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Portable air compressors are a great tool for a model railroader’s home workshop. They’re especially useful for airbrushing. Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno shows you how to get your air compressor ready for your next airbrushing project.
I created a setup like this a few months ago with my small shop compressor. It works fine with my airbrush. The compressor is fairly loud, and I wear ear protection when I use it. Still, though, when it kicks on while I’m concentrating on painting, I am always startled, and my hand holding the airbrush jumps! I am going to try to hide the compressor under the bench and put something around it to muffle the sound without blocking the air vents.
My wife dislikes (ok hates) the sound of the compressor.
So compressor lives in furnace room, and plumbing brings air to workshop upstairs.
Searching on Google will give ideas for how to add additional water trapping for this setup.
I have the California Air Tools Light & Quiet 1P1060SP Portable Air Compressor in my hobby room. It is very quiet and handles all my need. I “try” to be sure it is off when not in use but have been known to forget to do so. It cycled a time or two during the night, and thougn my bedroom is just across the hall, I never heard it running. (FWIW)
Couple of suggestions. If using a moisture trap, I recommend placing the trap as far from the compressor as possible. This allows the air to sufficiently cool creating better performance. When Air is compressed heat is generated and moisture in the air condenses to water. That is why a trap is required. If the air is still hot, the trap will not capture all of the moisture. Another method to avoid this issue is to use an in-line disposable moisture filter. They use silica to suck out the moisture and do it quite efficiently.
Glad I stumbled upon this video as I had the same questions. I picked up a similar airbrush but wanted a versatile compressor for more than just painting.
Thanks for the air compressor tutorial. It was most helpful. I do wish you had included a source for the product and perhaps an approximate value.
makes no difference what or how big your compressor is as long as you have a good restrister in the line. 15 to30 psi is
fine.
I have a way to avoid moisture. I spray wit CO2 (Tank and regulator you see hooked up to a soda fountains). No worries about moisture on humid days or in the dankest basement. Just make sure to use in a ventilated area. I've only refilled my tank once. It lasts forever! Not to mention its silent!
Cody:
I have the same bascic setup, but i place a pressure regulator between the moisture trap and air brush.
My compressor has no storage tank, so I added a combination pressure regulator and moisture trap to a 5 gallon portable air tank. I fill the tank to about 95 psi, set the regulator for the pressure I want for my airbrush (usually 20 to 25 psi) and can usually finish painting before I need to refill the tank. My tank-only air supply is light and easy for me to move around my layout to paint clouds on the back-drop, weather track, freshen up my autumn foliage, etc. I also added a 10 foot extension hose for a longer reach, using inexpensive poly tubing.
Cody,
Invariably someone will have charged up their compressor before hooking up the connections. Therefore I would NOT put the 2nd connection in place until threding the braided hose on to it. Otherwise you'll have line pressure blowing out that fitting. Better safe than sorry.
I have this same compressor but, I put a "ball shut off valve" before the moisture trap. I also have a moisture trap with a knob to vary the air pressure and a pressure gauge. This way I can control the air pressure going to the air brush independently of the air pressure going to the other port on the air compressor. It also allows me to also disconnect one airbrush and switch to another without having to unplug the whole assembly. BTW: this compressor will put out 150 psi so you can also use it in the garage for all kinds of things making your hobby-dollars go furthur.
The air compressor has an adjustable air pressure knob.
With my airbrush the recommended air pressure is 15 – 50 psi.
I always go with about 20 psi. You have better control of the
spray that you get.
What psi setting is recommended and are there different setting for different types of paint?
Pressure? That compreeor is a little high isn't it?
Finally someone shows me that the hobby store who sold me a very expensive (same airbrush) with a compressor that couldn't create enough air to make a fart ripped me off. If hobby stores taught more they would have better sales volume.
you should cover various compressers
You can feed full compressor pressure (90psi) into that little bitty airbrush???!!!??? I'm just asking!
Cody:
You shold also inform them that they should make sure that they pay attention to the air flow on moisture trap when attaching couplings.