Not testing, yet... Compressor question

[Guest]

As there's no general 'Help' forum that I have spotted, I wondered if I might get some advice here.

I've just bought an Aztek A4709 airbrush, which I'll be using to paint 1:35 scale armour. The airbrush instructions state that the compressor should be set to 20-28psi (1.4 to 1.8 bar). I knew we already had an old compressor buried somewhere (my wife used it for spraying glaze onto pottery) and I found it after much rummaging in the shed. However, I find that it's rated at 3.5 to 4 bar (with no adjustment) - it was used with a pretty heavy-duty looking spray gun. So, I'm assuming that hooking the Aztek up to this will result in less than desirable results.

Does anyone know if I'll be risking the internals of the Aztek if I hook it up and try it out? Or should I just play safe and go shopping for a more appropriate compressor?

[Guest]

Hi,

I'm no expert on the Astec range , but spraying at twice recommended pressure will almost certainly cause problems with over-spray, not to mention possible damage to the airbrush.

There were some compressors available on E Bay quite recently, if memory serves they were about £40 and appeared reasonable. If you are using it indoors, please get a quiet one, some older models make a very irritating, loud din.

J.

[Guest]

Thanks for the advice jankers - I'd come to the same conclusion myself, and I'm currently watching a couple of compressor options on Ebay. I remember the din this old compressor I have here made, so yes, I'll be looking out for a quiet one!

[Guest]

If you want a goody but cheapy, try here

http://rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/COMPRESSORS.html

[Guest]

Thanks bogstandard, that recommendation is really useful - this model is exactly the same as one on Ebay which I'm watching that seemed a good deal (the Ebay offer is even cheaper than the dealer you've linked to).

[Guest]

You could also buy yourself a pressure regulating/reducing valve.

If the thing makes a racket though you may as well put the money towards a new unit.

[Guest]

I got one of these for my old compresor, comes with a couple of hoses and and they have quick relise ends, you do not have to use the oil side, they are made of a high impact plastic and have a 3year guarantee , cheap but efective

peter

ALDI - Thursday Special Buys 28th February 2008

[Guest]

they have a lot of tools at times some good some not so good, I got a gas soldering Iron a couple of weeks ago. it works well, and even better after seing the same iron in maplins same box and bits only difference was that it had a Dremil sticker on it and was four times the price, it was identical down to the lenth of solder spanners etc.

peter

[Guest]

Howdy Nobby,

Well, I rarely speak of this, but.......way back, years ago when i bought my first airbrush, i bought it from a "travelling hardware show" ie.. a tractor trailer full of hardware that goes from town to town.

Well, there were no hobby shops in my town at the time, much like there arent any here now, but i purchased a 10 gallon air tank, filled it at the local gas station with air and brought it back home and with a few brass fittings was able to use the tank as my "propellant" for my airbrush.

Now if you already have a compressor, you are one step ahead of me back then.

You could purchase the fittings to adapt your brush to an airtank and simply fill the airtank with the compressor you have as needed until such time as you purchase a smaller "hobby compressor".

Sometimes you have to be creative when you have a hobby. Just be sure if you go this route to only put the rated amount of pressure in the tank....you might be able to go a little above, but be careful or you could ruin the airbrush. As long as you dont exceed the rating, the airbrush should be fine though...you will just have to fill the tank every so often.

Hope this helps,

Greg aka GW