Do you need a Compressor?

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Do you need a Compressor?

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 9:24 PM

i am getting a airbrush gun but i heard that you need a compressor because the cans don't last so long. is it really important to haave a compressor. what should i do get a compressor or use the cans. Big Smile [:D]

Reply
Edit

MikeV

Member since
April 2003
From: Hayward, CA

Posted by MikeV on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 9:34 PM

Compressor all the way! The price of cans will far surpass the price of a descent compressor in the long run. A 20 lb CO2 bottle is also a good alternative.

Mike

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon

Reply

kaybleman

Member since
January 2003
From: USA

Posted by kaybleman on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 9:48 PM

Yeah with my first a/b i used cans sitting in a pan of warm water(makes em last longer) but after 10 or 12 cans i could have bought a compressor! cans are good only if you airbrush just once in awhile.

Ich habe ein schweres erhalten und ein gabeln sich Schwanzteufel.. führend für Heim [{(-_-)}] [banghead] Music

Reply

shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 9:49 PM

Absolutely ..... you'll soon get really tired of those cans of propellent. The compressor is much cheaper in the long run and far more reliable.

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 4:05 PM

A compressor is way too expensive in the long run, they don't offer constant pressure. It's harmful to you and they are a waste of metal cans.

Reply
Edit

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 4:10 PM

I don't recommand getting a CO2 tank because they are a bomb. Why would you want to sit next to a metal shell that can pop any minute? Or you may tip it over and break the neck and transform the thing into a flying rocket and crack your head into pieces. There are periodic professional inspections you need to do, but that's plain hassel. And beside, you can't really trust your life based on that.

Reply
Edit

MikeV

Member since
April 2003
From: Hayward, CA

Posted by MikeV on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:25 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by hou_ge2000

I don't recommand getting a CO2 tank because they are a bomb. Why would you want to sit next to a metal shell that can pop any minute?

That is almost laughable. Big Smile [:D]

The car we all drive every day is a bigger bomb!

They power the soft drinks in every fast-food restaurant and every tap beer keg in bars, have you heard of many accidents with those? Wink [;)]

There are hundreds of airbrush pros who use CO2 all the time with no problems. It is absolutely silent, it needs no moisture trap and it will last a ling time at the pressures you spray models with. If you are careless or prone to accidents then don't use one.

Mike

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:59 PM

Ok but get a burst disc. If you don't, then the chances or it exploding is not as unlikely as you think. Go here...

http://www.paintballzone.com/co2.htm

Reply
Edit

berny13

Member since
February 2003
From: Panama City, Florida, Hurricane Alley

Posted by berny13 on Thursday, July 17, 2003 9:19 PM

If you go with a pressure tank, get it filled with dry nitrogen. It is less toxic than CO2. A friend has a dry nitrogen tank and it last him about six to nine months. It isn't that expensive to fill. No moisture trap is needed, only a regulater That is the way I am going in the near future. I am going to hard pipe it from my garage to my model room and use quick disconects for easy removal and transport.

Berny

Phormer Phantom Phixer

On the bench

TF-102A Delta Dagger, 32nd FIS, 54-1370, 1/48 scale. Monogram Pro Modeler with C&H conversion.

Revell F-4E Phantom II 33rd TFW, 58th TFS, 69-260, 1/32 scale.

Tamiya F-4D Phantom II, 13th TFS, 66-8711, 1/32 scale. F-4 Phantom Group Build.

Reply

MikeV

Member since
April 2003
From: Hayward, CA

Posted by MikeV on Thursday, July 17, 2003 9:44 PM

The CO2 recommendation I gave was an option and not my first choice. Any compressed gas is going to cost much more in the long run than a good compressor.

Mike

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon

Reply

M1abramsRules

Member since
June 2003

Posted by M1abramsRules on Friday, July 18, 2003 10:09 AM

I just got my airbrush 2 days ago, and for the first little while I am going to go with canned air. I will go with an air compressor in a few months.

Reply

shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Friday, July 18, 2003 10:33 AM

Have fun with your new airbrush Abrams .... make sure you have a couple of cans of propellant on hand. The more you use the cans, the less effective they become, so I always kept 2 or 3 on hand to switch them out.

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

Reply

M1abramsRules

Member since
June 2003

Posted by M1abramsRules on Saturday, July 19, 2003 12:29 AM

yeah, ... I ....I uhhhh..... found that uh... out tonight.

Reply

M1abramsRules

Member since
June 2003

Posted by M1abramsRules on Saturday, July 19, 2003 12:30 AM

(but I am having fun with it) I'll post some pics soon

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 4:42 AM

Before I got my compressor I was always worrying - will I have enough air left in the can to clean out my airbrush.

Reply
Edit

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 8:58 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by M1abramsRules

I just got my airbrush 2 days ago, and for the first little while I am going to go with canned air. I will go with an air compressor in a few months.

Those cans have got to be (IMHO) the biggest waste of modeller's money there is. They're expensive as hell.They last only long enough to get you into the middle of a project before they tire out .They're expensive as hell.What's more,you cannot regulate the pressure on them which leads to a very frustrating airbrushing experience.They're expensive as hell.

Do yourself a big favor and don't dump another dime on those
and you'll be able to get a compressor that much sooner.

Those cans......they're expensive as hell.

Reply
Edit

M1abramsRules

Member since
June 2003

Posted by M1abramsRules on Saturday, July 19, 2003 11:06 AM

I'm watching a few on ebay. but the thing is, if I get one off of ebay, shipping to Canada is atrocious. So I would probably get it shipped to relatives in the states to keep until someone comes up or we go down there. So I would be waiting for a couple of months anyway. So, if I can get a few cans for my birthday in august (or maybe a compressor) I'll be fine.

(I take it you think cans are expensive) LOL

Reply

Keyworth

Member since
January 2003
From: NE Georgia

Posted by Keyworth on Saturday, July 19, 2003 11:15 AM

Having tried propellant cans, compressed air and compressors, the compressor is really the most practical way to go. You can get a good Badger compressor from Michael's cheaply. Just wait until they have their 40% or the occasional 50% off one item coupon, and go for it! You can also use some commercial compressors, but you have to add the water trap and pressure regulator before you get started, or you could damage your airbrush in the process.- Ed

"There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"

Reply

shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Saturday, July 19, 2003 12:13 PM

Another thought Abrams (seeing as you are in Canada), go to Co-op and check out their line of King Canada compressors. I picked mine up on sale for $140.00 and it works just fine.

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

Reply

M1abramsRules

Member since
June 2003

Posted by M1abramsRules on Saturday, July 19, 2003 1:32 PM

exactly what is a water trap and what does it do?

There is a Michael's in Saskatoon.
There's a communist-operations in just about every town around 1000 people. :-)
hmmmm....

(My dad does have a compressor, but it stays in the garage, and I don't feel like dragging it in every time I want to paint.)(everyone in the house would complain about the noise too!!!)(and If I just tried a long hose hmmm.... off my desk onto the floor out to the playroom up the stairs through the entryway out to the shed into the garage... no, Mom wouldn't be happy)

I just checked King Canada on the web. This thing has to fit in my bedroom or I'm defeating the purpose of getting my own air compressor.

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 20, 2003 10:45 PM

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.

Ray

Reply
Edit

M1abramsRules

Member since
June 2003

Posted by M1abramsRules on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 11:26 AM

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.

Sorry it took so long but I was gone last week.

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 4:17 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV

Compressor all the way! The price of cans will far surpass the price of a descent compressor in the long run. A 20 lb CO2 bottle is also a good alternative.

Mike

I agree with Mike. Before you know it, you will be using it for around the house projects or whenever you work in the car.

Reply
Edit

M1abramsRules

Member since
June 2003

Posted by M1abramsRules on Wednesday, August 6, 2003 5:36 PM

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???

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 6, 2003 6:59 PM

Yep, and then ask for your own compressor for your b-day

Reply
Edit

Hoser

Member since
January 2003
From: Foothills of Colorado

Posted by Hoser on Friday, August 8, 2003 10:09 PM

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. Smile [:)]

"Trust no one; even those people you know and trust." - Jack S. Margolis

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 9, 2003 10:26 AM

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.

Reply
Edit

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 6:48 PM

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.

Reply
Edit

THE MAGAZINE

CONTACT US

RECENT ARTICLES

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT REVIEWS

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT REVIEWS

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT VIDEOS

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT THREADS

CATEGORIES

NEW PRODUCTS

OUR STORE

CURRENT ISSUE

SEARCH FINESCALE.COM