Hey M1. I’m using an air tank right now until I get a compressor so you might look into that. Also check out Peavey Mart. They have a fairly small compressor for I believe it was $130.00. I’m not sure about the noise factor on something like that though. I’m thinking of picking something like that up when I can afford it.
BTW, do you live right in Saskatoon or outside? Have you checked out the modeling club here in the city yet? Shoot me an email and maybe we can get you out to the next meeting if you haven’t been already.
I’m in Kinistino. It’s between P.A. and Melfort. I’ll probably try the modeling club in P.A. (when I got the time)(S’toon is a bit far to go for that) Just curious, where are some good model shops in saskatoon. We get there every so often.
ok, dad just came up with a really great idea, and I just wanted to run it by. he said I should just get an air tank and just fill it up with his air compressor. that way I have something that stays in my room (except when I need to fill it) and I’m not lugging the compressor in whenever I want to paint. does this sound like a good idea???
This is really interesting. I can’t believe all the negative comments I have read about compressed gas. Recently, I lucked out and found a Co2 tank for way cheap. I have always wanted to power my airbrushes by this method after hearing good comments about it in FSM and Scale Auto. The gas is clean (no filters needed), dry and doesn’t pulse like a compressor. Filled it for $13.00. I got a regulator from a home-brew beer supplier that shows tank capacity and output CFM that people use to drive their kegs. ($35.00) Works great. And I can use it with my MIG welder in the shop if I need it. All your major fast-food outlets use these to power their soft-drink dispensers, with no problems. Just use reasonable caution moving them and tie them down so they dont fall over. I have used compressed gas cylinders for lots of years with my MIG and I aint blown up yet. [:)]
As you have read, there is no right or wrong answer on this topic, just plenty of opinions. I highly recommend using whatever works best for you.
I personally use a 5 gallon air tank with a regulator and oil/water trap. I fill the tank from a small compressor in my basement. The tank can be pressurized up to 125 psi, but my compressor has never gotten it over 105 psi. This is plenty to paint a car (interior and exterior), tank, or plane (I prefer to hand paint my figures).
I have tried some of the compressors made for airbrushing with mixed results. Some give a pulsating air supply which I find very annoying. As long as I have enough air in my tank, I know I will get a constant pressure with no noise. I haven’t tried the CO2 as I don’t have that much space in my model room.
Not really, long ago and just out of college, money was tight and I used a spare tire and a bicycle air pump ( the kind you push up and down) and it worked. The first accessory added to the contraption was a moisture trap. Never did have a pressure adjustment other than the amount of air in the tire. Some models required three or four “fills” to complete the painting and another for cleaning. But my waist has never been smaller. I would agree that a compressor is preferred to a CO2 tank or the packaged air cans. But the tire works and was cheap. Needless to say as my interest and finances grew I bought a compressor with all the traps and gauges.