Canned Air Pressure

Buy a $60 airbrush compressor at Harbor Freight like I did.

Before, I was afraid to practice and clean correctly, because I did not wanted to use up this expensive canned air.

Also, I am finding myself spraying at 10 - 15 psi will much better results then the higher psi from a can. I can then raise the psi to 30 and do a good cleaning.

I lucked out last Christmas and got a $150 Home Depot gift card.  In between Christmas and New Years' they had a sale and I was able to pick up a compressor with a 3 1/2 gallon tank for about $5 after killing that gift card.

I was one of those who would burn through on of the big cans of propellant on a single model. 

It is hard to keep it warm, though. Once I had this great idea- I'd put a can of water on my bench and put the propel can in the water while spraying.  That worked for very short jobs.

However, the first time I did a long job, I found the pressure dropping again.  First couple of times, I took can out of water and shook it (don't really know if that helped or not).  Finally, when it got really bad, and I went to pick up the can, the whole pot and water (now ice) came with it. There was at least a pint- closer to a quart of water in the pan.   Reminded me that expanding pressurized gas is the basis for refrigeration and air conditioning :-)

After that session I decided to buy a compressor.

Hey Don,

It's also worth noting that it doesn't take too many cans of propellant to add up to the cost of a compressor.

Great information for the newbies to have!