I just bought my first aibrush, a Badger Model 200. My intent is to use it with my little PorterCable air compressor. Of course the hose and fittings are all the wrong size. I've looked online for adapter kits but I'm not coming up with much in the way of answers. I think I'm really not sure what I should be looking for. Does anyone have any experience about this you'd like to share? I'm eager to start painting. Thanks, Dan
Dan ... take the unit(s) that need the adapters to your local hardware store. That's where I found what I needed for my Pache.
Make sure you have, somewhere, an air regulator that will allow you to run air in the pressure recommended by Badger, and I would also recommend a moisture trap. I have an adapter that goes from 1/4" NPT to the air-hose for my Harbor Freight special. An air hose for my Badger is still on back-order. Good luck! Adam
airbrush tips Dan, while you're at the hardware store, see if they have an inexpensive water trap (removes condensation) to hook up between the compressor and the hose - if you're shooting for several minutes (rare), you'll likely develop condensation. I think I paid about $5 for mine 20-25 years ago. Looks like a clear plastic bubble with a push-in drain valve. I wish I could find the old excellent article I had on airbrushing. If you'll allow me a little advice, practice, practice, practice. Use multiple light applications. Pracitce your air/product mixtures and your distance. You want to avoid too-wet at one extreme and too-dry-orange-peel-texture at the other extreme. Play with diluting paint - I generally mix and shoot 1:1 Floquil to Diosol thinner. When you're finished shooting - even if you'll do another coat in a few minutes - clean the airbrush with thinner, pipe cleaner and paper towel. It's easier to keep it clean than to disassemble it later. When you goof, start over, but use a commercial stripper from your hobby shop rather than brake fluid - it eats up many hobby plastics. Good luck! I look forward to seeing you post your results. Scott
Thanks guys! I tried a local Ace Hardware this afternoon. This place usually has a knowledgeable person to talk to. However, this guy seemed stumped. He was talking about making an adapter using some 1/4 inch pipe and taping a place to connect the Badger hose. BTW, the Badger hose I'm guessing to be 1/8 inch female threads on both ends. I'll try my luck with Home Depot in the next couple days. Any further input from you guys would be welcomed and appreciated. Thanks, Dan
Pasche sells a brass adapter that takes the airbrush hose on one end, and has a 1/4" NPT female thread on the other. I have that screwed into a quick disconnect on my compressor regulator. Simple to use, simple to store when you're finished painting. The adapter fitting should be available anywhere that sells airbrushes, your LHS, Hobby Lobby, etc. Mike
Badger also has a brass adaptor (2 actually) that goes from1/4 NPT to the little thread on the flexible tube. You should be able to pick up at the local hobby shop. Make sure you get the one w/o the hole in the side. It is for hooking up directly to one of the small air compressors. I use the one w/o the hole hooked up to a small regualator I got from WalMart and a water trap I got from Harbor Frieght, which is hooked up to a 7 gallon air tank and holds enough air at 100PSI for a lot of N-Scale airbrushing. NCDaveD
If you have a harbor Freight in town, that's where I'd go. They have a very large selection of air tool products including the moisture trap and the adapter and even the air brush hose. Much as I like to support my locol hobby shop, they are going to charge a premium over Harbor. Heck, I've found harbor to be better then Wal-Mart. Also, if you ever want a second brush for less important work, they can be had there dirt cheap.
