Airbrush dust away...

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Dave

Dave

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Joined
Jun 11, 2004
Posts
13,355
Loc
Edwardsburg, MI
I finally took the airbrush and compressor I've had stashed for some time and hooked it up at my fitting bench. It is a Godsend for eliminating dust on glass as I put the artwork into the frame. It's on a footswitch and all I do is pick it up and spray the pressurized air across the surface.

Works ten times better than a horsehair brush as it blows the dust right over the edge of the frame and out of danger of being sucked back into the package.

Dave Makielski
 
Is an airbrush different than an air nozzle? First I blow the glass and the matte/print package, then I use a hair paintbrush if I see more. Then I assemble and check before stapling....Learned that one by error. Lint between the black matte and the glass after putting in 3K staples to support the back of a heavy fossil I had mounted in a shadow box....Rats and Darn were heard around the basement that night!
 
What I'm actually using is an Iwata Artist's Airbrush, but using it the same way you'd use a nozzle...just to blow air. It would have the added benefit of spraying varnish or other materials if I so desired, but haven't used it for that yet.

I've found you can't check too often for dust as you assemble the entire package too. I've had many a frustration and used stronger language than you indicated when I've finish the entire work and something has dislodged not to be seen until the dustcover went on.

Compressed air is a wonderful thing...!

Dave Makielski
 
I would ammend that statement to "Compressed air, with an in-line dryer and filter, is a godsend!"

Haven't done it, thank god! but I live in fear of the day that I blow air onto the print and have it spatter that rusty water onto it!

I drain the system weekly, and keep checking for moisture in the dryer. I've had fears that I would put the oil line onto the air gun. I've even gone so far as to make sure the couplings don't fit (M's for "wet" and T's for "dry", and use different color air lines for the "wet" and "dry" lines!
 
Originally posted by Dave:
I've had many a frustration and used stronger language than you indicated when I've finish the entire work and something has dislodged not to be seen until the dustcover went on.

Compressed air is a wonderful thing...!

Rats and Darn are code words in my house because I keep on hearing from my girls and wife that my "colourful :rolleyes: " language is disturbing and they would really like it if I cleaned up my mouth!

A thought around this though. Has anyone ever seen a brush with the option of blowing air through it, so not only do you get the mechanical action of brushing but the bonus of air moving at the same time....?

Merry Christmas All
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"Has anyone ever seen a brush with the option of blowing air through it, so not only do you get the mechanical action of brushing but the bonus of air moving at the same time....?"
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Photography stores should have something like that. I used to have one with my darkroom equipment years ago. A brush with a squeeze bulb on it that blew air thru the bristles.
 
I have one like that, but it doesn't give a high enough pressure or sustain long enough to work well. Now if someone invented a brush that would also blow air that you could attach to an airhose...it might be a good thing.

I do use an inline filter and a moisture trap on my air source. With any compressed air condensation can be a problem.

Dave Makielski
 
Has anyone used the compressed air in small cans that are available retail? I've seen computer repair people use it. It eliminates the worry of splattering oil or rusty water all over a project and ruining it. I'm not sure how cost effective the "canned air" will be.
 
Originally posted by wolfeman:
Has anyone used the compressed air in small cans that are available retail? I've seen computer repair people use it. It eliminates the worry of splattering oil or rusty water all over a project and ruining it. I'm not sure how cost effective the "canned air" will be.
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You have to be careful with them. I use them for cleaning my computers that I work on. The air comes out very cold and moisture condenses. It can leave a momentary layer of ice on the surface it is aimed at. My "hot dog" compressor is under my table, and only takes a second to plug it in and attach a nozzle. Once a week (depending on use) I give it a shake to listen for moisture sounds. It is usually much closer to ambient temperature so there is less chance of condensation.

James
 
As stated, be careful of freeze up with canned air. Canned air comes out COLD and most normally would not put a moisture trap on a canned air source.

You can help stop the can from freezing up completely by putting the can in a small bowl of water covering up the bottom couple inches. This will disipate the freeze that forms on the bottom and eventually can freeze the can so it doesn't spray at all. This is really though only a concern for continual use such as airbrushing.

Dave Makielski
 
DICHLORODIFLOUROMETHANE

Try saying that 3 times real fast :eek:

That was what "canned air" used to be made from - good stuff - destroys the ozone so we can get a faster tan. The new "canned air" should be used w/ caution as it well (as Dave mentioned) cause freezing to any surface.

We use compressed air w/ an in-line filter & moisture collection pot. There is also an attachment for the air nozzle that will "ionize" the dust particles to help repel them from the surface that you are spraying. I believe it is made by "Kinetronics"
Just make sure you drain the holding tank of your compressor regularly as a preventative measure!
 
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