Malynor Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 So, I've been kind of waffling on the idea of picking up an airbrush for a while now, and a friend of mine pointed me to a really good amazon.com sale for a Badger Sotar 2020-2F, which is apparently a superb air brush for miniatrue painting. Too good of a deal to pass up, so I ordered it, and it arrives in about 2 weeks. But here's the issue: I don't have an air compressor, and I need help finding one locally, or that can ship to Canada and isn't a super over inflated price. While amazon.com has some decent looking air compressors for decent prices, it looks like most of the ones with a tank won't ship to Canada. I can find the same ones on amazon.ca, but what would cost me $70 USD on amazon.com, costs $260 CAD on amazon.ca. I get that the currency exchange rate is pretty bad right now - but it's not THAT bad. So I need some help - Can I just use a 2gallon air compressor from the local Canadian Tire (hardware store) - They have one on sale for $50 currently. There's no moisture trap, and I have no idea what the pulsation is like, are these things that really matter? I'm mostly just going to be doing base coating, and maybe a little bit of shade work on bigger models (I've got a Narthrax on my desk right now). If I can't (or shouldn't) use a hardware store compressor - Where can I buy a usable compressor that'll ship to Canada without costing me an arm and a leg? Thanks! PS - asking for this kind of advice while respecting the no-linking-to-sales-sites rule is difficult (so, I've got this thing, from this place, and I was looking at this other thing, from this other place to go with it...) - hopefully answers are easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willen Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 There's no moisture trap, and I have no idea what the pulsation is like, are these things that really matter? In short, yes, those things matter. I cannot really advice on the "hardware store compressor good for us?" question, I would guess it depends on the quality of it and if it is able to regulate smoothly into the low pressures we tend to use, but a water trap and smooth airflow are very, very important. The first one you can probably buy, however, and the second one, if coming from tank and not the running compressor motor, should not be an issue. Be careful anyway that hardware store compressors do not usually have connectors for the hose diameters we use in hobby airbrushing so adaptors might be needed as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malynor Posted October 23, 2015 Author Share Posted October 23, 2015 I never even thought about connectors and hoses... Of course they're not a standard size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisler Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 (edited) In some ways the tank compressors are over rated. A tank does ease the pulsation effect and it definitely means that its not running all the time. However, the pulsation effect can be eased with a longer hose between the compressor and the airbrush. Most hobby compressors are quiet enough that if they are running all the time you just turn the TV up a little louder. If you have the equivalent of Harbor Freight in Canada they have airbrush compressors that are likely to run under $100 that will get the job done. Edited October 23, 2015 by Heisler 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willen Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Yeah, I will add my own compressor lacks a tank, I have a... 2m hose I think? and do not observe pulsation, at least nothing that would bother me, not even running very low pressure with very dilluted paint to try to do small highlights with a fine needle. So... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malynor Posted October 23, 2015 Author Share Posted October 23, 2015 I managed to find one on amazon.ca that was only mildly overpriced (just $25 USD more than the exact same thing on amazom.com), it looks basically the same as what a friend of mine has (apparently there's a bunch of various brands that slap their stickers on the same Chinese product "Compressor with 3 Liter Tank For Airbrush with Regulator and Pressure Gauge"), and I picked up a 10' Badger Airbrush Hose that is supposed to be the one I need to connect to a Badger airbrush to a normal compressor. I already have a bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol and distilled water to do some trial and error with pant mixtures. Is there anything else I may need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willen Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 A mask. Atomized stuff, especially alcohols, is VERY bad for your lungs. My preference is a 3M half mask with replaceable dual filter. Get one rated for organic vapors in order to contain the alcohols and acetones. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisler Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Definitely the mask 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malynor Posted October 23, 2015 Author Share Posted October 23, 2015 Thanks Guys 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
czebas Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I might be late on this but I advise an iwata hose and adapter and quick release. It will make life easier and iwata connections don't leak like badger ones do. Also iwata (1/8th inch) work with h&s, grex and I think sparmax. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malynor Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 I might be late on this but I advise an iwata hose and adapter and quick release. It will make life easier and iwata connections don't leak like badger ones do. Also iwata (1/8th inch) work with h&s, grex and I think sparmax. I had just assumed that with a Badger airbrush, a Badger hose would be best, but I'll keep this in mind if the Badger hose I ordered leaks. I don't know if I'll need a quick release, is it just a convenience deal to disconnect quicker when you're done? or is there a reason to disconnect more often? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
czebas Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Well a badger hose is actually fine. I have several. I don't really use them any more and I'll offer you a few reasons. Braided hoses are heavy and when you are moving the airbrush around unless you wrap the hose around your wrist and hand it will pull on the airbrush and get in the way. I bought an iwata vinyl hose and its much lighter and has a coil in it so it stretches out like a telephone cord. The badger hoses have tiny threads on them. I stripped one of the hoses trying to attach to a badger quick disconnect. You can do just fine for a long time not having quick disconnects. I used my first airbrush for a couple years without one and then my badger krome for a while without one. When I started using different airbrushes for different tasks, and different types of paint is when the quick disconnects really became critical. However even with one airbrush not having to unscrew the hose every time I want to take the airbrush apart is handy. I've had a couple moments where I have become impatient broken the airbrush down attached to the hose with most of it together and the air nozzle and fluid nozzle still attached and either through the weight of the hose or me bumping it, I have seen the airbrush get dragged over the edge of the table into the abyss. Airbrushes don't like falling on their butts, and they always fall on their butts. My sotar I dropped, bumped and slid it off of the table, attacked to its hose and it landed on the ball of the needle which shoved the needle through the fluid nozzle ruining a nozzle and needle. My krome without its rear handle has done that same thing with and without the needle ruining the needle nozzle and need tube. So as long as you aren't careless like me you should be fine. The badger hoses when screwed in don't leak, when they are attacked to a quick d/c however, they do leak. I tried teflon tape, chapstick and beeswax and nothing seemed to stop it. All three of my badger airbrushes leak from the aircap and hold down ring. This is a design "feature". It doesn't really affect air pressure though too much so I wouldn't lose a lot of sleep trying to stop it like I did, with teflon tape, chapstick and beeswax. They are good airbrushes and repair parts are cheap, except for the sotar, the fluid nozzle is 36-38 dollars depending on what week it is, so be careful with that little guy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willen Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 I love my quick disconnect gizmo, for a very cheap thing I would not think of not using it since, as czebas says, it is a burden to screw/unscrew the hose every time I clean the airbrush. Flip, it is out, not dragged down by the hose and flat on the table for cleaning, when I am done click it on, test air and water for spray pattern, ready for next session. It is just... comfortable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malynor Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 So for a Badger Sotar airbrush on a Badger 10' hose, I'm assuming I'd want a "Badger Air-Brush Co. 51-042 QD Coupler" ? Time for (yet another) "Amazon Hates Canada Rant": I really don't understand amazon.ca -- they have this little widget for 2.5x the price as on amazon.com So far everythings shipped, with compressor getting here on Wednesday, and the airbrush and hose getting here next week. I'll wait and give it a shot without the quick disconnect dealy, and if I think it'll be handy I'll order one after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wargamer Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 it's a bit late now, but if ACMoore or michaels or other similar chain offer the 50-60% off one item coupons in Canada as often as they do in the US, it is one way to get a compressor with tank for a bit less than amazon. my badger krome was about 70ish after discounts and I think my badger compressor was 125ish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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