air compressor for airbrush

[waltr]

The small airbrush compressors aimed at salons, cake decorating, etc. can work IF you are using an airbrush that does not require a larger volume of air.
That is, an airbrush that has a fine tip and is only used for small detail work.

It is important to ensure the compressor matches or exceeds the airbrush's air volume requirements. So which airbrush do you have and what do you use it for.

[blvdbuzzard]

Well I have to say I have had my compressor for almost 4 years now. It has been a pretty good one. Yes I am totally surprised that it has lasted this long. I have not been easy on it either. I have used it to power my hopper for the drywall texture to do the remodel on my house, air tools, paint guns, and and and. Biggest problem with HF air compressors is they are way over rated on CFM's.

I would not buy another Cambell/Hausfield compressor. Mine was total junk. Air regulator died the first day, compressor died a month later.

You did not say how large of compressor you are looking for?

Brother in law has this one to run his nails guns for work.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_253750-70-C2...r|1&facetInfo=


The duty cycle of an air compressor running an air brush will be very low. Most should last a while. Now if you try to run a shop off one of these, it may last a month or two.

I had to laugh at one of those car shows on the weekend where they rebuild a car from the ground up in a 30 minute show. Where they make it look like you can do it all in your garage with a floor jack and 101 piece tool set. They were talking about how to setup a workshop with a compressor and running the lines around so you have air no matter where you are. They put a $13,000 setup in the garage. They spent almost $5,000 on the compressor.

Now, I may be wrong here but the average person can not spend that much on a compressor setup. I have to agree it was a really nice setup, but having anodized tubing, clamp on "TEE" and elbows maybe nice, but good ole copper lines would have worked for a lot less. So, you have to balance the information you get to what you need and what you want.


Buzz.

[Kisatchie]

Might I suggest you consider getting a 20 pound CO2 tank. When fully charged, it will paint over a thousand N scale freight cars, including clean up of the brush (unless you paint one car at a time).

CO2 is good because it is pure and has no water that can foul up the paint. It sprays whisper-quiet, and takes up less than a square foot of floor space.
Safety note: I wouldn't use/keep the tank inside the house... garage is fine, just spray with the big door open.

You can find a used tank at any welding supply company. Walthers stopped selling the regulators I used before I was flooded out by hurricane Katrina... at least, I can't find the same regulator in their catalog any more.


Hmm... I got one. I got
tired of puffing real
fast...

[UPBigBoy]

Originally Posted by DianneB

Has anybody tried one of the small airbrush compressors aimed at salons, cake decorating, etc.? They are small, inexpensive, and presumably very quiet.

Eg. http://www.ebay.ca/sch/Airbrushing-/...ush+compressor

If they are any good, it would seem like they would be easier to live with than a larger, noisier, high pressure unit.

The only problem with them is that they don't have a reserve (air tank) so you get the pulsing in the gun from the compressor which can make for a blotchy spray pattern. Get an air compressor that at least comes with an air tank which absorbs the pulsations. Also most of the airbrush compressor are actually too small as they will be running constantly when you are using them as they can't really keep up to some of the airbrushes.

In the end it is up to you as to what you get; we can only give you our thoughts of what works best. About the only really quiet compressor with a tank that will do the job up to a point is a pancake compressor but most I have seen will only last a couple of years.

Jim

[gregamer]

Originally Posted by Kisatchie

Might I suggest you consider getting a 20 pound CO2 tank. When fully charged, it will paint over a thousand N scale freight cars, including clean up of the brush (unless you paint one car at a time).

CO2 is good because it is pure and has no water that can foul up the paint. It sprays whisper-quiet, and takes up less than a square foot of floor space.
Safety note: I wouldn't use/keep the tank inside the house... garage is fine, just spray with the big door open.

You can find a used tank at any welding supply company. Walthers stopped selling the regulators I used before I was flooded out by hurricane Katrina... at least, I can't find the same regulator in their catalog any more.

]

I like the CO2 tank idea.

I found this article about air supply handy: http://www.craigcentral.com/models/airsource.asp

[Charles Smiley]

I agree that it will need a tank to eliminate pulsations. I learned that years ago with a Binks unit. I wound up adding a clunky propane tank in series.

Today I use a Porter Cable all in one compressor that is nice and portable and was used with finish nail and staple guns to make the layout and remodel the house.

Oh yeah! And works with my airbrush. It has a knob-adjustable pressure regulator. I think it cost around 160 on sale at OSH. It is a wonderful tool. Even fills my tires