I mentioned to friend lately that I had purchased a new airbrush and was looking for an inexpensive aircompressor for it. He said," you dont need a compressor" He suggested that in the "old days" people used old tires filled with air." Get a portable air tank,install a moisture filter, fill it and it will provide enough air for most of your projects," he says. Will this work??
yes it will work. But what are you going to fill the air tank/tire with??? Uh, maybe a compressor? I tried the spare tire bit years ago, it worked, but as you spray the pressure decreases and you must make constant adjustments to the paint mixture and the air runs out at the worst time. I tried the tire bit for a week, then went out and bought a proper compressor. I've had the compressor for at least 20 years now, it's paid for itself many times over in saved frustration.
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I had used a five gallon one for years, when I worked at a place I could easily take it with me and refill it. I'd usually get one coat on a loco body or car out of each fill. You'll still need a regulator, because to get it to a usable amount of air, you need to pressurize it to over 100 PSI, much too high for airbrushing. I used 1/4 inch QD connectors, with the regulator mounted to the air brush hose, and a male open connector on the input side. I mounted a female sealing connector on the output side of the tank, making setup and take down easy.
Sears has a 5 gal portable air tank for $24.95. Good for 136 psi. You will have to have a pressure regulator/air filter/pressure gauge for air brushing, plus pipe adapters. Take the tank to a convenience store/gas station that has a tire air pump. Crank the thing up to max pressure. Might be inconvenient when the air pressure runs down. If you go this route, I strongly suggest a pressure gauge for the tank pressure, not the pressure to the air brush, though some people like this gauge also for repeatability. This way you have some idea of remaining spraying time. Some places use a compressor with oil bath lubrication. Oil mist can be in the air. Your call.
Consider all cost as compared to a air brush compressor that usually comes with regulator/filter/pressure gauge. You only need one gauge with the compressor.
Be careful of making your own compressor setup with an inexpensive compressor someone might give or sell to you. Some use oil lubrication which can mess up you spraying job without a proper air filter.
I have made my own with a compressor I picked up and an old propane tank for smoothing out the pulses from the compressor. Not recommended unless you know what you are doing. I have been a industrial machine mechanic for many years and have worked with air pressure systems so it was not an issue.
Your mileage may vary.
Rich
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Not being an airbrush expert, I know that 'canned' air (from an overinflated truck tire or a steel container) has been used for a lot of different purposes. If something is pressure sensitive, a reducing valve, moisture trap and output air pressure gauge are the way to fly.
Of course, it doesn't take a powered compressor to fill a storage tank. Just add a few minutes with Ye Olde Bicycle Pump to your daily exercise regimen.
OTOH, I own a minicompressor that can pressurize things to 150# but doesn't put out enough volume to operate an air brush(!) You could simply let it run (and charge a storage tank) rather like plugging in a cordless drill. Go out to dinner and a show, and by the time you come back the storage device should be full enough to use.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I have an air-tube from the local fire-station (the kind the smoke divers use) and it is very suitable for airbrushing. It is filled with 300 bars pressure and it lasts a VERY long time. The main advantage is that the air inside is super-dry so it needs no moisture trap, only a regulator. The filling-ups aren´t so expensive either, the last fill cost me $5.
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Take my advice. Buy a compressor. You don't want to run out of air mid-project. Not to mention the cost of gas running out and refilling it. Small inexpensive (not cheap) compressors are easy to find. And you can usually find one for just over $100. And, not knowing where you live, but I know that when there's 2 feet of snow outside, the last thing I want to do is dig out the car just to go get some air.
Marlon
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Of course that it is better with a real compressor, but a good one that is really quiet (under 40 Db) is very expensive, the tip to use a tank is for people who live in noise-sensitive accomodations, like apartments.
Because of the noise of my good-ol' Campbell-Hausfeld I went out and bought a tank and configured it with a pressure gauge, a regulator, a moisture trap, and an oil filter. Works great! When I anticipated its use I would haul it up to a truck stop and top the pressure off. I used to get some strange looks but I once had a trucker approach me and said "I betcha' you're gonna' use that with an airbrush"; I nodded and it turned out that he was into World War II-era model ships and he also used a pressure tank for his airbrushing.
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Ok, any suggestions an inexpensive compressor....say $100 or less.
Santa Fe all the way!Ok, any suggestions an inexpensive compressor....say $100 or less.
Santa Fe, this is the unit I bought at Home Depot. $99 plus tax. It performs very well, is reliable and beats the more expensive, small hobby compressors hands down.. It does make noise, but imho it's not annoying and the unit shuts off once the tank volume of air reaches 120 psi. It comes with a tire pressure gauge, tire filler, sports ball needle filler, coiled air hose, and brass couplers.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5/R-100645228/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
The large knob makes it easy to adjust your air output. On the bottom of the tank is a drain valve. Always make sure to drain the moisture after each use.
There is another option, which I'm surprised no one mentioned to you. Compressed gas cylinders with CO2 or Nitrogen. Industrial welding supply stores often sell used cylinder CO2 cylinders at reasonable prices and fill them up for you for a fee. The advantage, of course, is no noise but if you're going to do quite a bit of airbrushing in the long run, the compressor may be the more practical alternative
High Greens
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A while back someone made an adapter to hook an airbrush to a cars spare tire valve. Sure if your in a remote location and feel the need to airbrush something I guess.Go find a nail gun compressor in Lowes or Home Depot. They sell those combo kits with a nail gun, hose and compressor for under $100.00 I am sure you can find one even a lot cheaper if you look.
AntonioFP45. . . . . this is the unit I bought at Home Depot. $99 plus tax. It performs very well, is reliable and beats the more expensive, small hobby compressors hands down.. It does make noise, but imho it's not annoying and the unit shuts off once the tank volume of air reaches 120 psi. It comes with a tire pressure gauge, tire filler, sports ball needle filler, coiled air hose, and brass couplers. http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5/R-100645228/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 The large knob makes it easy to adjust your air output. On the bottom of the tank is a drain valve. Always make sure to drain the moisture after each use.
AntonioFP45 There is another option, which I'm surprised no one mentioned to you. Compressed gas cylinders with CO2 or Nitrogen. Industrial welding supply stores often sell used cylinder CO2 cylinders at reasonable prices and fill them up for you for a fee. The advantage, of course, is no noise but if you're going to do quite a bit of airbrushing in the long run, the compressor may be the more practical alternative
Nothing, but nothing, is better than a proper air brush compressor. Add the cost of an "air tank" of some type, fittings etc, then the cost of filling the tank from time to time( whether it's driving to a gas station or filling it by ye olde huff-n-puff manual pump) then the cost of wasted paint when the air runs out halfway through a cup, and you will quickly see spending the money on a good compressor is money well spent. I've had my compressor for about 25 years now, for as much as I've used it I'd have spent thousands on CO2 or other commercial cans, or have arms that look like Popeye.
Take a look at this one in Walmart. Comes with coil hose and fittings. Just pick up a moisture trap. For airbrushing I set the regulator around 15 - 20 psi which seems to work well.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11377676