Air Compressor

[heheman14]

Would I be able to use this air compressor with an airbrush gun. I saw it on Craigslist, but i don't know anything about air compressor.
I have been painting small part with a regular brush, and I thought i would try someone new.

Thanks.

[CFarias]

You'll want a compressor that can put out up to 35 psi. Many small compressores can put out about this much, but some can't. You can still use compressores that put out less than this but it may limit the type or amount of airbrushing you can do.

You may also want to vary that pressure a bit. For example you may find that you are comfortable spraying paint at 30 psi, but would rather spray metalizers at 20 psi. For this flexibility, you will also need a regulator so that you can adjust the air pressure to suit your needs.

Also, water can collect in your air hose. It comes from the air that is being compressed. A water trap is also a must. Often this can be purchased in combination with a regulator.

Finally, check the price of this compressors with those of the home-garage type. These are the ones that are used by home craftsman and typically have wheels, a storage tank, and regulator/water trap built in. While these are not as portable as the typical hobby compressor, they can be a better value owing to the regulator/water trap/storage tank feature and they can be used around the house to power tools, inflate tires, or air up footballs.

If you live in an apartment, however, the hobby compressors may be the better option because of quiet operation and storability.

Hope this helps.

[CFarias]

Also, you'll probably want a much shorter hose. One this long can rob a great amount of pressure so that you set the compressor at 30 psi but only get 20 psi at the airbrush.

And, if this compressor outputs anything greater than 35 psi, you'll definitely need a regulator to turn the pressure down to a usable level and not risk damaging your air brush and/or overpressure painting complications.