I've been looking at getting a compressor for airbrushing. Can I use just a regular air compressor or does it need to be a special one specifically used for airbrushing? Harbor Freight has an airbrush compressor on sale (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92403) and I don't want to get it if I can just use a regular air compressor. Thanks.
I would check the PSI on what you have already to see if it's something you can use. From my understanding, the compressor simply pushes the air into the brush, which mixes the air with the color and sprays it onto your art. I wouldn't think that any paint or food coloring would make it's way back into the compressor, so it should be safe for you to use.
Maybe you could make a practice cake and airbrush it using the compressor you have, to be sure that everything comes out okay. I bought a compressor at AC Moore with a 50% off coupon, and use it only for cakes, and it works just fine for spraying the whole thing. (I haven't tried it for fine/detail work yet.) I would definitely try what you have before buying something new. Maybe someone else has better knowledge and can give other advice?
Good luck,
Starkie
It can not be a conventional piston type compression (the kind my husband has in his shop) as this will introduce small amounts of oil vapor into your cake. Kopykake has an oil-less piston type compressor. The important thing here is that the oil can potentially make someone ill. Another type of compressor is a diaphragm compressor which will isolate any oil vapors from the air stream.
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