Using a tank to power an airbrush...

[Moogyboy]

hey all

Does anyone know exactly what I need to to do this? Can't find any info on what types of fittings, couplings, valves, moisture filters, etc. will do the job. The best I can think of is to somehow use the inflator hose or a spare LP port on my reg...but how to hook them up?

I have a Paasche VL brush, btw, along with one of those simple diaphragm type compressors that gets really effin' hot after just a few minutes, if that helps.

cheers

Billy S.

 

[CBulla]

you'll need to stage it down like you do a regulator. Strip an old reg down to the valve, the rest you can get at a hardware store that sells pneumatic equipment.

 

[msandler]

IP on a reg is high for non-scuba applications. You will need to tune it down considerably or you will greatly increase the wear on your equipment. NPT adapters should be easy enough to find.

 

[Bob3]

Grab an adaptor; "pipe thread to BC male" (available at your local dive shop, about $4), & screw it into the inlet side of an industrial variety regulator, like this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=1118
or this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45009

heck, they even have an oil free compressor there too: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47407

 

[Moogyboy]

Grab an adaptor; "pipe thread to BC male" (available at your local dive shop, about $4), & screw it into the inlet side of an industrial variety regulator, like this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=1118
or this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45009

heck, they even have an oil free compressor there too: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47407

Good idea. Couple of questions:
So a BC male is not a standard air fitting?
What is the size of the "pipe thread" on the adapter, and are we certain that it will fit the regulators you mentioned (I assume that the NPT fittings will unscrew).

Guessing that I will be able to find an NPT fitting for my airbrush hose, it sounds like I have a plan. Mainly I'm just very ill-informed on air fittings and such.

thx, and of course cheers

Billy S.

 

[Moogyboy]

OTOH...

Dang, $70 for an oil-free compressor with tank?! The art-supply places are committing highway robbery! Thanks a million for the link!

cheers

Billy S.

 

[android]

Do you like the VL? I'd tried to use one in vain and hated it. I changed to Iwatas and have loved airbrushing ever since.

Also, www.dixieart.com has a good variety of airbrush fittings and adapters.

 

[Bob3]

OTOH...

Dang, $70 for an oil-free compressor with tank?! The art-supply places are committing highway robbery! Thanks a million for the link!

cheers

Billy S.

BC male (and female) fittings aren't standard air fittings.
The ones commonly sold in the dive shops are 1/4"
You'll need some pipe bushings for the adapting, the "standard air" regulator I have is 1/2" so it needed to be bushed down to 1/4".
What exactally you'll need is going to depend on your final configuration, don't be embarassed to drag all the parts into the hardware store, it could save you a few trips.
I see they have a 1/4" female x 1/8" male adapter at that joint.
Do a search for "air brush" and "airbrush".

I've got that same model air compressor, it's a handy little critter to use on the small jobs, like blowing gremlin nests outta my computers.
My only complaint is that it runs a little louder than what I'd like.
It does put out enough air to use as a shallow water hookah though.

The main sprayer I used to use was the Binks #7, great for laquer, back in the days before urethanes.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

I had an airbrush years ago hooked up to an air tank. Now, this was a long time ago and my dad had rigged it up for me. I remember that there was a pressure gauge that you could set so the brush wouldn't blow to smitherenes. So, I am guessing that the way to do it would be to run the adjustable pressure gauge (my air brush was maxed out at 30psi..I think) off the first stage then the air brush hose from the pressure gauge.

 

[pt40fathoms]

A word of caution to anyone who is going to use a scuba tank and first stage to deliver air to tools.

Make sure that you either leave one second stage in place, or install an overpressure relief valve that is available from either your LDS or online. This will prevent a hose or your tool from exploding, in the event that the first stage begins to fail and allows the low pressure to creep up to tank pressure levels. This low-pressure creep is not uncommon in first stages that have not been serviced for some time, and announces itself as a free flow on the second stage in most circumstances.