Airbrushing with a SCUBA tank

Dan,

I never seen anyone doing it but I'm sure that you can use SCUBA Tank to do it with a proper connectors.  I just donated my old Genesis Steel scuba tank to my local rifle club for our Junior shooters to use it as an air source for their air rifles, so I can't see why you can't use it for airbrushing (as long as you get the right connector and have means of controlling the PSI).  However, Scuba tank itself costs just as much as a compressor and it requires to be filled by dive-shops, which will cost you money and it is pain in the butt transporting it back and forth.  Also, most of dive shops will not fill your SCUBA tank unless the tank is properly inspected every year (and major inspection every 5 years).  When I was young, I used my father's spare tire as a source of air for my airbrush.  I even got the adapter from the LHS, so I'm assuming that you maybe able to get the connector/adapter for scuba tank too. 

As M1 garand said, that's an expensive air source. You will need a high pressure first stage regulator (like the one usually attached to the tank) and those are expensive. If you intend to modify your SCUBA rig for airbrushing use, it would probably ruin it for diving—I wouldn't take the chance. If you are not going to use the rig for diving anymore, for whatever reason, you would be better off selling everything and spending the money on a  compressor and tank intended for airbrush use.

That being said, old SCUBA tanks that have failed inspection are often still fine for low pressure storage and stilling tanks (100-150psi). I've built and used several airbrushing set-ups that way.

Another alternative, if you just want a quiet air source, is a carbon dioxide tank. Refills are cheap, and you usually rent the tank (cheaper than buying by a long road!) The worst thing is having to lug it to the shop (usually a welding supply outfit) for refills. And, in accordance with Murphy's Laws, you will run out of gas just before you finish, at 5:00 PM on Saturday.