Another suggerstion is get an airbrush quiet compressor. Iwata makes one as do some others. They are really much quiter than your 20 gal setup.
As Bob said, it will work and make sure you have a regulator and filter. You will have to cut into the line to put them in and you will also have to have an end on the hose that will take the adaper to your airbrush. Be sure to check the price of an airbursh compressor to the cost of regulator and filter. You can get cheap ones at Harbor Freight, but I'm not sure how accurate they are for airbrushiing.
If your tank is like mine and will hold over 100# pressure, it should last you quite a while airbrushing. I can get a large, low pressure tractor tire to fill up quite a bit on one small tank full. Though I haven't tried it, I am sure you could do several buildings or a fair amount of track. You will have to train yourself to watch the guage and know when it's time for a recharge.
Good luck,
Richard
Don't forget that you can use a nice CO2 tank as well. It lasts a VERY long time and provides dry clean air at a not too expensive price.
I have a set of diving tubes that I fill at my local firestation with regular air (very clean and dry), and it costs only $10 per filling! It is also very convenient for those that live in the very humid areas of the US, where using a regular compressor can cause much water in the air lines.
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Sears used to sell a very reasonably priced air compressor with built on tank.
A lot of guys like having the tank as an option because it lets them keep painting into the night without the sound of the compressor keeping the family awake. Stated another way it keeps the wife/partner from knowing you are model railroading late into the evening when you should be asleep getting ready for the next day's work .....
Dave Nelson
wdcrvr I have a large compressor (20 gal) which obviously is very noisy. So I am looking at using a 5 gallon tank that I fill from the compressor in the garage then I can take the tank to the basement to use for airbrushing. My questions are: Will a 5 gallon tank be enough to finish a project without having to stop to refill the tank? And if the tank doesn't come with a pressure regulator and/or filter, can I get these as add ons? And are there any negatives to consider in this suggested method?
Although I don't own the airbrush yet, I do have a Sears 30 gal tank and compressor used for other purposes. It is on 2 wheels for rolling around. My plan was paint in or just outside the garage. Or if I did fit a paint booth in the finished basement, I would run the air hose from the tank just outside the basement to my airbrush. With the 30 gal tank at 150PSI when filled, I figure I have air for all the airbrushing I want to do in a session without the compressor running. I would add a better regulator and moisture trap for use when airbrushing.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
I have used a 12 gallon 125 psi tank for my airbrushing for neigh onto 30 years now; my tank has a regulator and condenser attached. I would go up to a tire shop and charge it to 100 psi and it would usually last me for the better part of a month. A 5 gallon tank would undoubtedly need charged more often than that but at the pressures used by an airbrush it should last for quite a while.
I might mention that I have an acquaintance who uses a propane tank as an airtank. If you opt to go this route I would advise you to NOT use one that has been used for propane.
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Is running a line from the compressor in the garage, to a regulator and filter in the basement, not an option? I have an 80 Gallon two stage compressor in my garage, and when it's pumping I can barely hear it on the other side of the wall in my laundry room. If I was in the basement it would be 100% unheard when pumping. A small compressor and tank isn't going to be louder.
Might want to check on local zoning and construction regs for running an air line from the garage to the house. There might be local or state requirements for the type of airline. I know a couple people who've use Synflex, a plastic air line used for truck air brake plumbing. Not sure if it's legal. It'll hold something like 150-180 PSI, but it might be subject to abrasion in some areas.
As far as a tank for airbrushing, stay with something actually made for pneumatics. Aside from the pressure the tank has to withstand, an unbelievable amount of water can accumulate in the tank. Things like CO2 and propane tanks and cylinders generally don't have the interior coating to resist rusting from accumulated moisture. I used to do testing on air dryers and aftercoolers for truck air brake systems. With a defective air dryer, or some of the things they used to call aftercoolers for water removal from the compressed air, the air reservoirs could build up gallons of water in just a few hours of operation. Good air dryers will remove almost 100% of the water before it gets to the tank. Even for the airbrush compressor I have, I feed the compressor into a 250 cu in truck auxilliary tank. It gets drained after any use.
Here is a picture of my rig. I use an aluminum CO2 tank (which kept the weight down), with a valve that I bought from a beer making supply house. It is as quiet as it gets, and gives me a perfectly dry air supply.
Check out www.micromark.com for airbrushes, regulators,filters, quiet affordable compressors, etc,etc.
I have my Cambell-Housefeld 2 gallon tank/compressor which is loud, in the garage connected by a 50' (high-pressure) air hose to my gauges and regulator at the paint booth in the basement. You can barely hear it on the other side of the wall and 5 feet away from the wall, you can't here it at all. I've been running this set-up for 25 years with no complaints, even at 2, 3 or 4 am. With a 20 gallon tank on your compressor, you can charge it up at dinner time and have plenty of air to shoot all night long without having to recharge.
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I used to do testing on air dryers and aftercoolers for truck air brake systems. With a defective air dryer, or some of the things they used to call aftercoolers for water removal from the compressed air, the air reservoirs could build up gallons of water in just a few hours of operation. Good air dryers will remove almost 100% of the water before it gets to the tank. Even for the airbrush compressor I have, I feed the compressor into a 250 cu in truck auxilliary tank. It gets drained after any use. End Quote.
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I don't know anything about truck brake systems, but even with 20 or 30 gallon systems used in workshops and airbrushes, I have never seen more than few drops of water. In our usage there is no need for air driers, an inexpensive water trap will do the job just fine. We don't run our airbrushes long enough or at high enough pressures to warrant an air drier.
Jay
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