propellant source?

A car tire can be used as a propellant source with the proper adapters, however they 1) Don't have a lot of air volume, and 2) Don't have much pressure. The results is that you don't get a lot of painting done before you wind up having to reinflate the tire. I have a spare tire adapter, although I've never used it, and the instructions with it state that the tire must be mounted on the wheel. I'm not sure if it says that because of tubeless tires, or whether the inner tube actually has to be mounted in a tire and wheel. You might need a moisture trap, I'm not sure. It will probably depend on whether the place you use to inflate it has a trap on their compressor.

Other alternatives are carbon dioxide tanks. These are usually available for lease from places that refill soft drink machines or welding supply stores. I think some places lease the regulator sets, but some may require you to buy them. This is an excellent way to go, and is in some ways superior to a compressor. CO2 is perfectly dry and the source is perfectly silent.

You can also get a tank for inflating tires. These run about $30 at Sears or Lowes, but you'll need to add a regulator and probably a moisture trap as well. Additionally, you'll need some adapters and fittings to get the air to your airbrush.

A spare tire, while cheap, isn't going to give you much air and the pressure will drop off quickly. Canned air is probably your best bet at this point.

What you can try is explaining to your other half that 10 cans of air (about 8-12 kits, depending on how much you airbrush) is the same price as a compressor. Sure it hurts up front, but in the long run it's cheaper. She might go for it that way.

Well Day tripper,
In Malaysia, Japan and Asia, you can get the Tamiya Compressor for starters. i bought it roughly around USD 100. it runs only on 25 psi. But it's still good enough and don't really make much noise. you can check your LHS if they sell those item.

Reza

Has anyone ever priced other inert gases like nitrogen or argon? If so, how does price stack up against CO2?

Gip Winecoff

If you don't mind the occasional noise, I got a compressor at Lowes with a 2 gallong tank and regulator for $77.00... all you need is a water trap then. usually I just fill it up and it runs on that charge a decent while (depending on the psi I use)

that's only 7 cans of air... at almost a whole can per model in the long run it's a lot cheaper to go with the compressor. plus you have the added assurance when you wake up in the morning with a flat, you can air it up long enough to get you to walmart to get it patched, WITHOUT having to get dirty changing it, and without putting the silly lil donut tire on the car. (threw that in in for your wife)

the only other ones besides the tire are canned air and one of those 10 gallon air tanks... but you would need to buy the regulator (at least $20.00) water trap, 1/4" male to male fitting etc.. etc.. etc..

Thx for the advice,
I think i'll stick with cans for the short term and save the pennies for a decent
compressor.

Kev

QUOTE: Has anyone ever priced other inert gases like nitrogen or argon? If so, how does price stack up against CO2?

Or maybe hydrogen (although that one isn't inert) I can see us smokers with a tank full of hydrogen driving our airbrushes. Or someone answering the phone after airbrushing from a tank of helium.

Sorry, Gip, I couldn't resist. I haven't compared the prices of other intert gases to CO2. It wou;d be interesting to know though since several of the would be good choices.

I started off using air cans until my wife got me a compressor for my birthday. I usually could squeeze two airplanes out of a can of air. The good news is that compressors have been getting cheaper lately.

A 15 gallon tank will supply air for more arbrushing than a tire but still not very long. It would be a much nicer experience than using canned air though except for having to haul it somewhere to fill it up often. Another positive to a big tank is that it can be added on to your tank compressor when you get one. It just takes a little rigging. A second tank makes your compressor run longer to refill, but it comes on a lot less frequently.

Try Harbor Freight tools, they have some compressors for $60.00 when you catch them on sale.