cheap compressers

[Anonymous]

for my birthday (15)i was given a badger model 360 airbrush and 2 aresol cans of compressed air. i have about $70 to spend on something. is there any really cheap, reliable compressors in my price range? if not, whats the cheapest one (thats not total crap) available?
GEARHEAD426
[8]

[Anonymous]

If it were me, I'd go to the Harbor Freight Tool store and get a 2 Gallon, 1.5 hp, 3cfm, 115 PSI Air Compressor while it's on sale.

Or 2 Gallon, 100 PSI Oilless Air Compressor

[Anonymous]

wow. 115 PSI? that sounds like a lot, but i dont know what PSI the aresol cans make, but that is a big number. EDIT: the pressure is adjustable, right?
Thanks thats well with my "cash comfort" zone.
GEARHEAD426
[8]

[claycts]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GEARHEAD426

wow. 115 PSI? that sounds like a lot, but i dont know what PSI the aresol cans make, but that is a big number. EDIT: the pressure is adjustable, right?
Thanks thats well with my "cash comfort" zone.
GEARHEAD426
[8]

Relax you can back down the pressure with the SUPPLIED regulator down to the 20 to 25 PSI for an Air Brush. I have the same unit and it replaced the monster I was using PLUS it will run a lot of other small air tools. Harbor Freight is a good supplier. I had a problem with an air rachet and they just exchanged it for another.
their air tools are from Ingesol Rand and Chicago Phnumatic both top line companies.
We got ors for $39.95 on sale and well worth the money.

[Budliner]

try wallmart

[Jetrock]

I use an $80 Campbell Hausfeld air compressor for my airbrush, ratcheted down to 20-25 PSI. I want to get an air tank so I don't have the lovely air compressor sound accompanying my airbrushing all the time, but it does the job. The same air compressor also drives my nail gun for nailing up backdrops etcetera, and helps me blow dust off the layout, at different PSI settings of course. Most airbrushes come with a fitting to connect them to standard air compressor nozzles.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GEARHEAD426

wow. 115 PSI? that sounds like a lot, but i dont know what PSI the aresol cans make, but that is a big number. EDIT: the pressure is adjustable, right?
Thanks thats well with my "cash comfort" zone.
GEARHEAD426 [8]

claycts is "spot on". The regulator is adjustable.
If it didn't come with the air brush kit, you will have to get an 1/4" Pipe Thread Fitting Adaptor (badger #50-023) and, although it's busting your budget, I also recommend a air filter / water trap too. But you can add that on later.

[Virginian]

The Harbor Freight unit referenced and a similar one I saw at WalMart will both do the job for you just fine. In this application cheap may actually be better/easier than a more expensive unit, because on my 3HP Campbell Hausfield with about a 20 gallon tank I had to get a moisture separator for the entrained oil and water. When I had a littler unit that stayed indoors I never had a hint of a problem in 15 years.

[Anonymous]

a quick airbrush question-- my badger 360 "spatters" a lot, is that normal? i try to make a fine line on paper, but it comes out surounded by a swarm of speckels.
GEARHEAD426

[chutton01]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GEARHEAD426

a quick airbrush question-- my badger 360 "spatters" a lot, is that normal? i try to make a fine line on paper, but it comes out surounded by a swarm of speckels.
GEARHEAD426

No. Probably a whole lot of opinions will be posted, but I think you're getting water/condensation in the spray (which is bad in this case) - you may have to get a water trap afterall. An airbrush is in effect a miniature spray guy - if you were getting droplets and splatter out of a spray guy, messing up your paint job, would you be happy?

[davekelly]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gsetter

If it were me, I'd go to the Harbor Freight Tool store and get a 2 Gallon, 1.5 hp, 3cfm, 115 PSI Air Compressor while it's on sale.

Or 2 Gallon, 100 PSI Oilless Air Compressor

Wow. Good prices. Quick question though, does the compressor automatically shut off when the pressure reaches a certain point in the tank and back on when it hits another point? Or does the compressor have to stay running the whole time?

Dave

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly
Wow. Good prices. Quick question though, does the compressor automatically shut off when the pressure reaches a certain point in the tank and back on when it hits another point? Or does the compressor have to stay running the whole time?
Dave

Shuts off once it gets to 115 (or what ever it's set at). Nice thing is the tank. Using just an air brush, it will take a while for the compressor to kick on again.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Virginian

.....I had to get a moisture separator for the entrained oil and water. When I had a littler unit that stayed indoors I never had a hint of a problem in 15 years.

Yes, on a hot humid day water will condensate in the tank and lines. That is why it is a good practice to open the petcock under the tank after every use and drain the tank. You should also put the water separator at the end of the hose opposite of the compressor. Also don't use an extension cord on the compressor, it will trip circuit breakers and may overheat the motor. Use a longer air hose instead.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GEARHEAD426

a quick airbrush question-- my badger 360 "spatters" a lot, is that normal? i try to make a fine line on paper, but it comes out surounded by a swarm of speckels.
GEARHEAD426

Make sure the gun is clean and the tip and paint pick up tube is not clogged. Your paint may have been too thick. Try again just using plain water to see if it still spurts.
If you are using a jar, there is a tiny hole in the top to allow air in to replace the volume of paint. Be sure that is clean and open.
The paint may also have lumps. Especially if it is been sitting around for some time the pigment takes quite a lot of mixing.

Another thing to check is to make sure the tip head is sealed and not sucking or leaking air around the seal. Check it by running clean water through the gun and put drops of water around the seal. If it leaks, you will see the drops get sucked in or blow bubbles.

I know you have limited funds, but you should plan on getting Strainer Funnel Set and Micro Cleaning Brushes. But for now, make sure your paint is fresh, well mixed and thin. And rince you gun out often, even between coats, as soon as you stop spraying clean your airbrush.

[claycts]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GEARHEAD426

a quick airbrush question-- my badger 360 "spatters" a lot, is that normal? i try to make a fine line on paper, but it comes out surounded by a swarm of speckels.
GEARHEAD426

Spatter:#1 Low air Pressure
#2 Paint to Thick needs more Pressure to make it pass (see #1)
#3 Dirty Needle or tip or both
#4 Water (not likley) this would cause a WET SPIT that would show as a run or over thinned paint.
Cure:
1. Good Moisture seperator from Sears. lowes. home Depot (this goes BEWTTEN the out let of the compressor and your air line.
Little tip Set the moisture seperator as close to the gun as possiblre and use a 3 or 4 feet air line, This eliminates the wtaer that can collect in 25 ft or air line.
2. STRAIN the paint before putting in the gun. I use the paint strainers you get from NAPPA. I mix up 4 oz of colors and store them.
3. Clean the tip and needle BEFORE you paint.
4. OVER THINNED paint is better than to thick. You can always add more coats. Each paint is different as to thamount of thinners needed.
I Use 65% Thinners and 35% paint for Laquer and 50% water and 50% Paint for water based. These are a MAX amounts you should start out a little at a time till you kind what your gun wants.
We have 6 Air brushes and all are different even amiong the same brand.
There are books on air brushing and well worth the money. Early Christmas or "GEE I would be learning something that may help on a SCHOOL PROJECT" That got my boy his own Pasche "J" gun.
Take Care

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chutton01

...you're getting water/condensation in the spray (which is bad in this case) - you may have to get a water trap afterall.

I think he is still using canned air. In which case water isn't likely present

[bogp40]

You say you have the new #360. This is the rotating head for built in cup or bottle. If you had dissassembled this part, you could have damaged the nylon washer or left it out. This 360 is advertised to be the most universal airbrush available. I just bought one but haven't used it yet. Hope mine doesn't work like yours does. Going to have to paint something, maybe an old Athearn boxcar, to see how good this new airbrush is.
Bob K.

[Anonymous]

Model Railroader is going to have to build a huge article in a future issue.

No longer should air brushing be a mystery.

Btw, that Harbor price appears pretty good. I was looking at a walmart testors air compressor but dont think it is good for Badgers.

[davekelly]

Gary,

Thanks! I might have to make a trip to Harbor Freight!

[jwar]

Before you buy a cheaper air compressor..LOOK at the duty Cycle, ie a 30 % duty cycle can leave you without air for over 10 minits, untill the thermal cools and it starts back up. this is all on the chip on the curcuit board, cant change it.

[R. T. POTEET]

Whatever you decide to do there, gearhead426, get yourself a moisturetrap NOW, NOT LATER. If you paint up fifty models without a moisturetrap on your air line five years down the road you'll be able to tell that .......... you painted fifty models without a moisturetrap on your air line.