Air Brushing – Air Brush

Question:

Vern Enriques spoke thusly: Another thing….I realize that most compressors come with regulators (the bigger good ones) with a gauge…but what I really want was a pressure gauge / regulator that is as close to my airbrush as possible / because of what they call Friction Loss in the hose. Vern

Vern: If this is your correct email address I can send you some pictures of a "rig" I made.  I had taken them for "Zukzilla".  It has a regulator, gauge, 2 separators and a manifold.  The whole thing is built on a toolbox.  Pretty handy and portable.  When I’m in the basement airbrushing I plug it into the air line down there.  When I’m in the garage with a big sprayer or air tools, I plug it into the compressor directly. — -||- Diode -|<|-

Response:

I use a standard ‘diaphragm’ type pump. Actually it’s an old Badger pump (works like an aquarium pump) type. I have no clue as to what pressure I’ve been spraying at. I feel at times that it may be a little too high. Question: Do you think that if the pressure at the gun is too high, that you won’t be able to control over-spray, or to be able to spray very fine lines, etc.? or do you think this affects the ability at all? Or is it that you should be spraying at a constant…say 15 psi i.e. just to atomize the paint right? I would like to hear your thoughts. I just bought an ‘inline regulator’, but have no gauge (wish it did) though. Any comments appreciated. Aloha vern

Response:

"Vern" wrote… Question: Do you think that if the pressure at the gun is too high, that you won’t be able to control over-spray, or to be able to spray very fine lines, etc.? or do you think this affects the ability at all?

If you are using a dual-action airbrush you have more control than if you were using a single-action. Or is it that you should be spraying at a constant…say 15 psi i.e. just to atomize the paint right?

Depends on what you’re painting on to and the paint viscosity. I would like to hear your thoughts.

I have a paasche diaphragm compressor that I use as a back-up it has a way to adjust the pressure but I have no idea what I’m spraying at.  That’s probably why it stays in the box.  And although I basically use dual-action guns, spray automotive paints on to automotive type surfaces I still like/need the ability to control my air pressure.  Being able to see what pressure you’re painting at under certain circumstances helps. — hawgeye www.hawgeye.com

Response:

Yes Diode…this is my real email address…Would like to see your set up. Thanks Vern – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Vern Enriques spoke thusly: Another thing….I realize that most compressors come with regulators (the bigger good ones) with a gauge…but what I really want was a pressure gauge / regulator that is as close to my airbrush as possible / because of what they call Friction Loss in the hose. Vern Vern: If this is your correct email address I can send you some pictures of a "rig" I made.  I had taken them for "Zukzilla".  It has a regulator, gauge, 2 separators and a manifold.  The whole thing is built on a toolbox.  Pretty handy and portable.  When I’m in the basement airbrushing I plug it into the air line down there.  When I’m in the garage with a big sprayer or air tools, I plug it into the compressor directly.

Response:

Thanks for all the replies….Hawgeye and Airbrush Ken… Well I’m thinking ureethanes…HOK paints….onto hard surfaces… I wanted more control of my paint with less overspray…and sometimes when I need really fine lines on a smaller scale I feel as if the pressure was less…I could control the overspray a lot more. I find it easier to paint ‘large’…but when it’s time for the little things….it’s harder to control. I realize that there is a point where the paint and pressure..will begine to ’stipple’….but I would like to realize the lowest pressure that one can spray for a particular paint, that gives as good an atomization as at the higher pressures. But…overall it’s hard when I’m guessing what pressure I’m spraying at…and besides if one knows what pressure he is working at….wouldn’t it be easier to duplicate the job you just did? OF cours…aside from thinning or reducing the paint. ??? Thanks again for all the help. Aloha all Vern – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Organization: http://groups.google.com Newsgroups: alt.airbrush.art Hey Vern, First off a quick thought on using the pump. Most come with a bleeder valve on the hose connector to adjust pressure…Badger, Paasche all sell them for a few dollars…as for a gauge…just buy a pressure gauge ($5.00) and a "T" fitting from any plumbing supply..you’ll need to match your fittings (I’m guessing 1/4" pipe thread)to your compressor and airline. Question: Do you think that if the pressure at the gun is too high, that you won’t be able to control over-spray, or to be able to spray very fine lines, etc.? Pressure will make all the difference. As does the type of paint and the type of feed (gravity, side fill, etc.)the airbrush has. Also the surface can dictate what pressure you need to use. Come back with some more info Vern…paint, brush, surface… Ken "Aim towards the enemy." – Instruction printed on Army rocket launcher!

Response:

"Vern Enriques" wrote… Another thing….I realize that most compressors come with regulators (the bigger good ones) with a gauge…but what I really want was a pressure gauge / regulator that is as close to my airbrush as possible / because of what they call Friction Loss in the hose.

How far away do you keep the compressor? If it’s the length of say a 10′ air hose I wouldn’t be concerned about friction loss. Unless you keep your hose in a knot or kinked, the loss is going to be negligible. However if you like to keep your compressor far away then you can run a line close to you. Attach it to a regulator/guage that is within reach and then tap off of it with your airbrush hose. The ultimate setup would be to have the regulator/guage at the airbrush but that’s going add weight and could make things awkward. Now if they came out with a built in regulator/LCD digital guage built in to the brush, like they have on the top of the line Sata spray guns, that would be the cat’s ass. — hawgeye www.hawgeye.com

Response:

Yeah Hawgeye….know what you mean about the reg/gauge at the gun. I used to run my old pre-hvlp guns that way. I know what you’re saying about the Friction loss….I’m not trying to be technical, I just want to have some idea of what my ‘reference’ pressure is like. At least I can gauge it a little better. Right now I have no ‘clue’ as to what I’m spraying at. hehe. Thanks for info Vern – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Organization: Comcast Online Newsgroups: alt.airbrush.art "Vern Enriques" wrote… Another thing….I realize that most compressors come with regulators (the bigger good ones) with a gauge…but what I really want was a pressure gauge / regulator that is as close to my airbrush as possible / because of what they call Friction Loss in the hose. How far away do you keep the compressor? If it’s the length of say a 10′ air hose I wouldn’t be concerned about friction loss. Unless you keep your hose in a knot or kinked, the loss is going to be negligible. However if you like to keep your compressor far away then you can run a line close to you. Attach it to a regulator/guage that is within reach and then tap off of it with your airbrush hose. The ultimate setup would be to have the regulator/guage at the airbrush but that’s going add weight and could make things awkward. Now if they came out with a built in regulator/LCD digital guage built in to the brush, like they have on the top of the line Sata spray guns, that would be the cat’s ass. — hawgeye www.hawgeye.com

Response:

Another thing….I realize that most compressors come with regulators (the bigger good ones) with a gauge…but what I really want was a pressure gauge / regulator that is as close to my airbrush as possible / because of what they call Friction Loss in the hose. Vern – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Organization: http://groups.google.com Newsgroups: alt.airbrush.art Hey Vern, First off a quick thought on using the pump. Most come with a bleeder valve on the hose connector to adjust pressure…Badger, Paasche all sell them for a few dollars…as for a gauge…just buy a pressure gauge ($5.00) and a "T" fitting from any plumbing supply..you’ll need to match your fittings (I’m guessing 1/4" pipe thread)to your compressor and airline. Question: Do you think that if the pressure at the gun is too high, that you won’t be able to control over-spray, or to be able to spray very fine lines, etc.? Pressure will make all the difference. As does the type of paint and the type of feed (gravity, side fill, etc.)the airbrush has. Also the surface can dictate what pressure you need to use. Come back with some more info Vern…paint, brush, surface… Ken "Aim towards the enemy." – Instruction printed on Army rocket launcher!

Response:

Hey Vern, First off a quick thought on using the pump. Most come with a bleeder valve on the hose connector to adjust pressure…Badger, Paasche all sell them for a few dollars…as for a gauge…just buy a pressure gauge ($5.00) and a "T" fitting from any plumbing supply..you’ll need to match your fittings (I’m guessing 1/4" pipe thread)to your compressor and airline. Question: Do you think that if the pressure at the gun is too high, that you won’t be able to control over-spray, or to be able to spray very fine lines, etc.?

Pressure will make all the difference. As does the type of paint and the type of feed (gravity, side fill, etc.)the airbrush has. Also the surface can dictate what pressure you need to use. Come back with some more info Vern…paint, brush, surface… Ken "Aim towards the enemy." – Instruction printed on Army rocket launcher!

Response: