Using CO2 with Airbrush

[Gary W. Gerfen]

I'd like to try using CO2 with my airbrush. I'm currently using a 10
gal. portable air tank which is kind of big and bulky.
Can anyone tell me exactly what I need to use CO2, such as regulators,
guages, valves, etc., as well as the approximate cost. What size do
CO2 tanks come in and what the initial cost as well as the refill
cost, on average? Where's the best place to buy this stuff, a welding
supply house? Any and all info or tips appreciated.

Thanks,

Gary

[Adam Wiggles]

I don't use CO2, so i wouldn't know the answers to most of your questions.

But, i do know you'll need gauges (Probably one before the regulator to show
tank pressure, and one after to show regulated pressure), and a regulator
(CO2 tanks store the CO2 at a very high pressure, don't want to explode your
airline or something :)

Gary W. Gerfen <gerfen@altrionet.com> wrote in message
news:v37o20hml6diioetnf3iekht01khp4ckqa@4ax.com...
>
> I'd like to try using CO2 with my airbrush. I'm currently using a 10
> gal. portable air tank which is kind of big and bulky.
> Can anyone tell me exactly what I need to use CO2, such as regulators,
> guages, valves, etc., as well as the approximate cost. What size do
> CO2 tanks come in and what the initial cost as well as the refill
> cost, on average? Where's the best place to buy this stuff, a welding
> supply house? Any and all info or tips appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Gary

[GulfCoastStang]

I use CO2 tanks to supply carbon for my Planted Aquariums and I've thought about using them as a pressurized air supply for airbrushing but the cost ends up the same as a decent compressor.

First, I picked up a steel 5lb CO2 cylinder at the local Welding Supply store for $45. You can get larger ones and even aluminum ones but that was the best deal I found. Refills are around $10 for 5 lbs. $15 for 10lbs, I believe.

For a regulator, you need a dual gauge regulator (one to read tank pressure and one to read regulated pressure). I picked up the Pro-Line Double Gauge Regulator for $38 from a beer keg supplier...
http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/regulators/co2-premium.shtml

Then all you'd need to do is adapt the barbed fitting output of the regulator to your airbrush. You could take the shutoff valve off and leave a standard 1/2" NPT fitting that might make it easier to get a good seal.

Hope that helps!