I have seen discussions on air supply for air brushes on this forum. I have been using cans because I didin't do that much air brushing, but recently I have started to do more and want to go to a compressor. I know there are compressors made specifically for the air bursh, but cost is out of my budget. Home Depot has a 2 gallon on sale for 60.00 that I am looking at. (will be used for other things, too) My question is the reduction fittings to get from the air hose on the compressor to the small diameter hose on the air brush. Where do you get those?
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I got the adapter for my Testor's Aztec from Testor's. It's a plastic one but it does the job. I've also used it with an internal mix dual action air brush I have packed away here somewhere, so I'm fairly sure the size of the air brush hose fitting is pretty much universal. That sounds like a great deal on the compressor. My little 2 gallon Campbell Hausfeld compressor cost $100 back in the late 90's. Make sure it has a regulator and you'll also need a moisture trap. Can't have water from the tank getting into the air brush. Been there and done that. Big mess.
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You can get them from Badger or Paasche and another good source is Ace hardware. Do a search on the internet and eventually you'll find the fittings. One other thing you need to invest in is an inline regulator with a built in moisture trap and an inline paper cartridge filter. any moisture in the paint will really ruin a paint job real quick. I believe the air regulator from badger has the fittings you need. the inlet side of the regulator is the 3/8" NPT that you can fit with parts between the compressor and the regulator from home depot or lowe's and the outlet of the regulator fits the air brush hose equipment....chuck
your airbrush doesn't care where the air comes from. just be sure that you have enough reservoir capacity to prevent surging, enough reservoir pressure which you can cut down with your regulator, and that the air is clean and dry when it gets to your airbrush. (moisture trap and filter) also be sure the tank has a blowdown drain on the bottom.
grizlump
If you have one anywhere close or are willing to do mail order Harbor Freight has a lot of airbrush fittings & hoses for very good prices. I added the adapters & new hoses for all three of my airbrushes for less than $25 from them.
Like you are looking at I bought a small compressor for $60 and added a regulator & water trap for another $20 or so.
As a plus it runs power tools and keeps my car tires inflated.
Mark Gosdin
Hobby Lobby sells adapters and hoses too. Some times you can even find them at Big Lots in the $5 cheap airbrush sets they sell.
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This is my set up. The orange hose supplies air from my shop compressor, the moisture trap / regulator I bought from badger, the blue braded hose attaches to the airbrush. The reducers I needed were standard air compressor fittings.
That air compressor form HD is all you need. I have been airbrushing for better then 30 years and it's far more important to have a good quality air brush then an over priced compressor. Sure some of the ones like Iwata make are real neat and nicely made but totally necessary. I have seen those adapters in Lowes and AC Moore but I generally buy all my air brush stuff from Air Brush Depot part of TCP Global if they don't have it you don't need it. Their prices are very good as well and they have good service. Some guys say it's an absolutely necessity to have a water trap inline when using an airbrush. It won't hurt but you can save the money buy simply using a long length of hose before you connect it to the small air brush line. By doing this you give the hot air coming out of the compressor a chance to cool down to ambient temperature and the moisture is virtually non existent. For the amount of spray time you will have painting models If you drain you compressor religiously before you use it you will not have any moisture problems.
look right next to the compressors for compatable air fittings. You may want to buy an air-oil seperator too. I work in a body shop with one line not having this little peice of hardware, you'll be amazed at the amount of oil coming through You do not want that in your paint. Major headaches. Trust me
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Harbor freight has them for as little as $40.00 with fittings!
I have an adapter that I bought at Harbor Freight Tools. Hobby Lobby, or Michaels Craft store might have one also. Hope you have one of these stores near you.
Trainnut
Pay attention to whether the compressor is "oil-less". That kind can be quite noisy.
An inexpensive option is an air tank which you fill at a gas station. Use a regulator and moisture trap and you're in business. No surging. No noise. No expensive cans, nitrogen or compressors.
You can also look on your local Craigslist for a used one as well.
doneldonAn inexpensive option is an air tank which you fill at a gas station.
I will second the idea of Harbor Freight. They not ony have good compressors even with water traps and gauges but right now they are featuring a double action air brush for $14.95 that is almost identical to one for which I paid A LOT more from Air Brush City.