DIY Compressor

EnterTheHatrix · Post by **EnterTheHatrix** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:09 am

I need a compressor for sand blastic and spray painting, but they're stupidly expensive.

Is there any way I can adapt a car tyre compressor to do the job?

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:34 am

You mean those lighter outlet things? No. You're never going to get the necessary air volume from them. You need to buy a big compressor or bring all your stuff to a shop and have them spray/blast it for you.

The only spray painting you're going to do with one of those is artist airbrushing. But if you want to run one of those house sprayers, you need a bigger compressor. (NOT a 5 gallon one either.)

EnterTheHatrix · Post by **EnterTheHatrix** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:53 am

Actually, it will do fine for air brushing, which was what I intended it for in the first place..

Any idea of how I can attach it?

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:03 pm

Oh airbrushing. Okay I thought you meant paint sprayers to do your house with or something.

What kind of connector does the airbrush have? You can use glues and zip ties to splice one air hose to another. Just get a length of hose for airbrushing and splice it to the tire end (after you cut off the tire connector, of course. If you don't want to ruin the compressor, get a cheap bicycle pump and splice to its valve stem, then connect to the compressor.)

You might want to get some sort of valve to regulate pressure with. Then you can just slip the hoses onto the valve's connectors and secure with hose clamps. (the round metal straps with a screw that tightens them.)

EnterTheHatrix · Post by **EnterTheHatrix** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:06 pm

The hose is pretty thin, the document I got with it says I only need something with around 10 - 30 psi, which this does.

The connector is very small, but I have a larger connector. I can't really destroy the electric pump, but I'll take a look at a manual pump.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:11 pm

You can use a CO2 tank as an air source, a SCUBA size tank can completely fill like thirty 40 inch tires. They are used for offroad stuff instead of the hassle of installing a compressor under the hood.

Post by **marshallh** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:47 pm

Get one used, or look around at garage sales. I got one for $10, works great.

EnterTheHatrix · Post by **EnterTheHatrix** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:44 am

The ones I've looked at are Â£100 +...

I saw one on eBay for Â£64, but the postage was just as much or local pick up... And they are really far out of my reach.

dman762000 · Post by **dman762000** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:32 pm

okay go to an autoparts store and get what they call quick connects for air lines, if you can't really destroy the air pump then take a chumk of innertube from bicycle, cut it so you have the valve stem, seal off one side with the type of cement used to patch said innertube and some good zip ties on the other side use a hose barb with appropiate threads for the air line quick connect, more zip ties and such, make sure it has a good seal on all ends, hook the other part of the quick connect to your airbrush, connect up, turn on the air pump and you should have a steady suply of air to brush with, if you want a pressure gauge put it in-between the quick connect and the airbrush. the section of innertube will help keep a steady pressure instead of a surging air supply.