Airbrushes

Candis Griggs <ccgriggs [at] earthlink__net> writes

>I am interested in purchasing an airbrush for use in paint and resin
>applications.  My primary use for it at this point would be in
>ceramics conservation, but I'd like to get a fairly versatile model
>in case other uses come up. ...
>... Also, how important is choice of compressor?

With reference to the recent postings on airbrushes, I would like to
add this short comment about compressors. Yes, you can spend a lot
of money on an elegant, fairly quiet air compressor, but it has been
our experience that a much less expensive unit will also provide
excellent results.

The key items are that the compressor must have an air storage tank,
and must have a pressure regulator (although one could add a
regulator to a compressor without one). Another important item is
that one should not use an air hose longer than that which comes
with the airbrush, as moisture will condense in long lines and cause
considerable grief. We are using an 8-foot hose with our Paasche H-3
with totally satisfactory results.

We have been using air compressors in ceramic conservation work
since 1970, and have never spent more than $150 for a perfectly
satisfactory unit. One maker that I can think of is Campbell
Hausfeld <URL:http://www.hallequipment.com/campbellhframe.html>, and
possible sources are hardware stores, paint stores, The Home Depot,
Costco...

Hope this might help someone with budgetary constraints find a
suitable compressor. It will be noisy, but one becomes accustomed to
this quite easily.

Robert K. MacDowell
MacDowell Restorations


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:52
                Distributed: Thursday, January 24, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-15-52-004
                                  ***