Air brush query

[StevieB]

Have done a forum search but nothing seemed to match....

If I wanted to try an airbrush for paint effects, do I have to spend £70 or more on a compressor as well or are there ones that run off a can of compressed air? Brushes themselves do not seem to be very expensive but for a trial I dont realy want to buy a compressor If the effect I get is not what I want.

Intended use is for painting small scale scroll work - say approx 10cm diameter max per piece, although each piece will be irregular. Getting a brushed finish on this size piece is not working very well and spray cans are messy and expensive but just about feasible if I only want 1 colour on each piece.

TIA,

Steve.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Steve,
Many run on cans of air, but it is easy to spend £70 on air if you use it regularly.

Cheers
Steve

 

[StevieB]

Thanks Steve. Using the word propellant rather than aerosol was a bit more productive I only want to try it out and see how it goes so since, as you suggest, propellant is expensive at approx £8 a can I am tempted to consider a £45 punt on the one at the top of this page:

http://www.everythingairbrush.com/acatalog/Finespray.html

If it seems to work then I can get a better compressor at a later date. It looks so easy on American Hot Rod, Pimp my ride and American Chopper :shock: Not sure I am going to be putting flaming skulls on anything anytime soon, but two solid colours on a scrolled jigsaw might be feasible.

Steve.

 

[xy mosian]

Now woodies are normally fairly resourceful chaps. I do not use air brushes, but I used to know a man who did. The point? He derived his compressed air from ...... a spare wheel. Lots of capacity. Reasonably cheap to charge up again.

xy

 

[Majorlarf]

Now woodies are normally fairly resourceful chaps. I do not use air brushes, but I used to know a man who did. The point? He derived his compressed air from ...... a spare wheel. Lots of capacity. Reasonably cheap to charge up again.

xy

You mean This

 

[BigShot]

Just bear in mind that using things like a tyre will mean the pressure drops off which will change the characteristics of the spraying. The same is true of canned air too.

That said - I don't think I'd have thought of using a car tyre but I've got to say I think it's a pretty good idea.

 

[Grinding One]

Yea the tire would work as long as you inline a meter,the air brush I use is only 5 lbs pressor...so I could see you using a tire,some bike tires go to 60lbs. sop you could use that for awhile....

 

[StevieB]

Thanks guys, but I think lugging a spare tyre (other than the one round my waist) up and down the cellar steps is going to be abit more of a faff than I wanted :wink:

Payday today - going to order a baby compressor and brush as linked above and see how I get on.

Steve.

 

[xy mosian]

Majorlarf, I never saw the setup but it might well have been.

xy

 

[cutting42]

You may want to consider an air trap as well. As the air is compressed the water content is condensed and can form water droplets in the airline and then through the airbrush in onto your finish - really annoying as it always happens on the last pass of the airbrush DAMHIK :shock:

 

[BigShot]

Stevie...
You'd only need to get it down the stairs - it'd mean a spare, spare tyre of course - so you didn't need to get it back to the car, but cheaper than a compressor I'd bet.

That way you could just leave it down there and pump it up when needed. I fact, regular pumping might help deflate the other spare you mentioned

 

[BradNaylor]

I bought a little compressor from B&Q in January for around £27.50. I use it a lot for site work and it is great. Once you've got a compressor you'll wonder how you ever managed without it.

Last time I was there B&Q still had them in. Not big enough for general spraying but fine for detail work like you describe.

Cheers
Brad

 

[StevieB]

Thanks for the heads up Brad, nothing showing on their website but I will have a look next time I am in there.

Steve.