Can you use a "regular" /shop / large air compressor for an airbrush?

Can you use a large shop air compressor for airbrushing?
Turns out, you can. This video will go over my setup to adapt my 30 gallon shop compressor to airbrushing. I touch on what you need to do this and the pros and cons.
I also tested how long I can get a constant flow of air from the brush before the compressor needed to be refilled - it’s a long time(don’t worry I time lapsed it 60x).
If you like this video, hit that like button above and please consider subscribing ^^^^^^^^
All parts used in this setup -
PneumaticPlus ½ NPT compressor air filter/moisture trap -
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
½ NPT to ¼ NPT reducers (for ½ NPT moisture trap) -
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
PneumaticPlus ¼ NPT compressor air filter/moisture trap -
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
25’ air hose - Campbell-Hausfeld -
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
Ball Value ¼ NPT -
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Compressor ¼ NPT quick-disconnect kit -
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Mr Hobby inline dust and moisture trap - spraygunner.com/dust-and-drai...
This looks like the newer version of the air compressor I have (mines about 8 years old) but obviously like I said, any compressor will do.
www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-KOBAL...
Harbor Freight has some decent size compressors for good prices with good reviews.
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[@anonanon7235]

Yep, i use a large shop compressor for airbrushing scale models too, just gotta dial down the pressure and add a really nice inline filter.

[@noorulhaque9027]

whats the minimu prssure required for air brush

[@nickdom4406]

I usually operate around 8-20 psi depending on the application, much higher than that you'll just be shooting paint dust.

[@Radishboy]

Dude, this is exactly what I was looking for. This is fantastic. Why are you not making more KZbin videos?

[@nickdom4406]

Thanks dude, glad it was helpful. I wish I had the time to make more videos, between small children and work, I don’t have much hobby time ATM. I’ll get back to it eventually

[@jasonmurphy880]

0​@@nickdom4406

[@jasonmurphy880]

​@@nickdom4406😅😅

[@meatlemonade9938]

i have a big compressor like this and ive been thinking about getting into airbrushing, so it's great to know i won't have to buy a completely new piece of equipment

[@nickdom4406]

Yeah, which is nice cause you can spend a little more to get a higher quality brush.

[@DojaCanuck]

Great video, I’ll be doing this set up tonight. Got tired of mini compressor running non-stop.

[@nickdom4406]

Thanks! Yes it’s definitely a big improvement, the most annoying thing about the tankless mini ones is the noticeable pressure fluctuations/sputtering when you run it for a long while

[@ProjectShinkai]

I got a pancake air compressor I'm gonna try to use.

[@nickdom4406]

It’ll work, just going to be loud af 😂. Be careful with a smaller tank like that too, when the compressor kicks on it will probably cause a pressure increase in the line initially. Lmk how it goes.

[@clownymcclownerton1653]

Did it work? I'm ready to get one

[@moparnut6286]

I run a 60 gallon 2 stage 150 psi compressor for all my air tools and it's plumbed into house to the model room good air regulators and filters are a must gives me clean dry air for airbrushing 15 to 30 psi and nice and quiet since the compressor is in its own room.

[@nickdom4406]

That’s a sweet set up having the compressor remotely located.

[@Grayman58]

Yes you can . Just buy a few reducing parts . Works great

[@goviktor]

Thank you very much - you solved my problem. I have big compressor and now I know how to use it with my paintbrush tool ! Thank you !!!!!!!

[@nickdom4406]

Glad it helped you out Viktor✌️ let me know how it works out for you.

[@goviktor]

@@nickdom4406 Thanks I will - I just ordered the pressure regulator from Aliexpress and will try. Thankyou again

[@diamondplate]

My small compressor went kaput tonight. Dude, I have my garage organized just like yours and a Vader shirt. Wanna be friends? lol I appreciate the video, great info.

[@Maleboligia]

Thank you for the video, very informative! Not setting this up yet but will be soon.

[@asdf9890]

Thanks for confirming this, I have a 30 gal too and was wondering if I could just do this.

[@shimmeringtrashpile]

Super useful! Thank you!

[@nickdom4406]

Thanks, glad it was helpful ✌️

[@sabrekai8706]

Been using one for decades, put a water trap on it. Still use it to blow up tires and sandblasting. Only problem was the noise.

[@BigAndTall666]

Air is air, as long as you can turn the pressure down everything works...

[@nickdom4406]

Yeah dude, pretty much.

[@tkbotsss7564]

thank you for this video i got a little car scale model and i have to paint it i know i have a air compressor but i was not sure i could use it as 100psi sounds like to much for that little brush i know that i can change the air to not be as pressurizes so thank you for this.

[@gamehulk]

Was hoping to get a look at and a description of the adapters you used. I'm thinking i'd need to run a typical airbrush hose down to an adapter to change the airbrush hose's 1/8" female to 1/4" disconnect male, then pop my 5/8" compressor hose with the 1/4" female quick connect to it. Would probably be weird to put a quick connect adapter directly on a little airbrush :P

[@single_cam9199]

That’s what I’m talking about. Are all the airbrushes 1/4 bsp

[@putteslaintxtbks5166]

If you have a regulater somewere between the compresser and airbrush to keep at say 20 lb., but keep the compesser at say 60 lb. Or more, you could prob run the brush for a lot, lot longer befor it has to run. I had an uncle who used a large compresser in his garadge to run air bubblers in auqariums in the house. I thought it would end up killing the fish with oil in the air, but they had those fish for years

[@nickdom4406]

I’m not sure I’m completely understand how having another regulator would have any bearing on air volume, it would still ultimately be leaving the tank at the highest resistance rate in the line which would be the 20lbs, no?

[@putteslaintxtbks5166]

@@nickdom4406 I'll just make up some figures to show. If you have one cubic foot of air at 0 pounds and compress to 20 pounds, now you have 20 cubic foot of air in that space, then put it under 100 pounds pressure and you have 100 cubic foot of air in that cubic foot of space. Those are made up amounts, but that's the idea, you take it out at 20 psi, at the same rate, but behind that is way more air stored at 100 psi. I think how you did it showed it was good enough, only running, about once an hour. If someone had a smaller tank than yours, they maybe able to still get an hour if it's filled to a higher pressure, but the working pressure is still 20 psi.

[@dekurvajo]

I just found your video, because i am using an air assist, and its pretty same to this flow rate you use here. 20-25psi = 1.4-1,7 bar. But my compressor has 50l tank, 10bar max, kicks in at 6bar. That like every 5 minutes, and aside its annoying, i also worry about the compressor itself.

[@alan2698]

What airbrush hose are you using? I'm new to the hobby. I picked up a 1gal 135psi Fortress compressor from Harbor Freight (figured why limit myself with a hobby only compressor for nearly the same price?), connected a filter that does 5 micron particle filtering and water filtering (Merlin Mini from Harbor Freight) and added a 1/4 quick connect to the out of the filter. Now here is my issue. Everything has been NPT at the fittings.The hoses I'm finding online for airbrushes are all saying thy are BSP (some even saying BSPT?). I'm having a difficult time finding a fitting to connect into the quickconnect coming out of the filter that allows connection with these airbrush hoses. So I guess I'm looking for the male end of a 1/4 quickconnect to a 1/4 or 1/8 BPS for the hose? I don't see very many people talking about this. Maybe a few mentions on some Amazon reviews and questions but no solid solutions mentioned other than "find adapters". Any suggestions? I'm feeling overwhelmed lol. Thank you. Also, I literally just ordered the inline trap you mention. Got the aluminum one. What replacement filters do you use? Only saw filters for one model of that line of traps. Edit: Btw, I'll be using an Iawata Neo CN. Edit: I did pick up an airbrush hose from Harbor Freight but it is NPT at the 1/4 and NPS on the 1/8. The Neo is threaded BPS no? I don't want to risk crossthreading. This threw me through a damn loop and is what caused all this confusion! Been researching this all day. Help! Lol

[@nickdom4406]

Im using an iwata air brush hose. A lot of the hobby world resides in the UK which is why you’re seeing BPS( British standard pipe threading). You should be able to get everything together with NPT (national standard pipe treading) fittings. Most decent airbrushes come with the adapter if needed.

[@alan2698]

@@nickdom4406 thank you for replying. Yea, it's been tricky. But between people here on KZbin and Reddit I think I found some solutions. Things were a little more complicated using a compressor not designed only for airbrushing.

[@nickdom4406]

Yeah, unfortunately is is just finding the right adapters and reducers lol. Hope you get it sorted though ✌️

[@magusreaver]

wait so did you have the Dru Blair spring in the Iwata Hiline Hp-Ch?

[@nickdom4406]

No, on GSI Creos Mr Airbrush Custom

[@sriggs815]

So you still had moisture in the line after three filters and had to put in that Mr Hobby inline trap, or is that just a must have in general? Even with a standard airbrush compressor. I'm looking into airbrushing so have zero experience lol

[@nickdom4406]

With the small tankless brush compressor, yeah there was a filter on the compressor and the cheap inline trap and would still get water spitting though after a bit, the Mr hobby trap was a lot better.

[@magusreaver]

My understaind is elevation, humidity, size of tank, and length of hose all play into the amount of moisture you can end up sending down a line. It never hurts to have at very least two traps. One on the compressor, and one at the end of the line just before the airbrush.

[@nickdom4406]

Yes, all atmospheric conditions can be taken into consideration, humidity and temperature probably more than others but as you said 2 decent quality traps and you're probably fine

[@sandwormrider1495]

hey 1 question do i have to regulate the pressure on the compressor ? because airbrush is 1-3 bars? and compressor gives out like 5 to 6

[@nickdom4406]

You’d have to regulate it somewhere but doesn’t have to be on the compressor itself, I regulate the pressure on the compressor regulator but as you see in the video, I do have another regulator right before the airbrush hose, right now I just use it to see that I am at the right pressure, but I could adjust it from that as well or I could even exclusively use that but point is as long as you’re regulating it somewhere before the brush, you’re good to go.

[@sandwormrider1495]

Ty but what happens if go over that 3 bars can i damage the brush? Or its just the problem with spraying paint

[@nickdom4406]

You’d probably have a problem spraying the paint, it would basically dry on the way out and become paint dust at high pressures, I’m sure there’s a point where it could damage the brush seals or the tip, not sure what pressure that is, but you shouldn’t be not using a graduated regulator which will tell you the pressure in the line before you even put air through the brush, if you planned on running it without one, I’d highly advise against it.

[@arneybear30]

What’s that orange airbrush holder

[@nickdom4406]

I designed it in fusion 360 and 3D printed it.

[@arneybear30]

@@nickdom4406 do you sell them