Hello everyone, I will soon be moving to a small apartment. I would like to keep my airbrush however it is very noisy, and I have heard that it can leave a smell in small areas. Does anyone have tips for reducing the effect of these two factors?
#Tips Airbrushing in an apartment
steel lagoon
oblique canopy
For the noise, that will depend on the compressor you have. You can either get a quieter compressor or if that’s not an option you can build a padded box to absorb the sound it makes. A third option is also available depending on the type of compressor you use, and that is getting an additional tank so the compressor doesn’t run as frequently; if using this option the compressor will run for longer when initially starting but sit much longer between cycles (and the run time to repressive each cycle is nearly the same for an overall shorter run cycle). For the smell that’s purely dependent on the type of paint and medium you use, just get yourself some better paints and mediums with low odor and a good filtration system, if you have one of those pop-up travel airbrush stations you can duct it to blow the exhaust out the window as well.
placid pivot
If you're using acrylic paint (as most miniature painters do), there's not really any leftover smell.
Only time I smell anything is spraying lots of primer or when cleaning with airbrush cleaner. Opening the window sorts it out quickly.
If for some reason you're using solvent based paints, that's a different story and you'll need a good extractor and ventilation system.
steel lagoon
For the noise, that will depend on the compressor you have. You can either get a...
Ah well my compressor is very large and very loud. If I wanted a quieter one do I just look up silent compressor?
steel lagoon
If you're using acrylic paint (as most miniature painters do), there's not reall...
Ah ok thank you for the info, thats good to know.
oblique canopy
More or less, I use a pretty quiet compressor designed for standard use rather than a dedicated hobby model. Cost a fraction of what a comparable model from a company like badger would cost even with adding in an additional 7 gallon tank and fittings to convert it for airbrush use
Think the compressor cost me $150 or $200 at Lowe’s, another $100 for the 7 gallon aux tank (not necessary and don’t always use it), $30 for the regulator on the aux tank, $20 for the hose to connect the tank to the compressor, and about $10 I think for a standard 1/4” air hose fitting to convert an airbrush hose to connect to either one.
When I start it up from empty it takes ~7 minutes to pressurize the entire system. Constant running would have it kick on about once every ten minutes and run for about 1.5 minutes. If I take the secondary tank out it pressurizes in under 2 minutes, spray time of almost five before restarting, and think it was under a minute to build the pressure back up. All times are appropriate because I tested and timed the set up when I put it together a few years ago and my memory isn’t that great.