[quote=michu]You want three things out of your compressor:
- pressure regulator
- moisture trap
- tank
For our hobby painting I wouldn't settle for anything less than that. Here's why:
- Different paints and different painting scenarios require different presure settings. I'm going with 30psi for Stynylrez primers, but only 10-12 psi for almost anything else (I spray thinned a lot because it gives me more control).
- Moisture is your biggest enemy, it might be a bigger or lesser problem depending on environment - some are more prone to water condensation in the air line, some are less - but it's the quickest way to ruin your paintwork. Both moisture trap and the tank contribute to making this problem go away.
- For uninterrupted and consistent air supply, without pulsing, a tank is a must. 2 liter tank should be enough, it's just a buffer between the compressor pump and the airbrush that gives you smooth and steady airflow. And as written before, it reduces the risk of water condensation, a point often overlooked when talking about tanks and compressors. The additional advantage is that the compressor won't be running all the time, only when the pressure in the tank drops below a certain lever - so, less noise and less stress on the pump, no problems with it overheating etc.
As for the brands... I'm pretty sure you will be fine with any of the AS-186 Chinese knock-offs offered. Even Paasche sells them under their own brand. It's a nice entry-level compressor, not too loud, served me well for about 2 years before I switched to a high-end Iwata one (only because it was able to provide more airflow for a more demanding airbrush). Just a bit of advice, they have sometimes some quality control issues, so buy off Amazon from a local seller to be protected by Amazon's excellent return policy.
Some other tips:
- If there is no water in the line, but you still have problems with airbrush - it's probably dirtier than you think. Clean it twice, then clean it some more.
- Thin paints a lot. You'll get less tip dry (drying of the paint on the needle tip), less spitting, easier to achieve uniform paint surface, better control over the transparency/opacity. Spray at low pressure, close - over 3 inches is probably way too far; I usually tend to keep within an inch from the surface; for detail work I even remove the crown from the airbrush to be able to almost touch the part.
- Don't buy an ultrasonic cleaner, it's a waste of time and money, and can damage your airbrush. Better get some dental paper points from eBay, they are perfect for getting into all these nooks and cranes, especially inside the nozzle. Remember, your airbrush is never as clean as you think and most of the problems can be resolved by a good clean-up.
- You'll probably want to upgrade to a double-action gravity fed airbrush pretty soon ;-)
EDIT: example link to item with UK-based supplier
https://www.amazon.co.uk...rbrushes/dp/B074QTDVBW/[/quote]
You see THIS is why this forum is so great
. Plenty of freindly and sound advise from people who know what they are talking about!
Thanks Michu
US
