You can buy a compressor for an airbrush designed to create drawings on various surfaces in specialized stores. On sale are models of various manufacturers. All of them differ in power, additional accessories included in the package, price, size.
- The right choice of equipment
- Types of equipment for painting surfaces with a spray gun
- Membrane
- Piston
- Screw
- Additional devices
- How to assemble equipment at home
- Equipment manufacturers
The right choice of equipment
In order to correctly choose a compressor for an airbrush, it is necessary to take into account the following parameters:
- performance level (measured in the number of liters supplied by the compressor per minute);
- the value of the maximum pressure (this indicator is determined in kilograms per square centimeter);
- in the case when the compressor has a receiver, it is worth considering its volume (measured in liters);
- size and weight (compact mini-devices or with significant dimensions);
- emitted noise level;
- the presence of additional devices and parts included in the basic set.
Types of equipment for painting surfaces with a spray gun
Compressors are designed to supply air to the spray gun under a certain pressure, so that the paint is sprayed evenly on the surface to be painted. Compressors can be of the following types in structure.
Membrane
The air supply is due to the membrane made of special rubberized paper (in some types of plastic, rubber). Such equipment has small dimensions and refers to mini-compressors. The disadvantage is the fact that they work for a short time and make a lot of noise.
Piston
These units are very popular among consumers, because they can be used in the home workshop and for production purposes. This equipment works by heating the flow of air pumped into the compressor. It has a high level of performance, and its maintenance is inexpensive. Piston compressors can be oil-free or oil-free.
Screw
The equipment has high performance and makes it possible to paint large surfaces, as these units can work without interruption for a long period of time. Screw compressors are very reliable, produce little noise, and their only drawback is the high price.
Additional devices
A set of equipment for airbrushing may include a receiver, which is a container for compressed air. Air initially accumulates in the receiver and only then enters the spray gun.
Of course, it’s better to buy the compressor for the airbrush, in the kit of which the receiver is provided by the manufacturer. If you choose such equipment for airbrushing, you can significantly save energy.In addition, in case of interruptions in the supply of electricity, the air pumped into the receiver will make it possible to finish the work with the paint prepared in the spray gun.
It’s great if the equipment will also include a moisture separator filter that can protect the airbrush from liquids and oils from the receiver.
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How to assemble equipment at home
For those cases when it becomes necessary to paint small surfaces or work on the road, it is worth purchasing mini-compressors that do not have additional devices and air tanks in the kit.
A mini compressor can be purchased at the store or made by yourself. To do this, it is enough to have a little experience with electrical engineering. It is important to remember that when assembling such equipment, all safety precautions must be observed so that in the future there is no short circuit that will lead to spontaneous combustion of the mini-compressor.
To assemble the compressor for home use, you will need to purchase the following set of parts:
- working compressor from a refrigerator of any brand;
- any fire extinguisher is suitable as a receiver, you can take a hydraulic accumulator from a failed pump;
- emergency valve;
- pressure gauge;
- pressure switch;
- small parts (adapters, fittings, tubes, filters).
Sometimes plastic bottles and other vessels are used to create a container for compressed air, amateurs even use automobile compressors as mobile mini-airbrushes, and a cigarette lighter in the car for a power source.
However, experts note that it is possible to make a high-quality unit designed for airbrushing only with a garage or workshop and special tools. Otherwise, it is difficult to obtain the required pressure level, which creates uniform spraying of paint, and also to ensure a safe mode of operation.
to contents ↑Equipment manufacturers
In the stores of Russia there are a large number of units designed for modeling and airbrushing made in China. Fengda and Jas compressors are recognized as the most popular among them, since they have not only good performance, but also are relatively inexpensive for the buyer (the price for them varies depending on the additional equipment included in the package from 4000 to 7000 rubles). The equipment of these companies has mini-dimensions, is highly reliable, and may include:
- airbrush stand;
- carrying handle;
- additional pressure gauge.
Also, Taiwanese Sparmax compressors (AC-100 and AC-500 models) enjoy a good reputation among artists. They are in no way inferior to Chinese models and can be used for painting on walls, cars, used in cosmetology and body art. These compressors have a larger receiver volume than similar Chinese models, and allow you to connect two airbrushes at once. The cost of Taiwanese airbrush equipment is twice as high as that of its Chinese counterparts.
The most reliable, convenient and productive among professionals are the Japanese Iwata models (IS-875-HT and Maxx Jet IS-1000). It is more correct to characterize this equipment as portable work mini-stations that have compartments for storing paints and other tools and allow connecting several airbrushes to the compressor. When folded, the Iwata models are easy to carry and carry, as they fold comfortably and turn into a case equipped with wheels.
