mind show pics?
or at least list out the specs la..

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Added on June 14, 2007, 7:11 pmActually i'm new to this forum,

personaly i'm having an AB set wt air compressor..
wonder how come not much ppl replying to this thread aredy..

okay, just a few things i wanna share here.. hopefully these aren't the things ppl aredy been discussing earlier..

i'm using it oni for plastic modelling including gunpla, so not really expert.
brand that i'm using isn't any branded ab like iwata, paschaal or badger.
but i find that that's a few basic things that are "must know" for airbrushing

air brush kit (or hand piece)
*single or dual action
Diff is dual action can control paint flow as u are spraying. single also can (correct me if i'm worng ), but must adjust before spraying, once adjusted, that's the constant amount that comes out.
*gavity flow/side/suction
depends what purpose and usage la..
e.g.
if gravity one, is for normal usage, cleaner is easy
if side one is almost like gravity flow cup, but is a bit cumbersome for me
wel for suction/bottom cup is actually recommended when there's a lot of diff paints need to be sprayed as it's easier to change bottles than to clean the normal gravity cup, but is bad if small amount is sprayed, too little paint will have problem for the suction up to the ab.


basic component of an air compressor:
1)air compressor (the motor/pump that pumps in air)
2)air tank (reservoir tank)
3)air pressure detector (sort of like limit switch, when detect certain air pressure in the reservoir tank, will cut off the air compressor)
4)air/ moisture trap filter + pressure regulator + pressure gauge (all in 1)
5)socket attached with hose

no 1 and 5 are the most basic items that an air compressor must have.
no 2 function is to reserve air to certain pressure so that air output is consistent, which is usually coupled with no 4 (control air pressure output) irregardless of the air pressure/ pulse produce by air compressor.

imagine this,
u got a pump pumping water from a pond, which gives u inconsistent water flow, but u have container to fill all the water, then there's another hose connected out from this container. so as long as there's water in this container, ur water flowing out will always be consistent.
same goes for a reservoir tank.

as mention earlier, sometimes we will tend spray water out from our ab, that is bcoz of our humidity is high, so when air is pressured, so does water vapour, which ended up in our spray job. if u have an "air/ moisture trap filter", release the safety valve fr time to time will expel the water as well

back to air compressor, actually there's many type.
simplest and smallest one u can even get from a car accesory department, the electric pump to inflat ur tyre one is also air compressor but is useless bcoz of the inconsistent air flow it produces.

then mine is modify from a refridgerator compressor (exactly the same).
then there's this air compressor from car sparepart that runs the air cond in ur car.
if u have seen one b4, it looks like some of the air compressor model.
some others using diagraphm, some runs on oil (mine one too), some oil-less..
there's too many, i hope someone can share more.

basically if u can get all the parts from 1 - 5, u can build ur air compresor aredy.
oni no 3 i dunno where to get.
air compressor can savage from electrical shop that repair fridge, or maybe can modify from a car compressor.
reservoir tank (1-2 litre capacity) can simply ask foundry ppl to weld one for u (shudn't be expensive)
no 4 is selling for less than RM100 (i think sunnyboy has it)

so anybody can build an air compressor and sell it?
hehe

also, for those that is using oil-running air compressor, how to service it huh?
is those oil need to be changed or top-up?









This post has been edited by erh_teo: Jun 14 2007, 07:11 PM

any idea on how to maintain an air compressor (mine is with oil one, look almost like "ozak's one" except without the membrane dryer)?

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Added on June 15, 2007, 3:15 pmozak..

what do u call that piece located in between the "regulator & water separator" and the "dryer" in the photo?

neh.. the small box in yellow/beige color one..
it's suppose to control the on/off power supply to the air compressor right?

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Added on June 15, 2007, 3:45 pmoh.. jus saw this
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/455566

somebody in sabah is offering his ab set wt compressor for rm400 oni..

This post has been edited by erh_teo: Jun 15 2007, 03:45 PM

[quote=supermen,Jun 17 2007, 02:32 PM]
my own experience using AB for Gunpla:

PAINT:
i use mr. hobby lacquer paints and thin it with industrial thinner which u can buy at hardware shops for rm 3.50 or so per bottle. zebra brand thinner works the best. you don't even need to use mr. retarder for the mr. surfacer to prevent 'webbing'. it will spray out consistently. mr. hobby plus industrial thinner gives a very smooth paint job. till the point that it looks like the plastic was molded in that color.

Are you using the water-based or the thinner-based type (Mr. Color)?

My bro was telling me the thinner based one works better than the water based one. The sprayed texture was more even with less noticeable bubles and "pimples".
the paint also more durable and more scratch-proof..

but the problem is Mr. color doesn't match with water, indrustrial thinner/ alcohol..
just mr.thinner only..

This post has been edited by erh_teo: Jun 19 2007, 11:11 AM

Rili?

to me water based is those bottle that looked like this


solvent based/ thinner type looked like this


basically have no problem thinning the water-based one..

but for the solvent/ thinner based, must use "Mr. Thinner" to achieve best effect..

actually i've tried many different type of solvent

industrial thinner from hardware
methylated spirit (normal hardware & ACE hardware brand)
zebra brand spirit
isopropanol
ethanol (rubbing alcohol)

some able to dissolve some not (alcohol cannot)
even those that can dissolve, if see properly close-up, u can see some small grain-like appearance of the paint in the solvent (like emulsions in milk)

but one of the solvent my fren gave me (from paint factory, dunno what formula) can achieve the same effect with Mr. Thinner. It melts/ dissolve everything.. u can't see any grains at all, even with magnifying glass, there's no emulsions formation.. and it doesn't affect plastic

hmm.. i think i tried zebra brand before but forgot whether it's spirit of thinner...
but some thinner has bad effect on plastic

hardware thinner.. hmm.. tried many.. but stil will clog after ab sometime..

reason is bcoz the paint itself is not 100% dissolve la.. nex time i shoot some close up pic..

emulsion formation.. anyone has experience??

ahh... i see

i checked mine (zebra brand), it's methylated spirit.. no wonder la..

so wat to do wt the fast drying paint? use retarder? any other options?

This post has been edited by erh_teo: Jun 22 2007, 03:04 PM

Maybe shud try to clean the resorvoiir tank also..

mine also happen to be similar cases like urs..

after cleaning the reservoir, moisture trap.. ok aredi..

all compressor oso work well.. perharps other feature u interested wud be the noise level, availability of after-sales service.. etc???

can try hobbiescorner.com (local kl guy)
saw 1 unit of compressor unit, try search for it at ebay.com.my
standard one usually come with air/reservoir tank, auto-off switch, moisture trap and regulator should come around 650-700. without airtank shud be another 150 or more cheaper.

handpiece (AB) shud ranging fr 100-200
alternatively, the other hobby shop miniature hobby and Hobby HQ also carries compressor..

This post has been edited by erh_teo: Aug 26 2008, 05:57 PM

all i can say is that that tamiya unit is really a "light-weight" kinda compressor.. and it's handpiece can't rili do u much favor.. u prob need another handpiece if u r rili into airbrushing..

This post has been edited by erh_teo: Sep 12 2008, 06:21 PM

obviously u have either not equiped urself with much readings or unable to understand just by reading alone.

no worry. u just need to get some real modelling frens to show u the real thing.
i had many readings before i got my ab and compressor and stil get the wrong concept


ab gun/handpiece
not really much thing u can choose except for the price u willing to pay for and brand.
other specs are quite standard line:
1) nozzle (0.2mm, 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.3mm being most commonly used, 0.2mm for spraying fine works and 0.5mm for broad area)
2) cup (cup size and cup location, on top, bottle feed, side feed, up to ur working and own preference)
3) single or double action

compressor
1) compressor/"engine" type: fridge type (round heavy black, and is expensif) or normal hobby type with metal heat sink cooling fins (looks like motorbike engine)
2) with or without airtank (with air tank u no need to worry about turning on and off, as the one wt airtank usually come with auto on-off switch)
3) pressure regulator and mositure trap (standard must get items)

pipe or hose, need to ask meh? when u buy compressor just make sure got attached hose, don have then get one lor.
nothingelse.

maybe u wanna drop ur questions here http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/703675/+1540

or read this (if u haven't):

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/488910