Recent post have made me curious about the flocking air gun, powder coating systems, air brushing, etc. My question is about compressors. Since these things seem to need different delivery pressures, is aa compressor with a tank needed or are the small hobby compressors I see advertised in the $100 range, sufficient.

Mike

The best way to make use of such a thing is to have a tank that the compressor keeps filled. If you try to run directly off the compressor with no reserve, you'll have problems with a lot of delivery devices.

The flocking gun doesn't require much pressue, but does require some volume. Same with small air brushes. You'll be better off with a tank - it reallly needn't be all that large, a couple or three gallon would be plenty for either of these. Plenty.

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I got a Coleman Compressor 2-Gal tank from Pep Boys for $50.....It works for airbrushing and maybe flocking but it not near enough for something like sandblasting. Should have spent a little more for a bigger one that would be more flexible for ALL the stuff I need it to do.

Derek

Get one with a tank. Without a tank the small changes in pressure from the diaphragm pumping air makes your paint "pulsate" when it leaves the tip. A tank is the only way to go.

Noise is the biggest issue. If you're going to have it inside and don't want to listen to it, get a compressor designed for airbrushing. They are much quieter than the compressors used for garage/construction use.

Another option, that I use... I have a contractor compressor in the garage and I have a pair of 9-gallon air tanks. I go to the garage and fill my tanks where the noise doesn't bother anyone, including me. I have quick connectors hooked up to the air tanks. I can hook a regulator/in-line moisture trap to the connector and then my out line for the airbrush to that. Totally silent air supply.




Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Great ideas. I've also heard of people using an old automobile tire as an air "tank." You do have to be careful about moisture in the supplied air in any of these. If using for painting, you need some sort of moisture trap/filter inline.

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Years ago I picked up a CO2 tank and a regulator at a welding supply shop for about a hundred dollars. It weighs about thirty pounds when filled.
At the time i was making and painting spinnerbaits and hand carved topwater lures. On one fill up i used to paint about 4000 baits, two or three coats each. It cost about 20.00 to fill up and i didn't have to worry about any noise because there was none. I don't paint baits anymore but i'm getting ready to use it to start flocking grips. I used to spray at about 12 lbs of pressure. I think you may need around 15 - 20 lbs for flocking.
The best thing about it was electricity wasn't needed and it is portable so you could take it anywhere and the air came out at a steady flow.

Lance

Great idea Lance, and you don't have to worry about oil or water contamination! Thanks.


Regards......Doug@
TCRds

If you are going to paint small things like blanks and seats, an airbrush with a compressor as a kit will work nicely.
For any thing that takes a lot or high air pressure of air then you will need a small body shop compressor.
A body shop supply store should be able to give you an idea of sizes and uses.