Airbrush Propellant (UK)

"Greg" wrote

I think they are typically around 1000 psi. There are regulators that go with the tanks that do just what you are looking to do.

At the pressures involved CO2 is a liquid. It becomes a gas when regulated down to useable pressures.

KL

I don't often read about it, but please be sure that you are working in a well-ventilated area. If you have a leak, the CO2-level could possibly reach a level that makes you go to sleep and worse.

Rob

My models:

I would think it most unlikely that you could ever come to any harm from a non-obvious CO2 leakage unless you were spraying in an airtight room. You should, however, have some kind of ventilation, a spraybooth, hood or even just an open window, to dilute paint thinner fumes and overspray mist.

This might be a stupid question, but why not use a compressor?

Too easy...........

AM

it blows?

Compressors supply a pulsating pressure feed, require electricity and are noisy. A CO2 bottle is silent, provides a constant pressure and can be used anywhere.

I use a compressor . . . :-)

It blows compressed air cans away is what you mean....

AM

monetarily, too. maybe not as easy to use on the run, but who doesn't have 2 minutes to set up?

I use the gas cylinder (Argoshield) and regulator from my MIG welder. BOC depots sell the regulators, and I expect many other places do as well, possibly a large Halfords ? It's a single stage so goes from cylinder pressure (which is what the guage indicates) down to airbrush in one go. You set the flow rate rather than the output pressure, just wind it up or down to suit the medium you're using.

I don't know if the thread at the top of all gas cyliners is the same, so this might not work for your CO2, you'll need to check. O2 and acetylyne have different threads for obvious reasons, but I can't see why inert gases would have that problem.

The push fit connector on the low pressure side was an exact match to the airbrush (plastic) feed tube in my case, again you'll need to check.

Cheers,

Phil Young

Which is not what the OP was proposing to use.

ok, how about fitting a reservoir tank between the compressor and the air brush?

Gondor

No, but in the long run, it is better than C02 as well. The compressor is very useful around home, and the small ones are getting quieter. I use a Devilbliss 90cfm avg. (tank pressure tops out at 135 psi) 1.5 gal tank, with a 25' hose to a regulator/moisture trap, to 10' Iwata airline. It's loud but in another room. It's VERY useful with air tools also ! (and just plain filling car tires...) With a 5 - 6 gal air tank starting at over 100 psi One can just about paint a 1/48 scale A/C @ 20 psi without the compressor coming on. (exterior/all) I build/spray with music on anyway... :)

Another option.... Get one of the small silent compressors. (similar compressor to refrigerator) Same noise level as your refer. Not cheap ! A friend has one, and it's amazingly quiet !!!!

AM

All very true, but it sounds as if the OP already has a CO2 cylinder (for another reason). If you were starting from scratch a compressor would be the best way to go (in another room as you say). Oddly, it seems a 'normal' sized one is not much more than a 'modellers airbrush' type.

I'll stick with the gas (since I do a fair amount of welding) - totally silent apart from the Psssssss... of the gas/paint mix coming from the brush.

To the OP, make sure you have a trolley, or chain the cylinder to a wall. If it topples and somehow knocks the regulator off you will have your own unguided missile lying at you feet, but not for long.

A very good idea, many people do this and it damps out the pulsations. If the tank is big enough, the compressor only needs to run intermittently to top up the tank. The tank needs more space though, and increases the total cost of the system, of course.

With my little old Micon diaphragm compressor (a lot like the Paasche D500 shown here

But it is noisy.