Airbrushes & Air Supply Refit

1
July 25, 2022
...the airbrush came in a nice wood box....direct from factory.....it costs more this way but the assurance of a new brush all around is worth it....it looks great...
2
July 25, 2022
...the cup is not removable and should be easy to clean....I need a detail airbrush...so, this is it....
3
July 25, 2022
....four needles (.2, .25, .38, .66mm) and four tips....three aircaps.....one aircap does double duty...a better storage will be devised for these....Paasche sells a 1.0mm tip, needle aircap combination for very thick material but it is not mentioned in the instructions...i found them while searching for spare parts...
4
July 25, 2022
....parts list and tips....you know, it never occurred to me to push down the nozzle while extracting a needle...it just makes sense to get the pressure off...
5
July 25, 2022
....looking forward to this....all the parts appear to be in good shape and the needles factory fresh and straight....
6
July 27, 2022
....time for the first deep clean after several successful sprays......Tamiya airbrush cleaner was used this time...your cleaner is yours....all went very well and without issues...except for....
7
July 27, 2022
...until it was time to remove the tip...then the little Paasche supplied wrench, designed to be short so you can't overtightern...is worthless when dealing with a factory installed tip for the first time....a large pair of adjustable pliers did the trick but be forewarned...measuring the tip got 5.5 mm....and the correct size wrench ordered.....please use a 5.5mm long wrench the FIRST time you remove the tip and the Paasche supplied wrench after that!
8
August 9, 2022
....what is all this stuff?....4 cup covers because i lose them...a quick disconnect....2 fan covers to use with the .66 needle......4 sloped handles from the Vision Paasche brush (personal preference here)...an easy change.....many MIL-12 O rings because it seems the brush uses them to seal the front and set the back position.....these have to wear out easy....so, a supply is on hand....
...now, on to airbrushing....the bags will get recycled....
9
August 11, 2022
....this is a cracked gauge found while checking the compressor...obviously...things need to be fixed up....
10
August 16, 2022
...the rabbit hole is filling up with filters, regulators and gauges....
11
August 16, 2022
....two gauges....one is 0-30 PSI the other 0-150....the first range is much more useful for modelers and several other inexpensive gauges are on the way...this will be fun...
12
August 16, 2022
...is it really this easy to do this right?

of course, it took me time to see the light....mounted a 0-30 PSI gauge on a combination filter/regulator (that came with a 0-150 PSI gauge) and within minutes had clean, consistent air and can see, easily now, because the gauge is out in the open and at eye level, the drop in pressure when the brush is engaged......
13
August 26, 2022
...something was wrong....many of the connections were new and well taped up...but, the compressor was running way too often...turns out to be this tee fitting on the compressor with 5 or 6 connections to leak from....once the hose went right into the compressor tank without any adapters, the compressor hasn't run once today...a huge improvement and not one I would have expected to find....check your compressor connections, folks...they can get creaky and crusty....
14
August 27, 2022
...this is the "goldilocks" position for the analog gauge on a 45 degree adapter...seen fine standing or sitting and well enough from the sides...
15
September 3, 2022
....make this a habit!! The compressor gets oil gunk in the bottom and it needs to be cleaned out regularly....once a week! Yup, some of u have never done this, right?
...... it took me a while to get air compressor religion....now, the compressor gets emptied, after its been turned off, and the nasty stuff is collected in a bottle...do this until its clean! Initially, several cycles of full pressure and blow out the gunk might be needed....a 1/4 inch inside diameter hose is attached here and is highly recommended for this sorta messy job...
16
September 5, 2022
....the first test of the system...everything worked just "fine" and all the brushes are happy......but check this gauge at the 0-30 Regulator...it reads 22 PSI and the goal is 15....it goes down to the target PSI when a brush is engaged but i don't like how much pressure builds up between airbrush shots...is there an an answer?
17
September 5, 2022
...off to check out a filter regulator combination with a gauge of some sort...could pre-regulating the air the 0-30 PSI regulator receives relieve some of this pressure build up?
18
September 5, 2022
.....after a pre regulator install.......the 15 PSI pressure buildup only goes to 19 PSI between shots.....from 7 PSI to 4 PSI....a real improvement...the two regulator system is highly recommended....
19
September 5, 2022
...a bit of a diversion here....into the correct way to put on Teflon tape.....always lay it down OUTSIDE the first threads and in the clockwise direction so the tape is drawn into the connections
20
September 5, 2022
..tape wrapped around but not over the first few threads....
21
September 8, 2022
.....the final install with simplicity as a goal....first, clean new connections at the compressor, after running several drain cycles to clean the tank.....

...the drain valve also got removed and new Teflon tape added to the connection....small hose added to help with draining....

NOTE: no more gauge or valve at the compressor
22
September 8, 2022
...the hose straight run across the room to a gauge and a filter/regulator...

.....the hose run is several feet and not much will get to this filter...so no real need for a pre-filter...besides...this is not a high volume shop!
23
September 8, 2022
...and from the 1st filter/regulator set at 50PSI...to the 2nd regulator for the final 0-30PSI setting....this install of the 0-30 PSI second regulator, mounted to the paint booth, with a gauge, right there at eye level with an accessible control, was an easy, big improvement in the user experience, for a small cost...
24
September 8, 2022
....and then to the inexpensive 8 way manifold and brush hoses....note Teflon tape on hose connections...

....several digital gauges like this one are in use because i paid for them but analog would be fine...i have grown to appreciate the gauge right near the brushes...but a digital gauge is not needed and they need to be turned on all the time...
25
March 24, 2024
....it was time for the annual airbrush refresh...an opportunity to get all the brushes on the same maintenance schedule...all the tips were replaced along with rubber seals and packing nuts...
26
March 24, 2024
....all the o rings were replaced like this little one in the air supply....easy to do...
27
March 24, 2024
....these simple packing nut tools are widely available, work fine and cost less than a big mac......
28
March 24, 2024
....the new packing insert and nut load onto the tool and it is inserted into the brush and tightened up.....getting the OLD packing inserts out was a challenge but after soaking in thinner and persuading with a hooked tool, they came free...
29
March 24, 2024
....a slight drag is called for in the packing nut install instructions but i like a little more so the paint will really stay put in the front of the brush.......check this needle....where the blue paint stops was the packing nut location.....it just helps to keep the whole brush clean and works fine....
30
March 24, 2024
.....a renewed Paasche Talon......
31
March 24, 2024
....the airbrush lineup...purchased over the years....all the major brands were tried (except the expensive ones!) and Paasche was the choice.....the way i work is to have the various brushes set up with different needles and tips......a Vision for really fine work-0.20 needle w #1 tip (not used much by this ham handed airbrusher), Raptors with smaller cup - 0.25, 0.38 needles and #1 and 2 tips, Talons with larger cup - 0.38, 0.66 needles and #2 and 3 tips....
....all the tips and needles are interchangeable and widely available.....
32
March 26, 2024
...the "other" airbrush used here is this pistol grip Grex used for larger projects.....Many different tips and needles, etc for this system as well...I prefer a finger control brush 95% of time but the Grex version seems Rube Goldbergian (look that word up...who was this Rube Goldberg?) to clean, etc. A pistol grip is more industrial feeling to me. Finger control seems more modeling.

This pistol grip Grex is actually easy to clean and keeps the paint well controled with its very accessible packing nut.....so, its on the "team"
33
April 23, 2024
...the final piece of the air supply puzzle was this simple on-off lever right after the second regulator...the compressor was running much more with the 10 (count 'em) connections after the 2nd regulator...i got tired of turning off the air with the 2nd regulator and this lever fixed that.....all u have to do is reach up and turn off the air supply....

Comments

14 25 July 2022, 21:36

Simon Nagorsnik
Nice thing, i hope it will work for you😁

27 July 2022, 04:56

Lochsa River
5.5mm wrench is the way to go to get the tip off for the first time....available widely...

1 August 2022, 10:20

Lochsa River
....a "bag nag" ..... seen here.....

9 August 2022, 21:19

Lochsa River
.....it was time to review the air supply all the way back to the compressor...and discovered a cracked gauge and a worn out filter...these were overdue for a check but had gotten out of mind...mea culpa...anyway...it is time to go down the rabbit hole of clean dry regulated air with more professional, accessible and readable gauges and filters...some promising products have emerged...watch this space for a compressor refit...

10 August 2022, 23:42

Lochsa River
...BTW....Paasche Talon brushes have arrived as well...they share many components with the Raptor....

10 August 2022, 23:45

Lochsa River
pneumaticplus.com/pn..-with-gauge-bracket/

...this is a very hard to find pressure range for a regulator with a gauge......a safety to be sure its does not get blown out would be a regulator set at 50PSI upstream of this....u know, to be conservative...

11 August 2022, 01:14

Adrian Forest
Excellent recommendation for a low-PSI gauge! Been looking for something like this!

11 August 2022, 04:30

Spanjaard
really curious about that 0-6 bar regulator. seems like a good idea. please let us know how it goes
about the two regulators, you can use the one you already have, you only need a coupler between the two. it will be a bit bulky but.....
in any case, if you can set-up the pressure of the tank, then there is no risk of excess of pressure, right?

11 August 2022, 12:08

Lochsa River
pneumaticplus.com/pn..dular-combo-1-4-npt/

one of these combination filter regulator will be installed at the compressor and set to 50 PSI always...the filter is 10 microns but can be ordered in other sizes...

what else could be needed? maybe a second filter just before the second regulator? that will be some filtered and regulated air

the great news...the cost is low..about $100 US so far....

11 August 2022, 20:17

Lochsa River
filter for just before the small regulator...this has smaller micron size 5 vs 10 for the filter at the compressor...so, not much gets through and it gets filtered before it goes to the small regulator...seems like a plan...

pneumaticplus.com/pn..-4-npt-with-bracket/

again...cost is low....and quality seems high....it will all get here soon...

11 August 2022, 22:05

Lochsa River
....very good news....there are some really intriguing lower pressure gauges....it just took some looking...digital and analog....these can be put about anywhere with a tee fitting...or they can be mounted right on the compressor to replace a high range gauge....some nice options...

here is an analog gauge...

amazon.com/gp/produc..00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and, a very good looking digital gauge that claims high accuracy...

amazon.com/gp/produc..00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

more testing to follow...the digital option would be cool to make work...

16 August 2022, 01:11

Lochsa River
...is it really this easy to do this right?

of course, it took me some time to see the light....mounted a 0-30 PSI gauge on the combination filter regulator (that came with a 0-150 PSI gauge) and within minutes could have been airbrushing with some clean consistent air and can see, easily now, the drop in pressure when the brush is engaged......

16 August 2022, 06:45

Treehugger
I too have to adjust the pressure regulator, such that I only look at the actual psi when I press the airbrush trigger, as the pressure drops a little when doing that. So I press the airbrush trigger to get the air flowing, then l look at the psi measured and I adjust the pressure up a little while holding down on the trigger.

16 August 2022, 09:51

Lochsa River
gauges arrived....

20 August 2022, 05:15

Lochsa River
Very happy to report success and low cost....total for all the parts that made the cut (experimenting costs don't count) is under $100 US.....

0-30PSI gauge and regulator $30
.5 micron filter and housing $21
Hoses and adapters...about $25

Fisheye filter in line filter at compressor (optional but recommended) $45

...off to look at mounts and manifolds....adding a simple manifold might easily still get under the $100 goal...

20 August 2022, 08:10

Treehugger
If you ever have an air leak, better put some soapy water onto the air hose to check the hose for leaks. My old air hose had leaks so large, the air just emptied the air tank in seconds, impossible to even use the compressor when my air hose was leaking that much (crack in hose got larger over a couple of years of prolonged use). So an air hose is a consumption item that don't last forever it seems.

20 August 2022, 08:25

Lochsa River
Teflon tape is your friend when it comes to leaks....on the threads and wrapping the whole connection.....

I just threw out a hose with leaky connections after a number of years service...

20 August 2022, 13:00

Lochsa River
...a decision from here at air compressor hq (for this week) is that hose and adapters do not count in the final $100 goal...why?, you ask...well...everyone is different and will have hoses at hand or want to put in a long extension to a compressor across the room...all have the same basic set of connections....for instance, instead of ONE 10 ft coiled hose for $40....an industrious hose builder can make SIX custom hoses with a 12 pack of 1/4 in NPT hose connections and 20 feet of tubing with hose clamps...with shipping $42.48...and you can be set up sweet and custom easy...but, you may have different plans...so, the hoses come out of the total...

21 August 2022, 00:47

Lochsa River
....sooooo....0-30PSI gauge and regulator $30......5 micron filter and housing $21...Fisheye filter $45

total $96!

...considering this is DOUBLE filtration...the Fisheye could come out and you are at $51.....honestly, if the mounted filter is set up several feet from the compressor, not much oil will make it there, what does will be filtered and the air will be clean if you take care of business with regular filter changes...

....OR you could go with the Fisheye filter near the compressor, change its filter once a year and just buy a regulator with a gauge and go make airbrushing

21 August 2022, 00:49

Lochsa River
...good news on airbrush cleanup access...

22 August 2022, 04:50

Lochsa River
...leakage find....

26 August 2022, 04:10

Lochsa River
...two regulators are highly recommended.......see photos....not much extra cost at all

5 September 2022, 19:28

Lochsa River
...it really does appear to be finished...this air quest....

8 September 2022, 06:58

Lochsa River
...Make sure your hoses are not kinked in any way...a 60PSI clear hose here got twisted and blew out, even though it was getting at most 45PSI from the first regulator...new hoses, with more careful routing this time, are being attached....

19 September 2022, 00:58

Album info

....a new Paasche airbrush with a small cup and four needles......hopefully the local airbrusher's skills will be improved by this...

....Of course, this lead to a compressor gauge check that lead to discovering issues with the whole air chain....so, off it goes....down the clean-dry-regulated air rabbit hole....

....and that part has been a real eyeopener....at low cost!

Airbrushes & Air Supply Refit

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No Paasche Talon with Size 2 Head (0.38mm) (Paasche TG#2L)

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