another compressor question..

Yes, I've done that. I used the tank from another small compressor I had been using that died. I still use the regulator that was on the tank. I use a moisture trap at the tank regulator but it never accumulates anything because, as you said, the tank itself separates the moisture. It also cuts out any pulsing. The compressor is still going to run a lot once the pressure in the tank drops. I'm using a Harbor Freight compressor now but I can't tell any difference between it and the Iwata Sprint Jet I used in the same position for several years. The HF compressor may not live as long but it was readily available and was one third the price. It also came with a replacement piston ring which is what gave out on the Iwata. Granted, I haven't done much painting for a while but I worked the HF compressor pretty hard when I did and didn't have any problems.

m3panzers

so far so good with the compressor; I got it because it was cheap and readily available, I had an airbrush so I was looking to get some work going BUT the airbrush sucks so Im upgrading it and the compressor is next. Only problem was one day during the summer it got hot and I got water through the line. I wondered if an add on tank would help prevent that as well.....

If a regulator/moisture separator is mounted directly on the compressor, and the air is hot enough, moisture can still pass through as vapor and condense in the hose or airbrush.  By mounting the separator after a tank or length of hose or tubing, the air is cooled enough that the moisture will condense and be collected in the separator.  The tank itself will condense a lot of it and need to be drained occasionally.

There are secondary separators that mount in-line in the hose or at the airbrush.

Don

m3panzers

I got water through the line. I wondered if an add on tank would help prevent that as well.....

 

Like I said in the previous post, you need a moisture trap.

 

so far so good with the compressor; I got it because it was cheap and readily available, I had an airbrush so I was looking to get some work going BUT the airbrush sucks so Im upgrading it and the compressor is next. Only problem was one day during the summer it got hot and I got water through the line. I wondered if an add on tank would help prevent that as well.....

 

Hello!

I have done that:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/tools_techniques_and_reference_materials/f/18/t/151920.aspx

Here's a teaser:

It really pays off to tinker a little bit with the compressed air equipment - you learn some new skills and you get equipment custom-tailored to your needs at a reasonable cost!

Hope it helps, have a nice day

Paweł

m3panzers

Ive seen posts all over the internets about using smaller, cheaper compressors so I picked up a Harbor Freight unit dirt cheap( better than nothing) but it drives me nuts kicking on and off...has anyone ever added a tank to a unit that didnt come with one?

I've done that.  It works OK.  The compressor will still cycle on and off but not as often.  The only compressors that won't are the simple ones with no pressure switch, and they run all the time.  If you really want quiet, go bottled CO2 or nitrogen.

Don

Certain things from HF are ok to buy, usually if they don't have too many moving parts. Some of their tools are ok and others are junk.

As for your compressor, use it till it goes kaput then shop around for a better quality one. I use a Campbell Housefeld 10 gallon compressor in the garage for modeling and running some small air tools like nailers, etc. Just make sure you have a moisture trap and a regulator. 

https://www.amazon.com/California-Air-Tools-CAT-1610A-1-6-Gallon/dp/B00889ZYD8 I swear by this compressor it's super quiet and still has enough power to drive a nail gun or impact.

Heh... Harbor Freight compressors.... you get what you paid for.... a cheap product. I bought my air compressor at TCP Global for around $80.