155 Anthem with Blue Mini compressor

The reason I ask is that i have a contempo, and am disgusted with it and really want to upgrade to a 155.

congratulations, the 155 rocks. the mini blue will work. I am just wondering what you gonna do with the contempo

I really dunno. I might just stash it away and pretend it never happened. or I have a friend and i might sell it to him for a rock bottom price. Maybe 20 bucks. or even less. But i just have a lot of problems with my contempo. Plus it feels cheap.

congrats .. I have the 360 Universal which is basicly the same airbrush except that the feed rotates to gravity or siphon feed.. I use it more than my 175 Cresendo, which I got to replace the series of Aztek airbrushs I tried to use... to no sucess.....

QUOTE: Originally posted by Delbert congrats .. I have the 360 Universal which is basicly the same airbrush except that the feed rotates to gravity or siphon feed.. I use it more than my 175 Cresendo, which I got to replace the series of Aztek airbrushs I tried to use... to no sucess.....

how odd, that's the same progression I made.. Aztek.. which actually if I had used a regulator wouldn't have been TOO bad... (glad I didnt get a regulator, it prompted me to get the Badger)

Then I got the 175 because it felt good in my hands.... still have it still like it... need to practice more though...

Then I got curious because I heard so many talking about the 155 especially fine lines etc... so I got it and I am hooked for detailing... I've used it a little for med coverage but think I am going to get a T adaptor for my compressor and be able to run both at once.. The 155 ROCKS though!
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And to Tankmaster... are you using a regulator on your Blue Ice? if not you'll need one to effectively use the 155... (lines down to 1/16 inch etc...)

You can get a water trap at Lowes or Home Depot for about 19 dollars, a regulator there too for 20 dollars.... I really recommend replacing the pressure gauge with a modelling one like from Testors (they have them at Hobby Lobby) about another 17 dollars, instead of being marked 0/10/20 PSI they are marked from 1 to 50 PSI in 1PSI increments... when you're spraying with the 155 at about 5-6 psi and properly thinned paint you can get some REALLY fine lines... and that translates to some nice paint work...

If money is a real concern even though I dont recommend not using a water trap, I recommend getting the regulator... even the lowes one and just guestimate the lower pressures until you have an idea where to set it... the 155 is not as effective for fine work at the 12 to 15 PSI the Blue ICe puts out without a regulator. And yes, the regulator from the hardware stores will fit the Blue Ice... just make sure to get an extra male to male 1/4 inch connector and teflon tape to seal the threads.. (both of those add up to maybe 3 dollars) and for 19 dollars more even if it is later get the water trap... you dont wanna spit water on your nicely painted models...

If you already have the regulator then disregard the previous...

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/pas/pasr75ar.htm will this regulator do? would it fit the mini blue? thanks- tankmaster

that reg MIGHT work, you should try one by badger if the miniblue had a 1/4 npt adapror

that one will work and it has the water trap too so thats a plus! If it doesn't come with it you'll need another 1/4 to 1/4 male connecter (in the aircompressor section at your hardware store, about $1.49) to hook the hose to.

oh yeah and some teflon tape, also at the hardware store, to seal the threads... just wrap a small piece completely around the threads and screw your regulator on. Helps keep it from leaking... less than a dollar for the roll...

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/bad/bad50-054.htm would this one be more suited?

yeah the mini blue has a 1/4 NPT connector.

they're both about the same in my opinion... both are regulators and moisture traps combined... I am just wondering... I used to have a blue ice and I think the nipple is on top of the compressor if I am not mistaken... which means the moisture trap wouldn't work, it won't work lying on its side... let me look around for ya and I will try to post something in a little bit... I'll see if I can find something that WILL work...

ok this type regulator will work:

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/levineauto/iw8005areg.html

or this one:

http://www.dickblick.com/zz269/13/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=1585

then connected to the 1/4 NPT airoutlet you would put one of those Lowes type moisture traps/air filters... or one from the hobby shop if they have them seperate...


like this one:

http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=221024-1126-IFA106

Again you will need at least 1 1/4" male to male connecter to connect your airbrush to... but buy two to save you a trip back to the store...
The regulator doesn't care what position it is in... the moisture trap has to be vertical to work...

Just a random stupid thought, would the compressor work lying on its side? that would simplify matters a lot. Thanks for all the posts i really appreciate it

BTW, how bad is working without a moisture trap? I've been working without one for a bit now, and it doen't seem too bad...

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tankmaster7 BTW, how bad is working without a moisture trap? I've been working without one for a bit now, and it doen't seem too bad...

depends on where ya live.. in Arizona probably not too much of a problem.. in the bayous of the TX/LA border it is like 86% humidity right now and it is mandatory...

interesteing thought about laying it on its side... I imagine it would work as it is a diaphragm compressor... but would the moisture trap hit the floor? not that it is a big deal but you wouldnt want it to be holding up the weight of the compressor etc...

I found mine and although I have a seperate water trap and regulator just visualizing the trap and the compressor it looks like it would hit the floor... unless you keep it on the edge of the bench...

I didnt think I had probs with my blue ice either when I had it... no regulator, no trap... but once I put a regulator on it it spit water on my model.. of course it was 90% humidity that day... probably coincedence...

I still think either get a new compressor ($77 at Lowes for a slightly loud one, only comes on every so often because it has a 2 gal air tank) that you can use with the one you posted on, or go for the separate water trap/regulator thing... you can try using it without one but be careful!!!

I think I'll build a stand for it so that the combination thing doesnt hit the table. Other than that if it should work, I think that's what I'll do.

I just thought of something. Do hardawre stores like home depot sell 1/4 inch elbows? I could hook it up to my compressor, and all would be happy!! assuming they sell them.

hmmm I've not seen them but that doesn't mean anything but that I wasn't looking for them... I'd take a trip by if I were you... maybe explain to the guy in the tool dept what you are trying to do... it's worth a try!

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/tes/tes50682c.htm if i attatch a t connector, which would make it horizontal, could i attach the regulator, moisture trap thropugh that?

yeah but you'd need a cap on the other end of some sort which I believe home depot does have... the regulator, the the water trap would have to be connected to the other side in-line with each other...

Never mind it's all ok.! i found a place online i can get an elbow!!!! yee-haw!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tankmaster7 Never mind it's all ok.! i found a place online i can get an elbow!!!! yee-haw!!

wooHOO!!! happy airbrushing brother! Life is gonna be good once you can crank that pressure down low to get some real fine lines... remember, the 155 is a uni-needle unit and you may need to play with the diluting of paints with it.. I find I have to dilute mine a bit more for the 155 than my Badger 175, not much but a little. Try like a 3:2 paint to thinner ratio at first and adjust as you think necessary...

good luck! and I think you will smile the first time you clean that thing... it's a breeze!

Thanks tho9900, i really appreciate all the help you've given me. Thanks a lot.

no prob brother! glad to be of help... let me know how it all turns out! Where'd ya find the elbow by the way... in case someone comes up with the same problem?

Happy airbrushing! I don't think you will be dissapointed! Just practice and get it down and you will be a whiz in no time! Read the insert that comes with the brush and see the basic techniques, ask questions on here and then practice them (even with food coloring and water to be cheap about it) Low flow of paint, low pressure = fine lines, higher pressure and higher flow of paint = med coverage as in painting the fuselage.

There's a lot of different approaches but I use like 5-6 psi for finer detail, 10 to 15ish for bigger areas... If you spray future different people use different things... anywhere from 10 to 20 psi. Just ask around and you will hear different stories and you can make your own mind up!

I just searched google for 1/4 compressor and found a bunch of sites where you can buy them.