oatka 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2011 There's been a lot of people interested in the Copic airbrush system lately, myself included. I was hesitant at first to drop the cash for the stuff because of the price, and then the price to keep supplying it with air....by buying more compressed air cans (about $12 each) or a compressor (about $ way too much for me). But, I decided to buy the smallest amount of stuff I needed to get started and see what I think, before I went too crazy. I bought the grip and D60 can of air, and 4 markers....total cost about $50. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed when the can ran out when I had painted only 25 poppers. I thought the can would run out before the markers, but at 25 poppers painted, for $50, if I stopped then I'd have $2 in each popper just for the base coat of color. That was just unacceptable to me, and about stopped me from spraying any other poppers. Before I bought the setup, I had asked on here if anyone had tried to hook their sprayer up to a bike pump....no one responded saying they had done it. So, with an empty can on my hands, I decided to give it a shot. I've posted a full write up on my blog to show the steps, but here's a few photos from the process. Check out the full how to here. If you do think of doing this, I don't give it more than 40psi (2 pumps on my pump), so I've thought a foot operated pump would allow you to keep pumping without having to stop and use your hands. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gpd4 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2011 Your post the other day prompted me to get off my wallet and get one of these airbrush kits. Great follow-up. Thanks for the info! Just waiting on the UPS guy now... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oatka 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2011 It took me a while to get off my wallet too....but this hack of the air can makes it easier to justify that initial investment. Had this not worked, I might have only bought 4 markers and painted only 25 poppers (not wanting to pay $12 per can)....now I might get more markers and keep painting! Make sure to show us the flies you tie/paint with your airbrush! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bryan Wright 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2011 This was my comment on your blog: What about using a 12V bike pump that you plug into your car or one you can plug into the wall. I think some of those are not to costly and you can set the PSI (I think) on some of those so you don't over pressurize. It would make it much more useful I think. I think you did a great job and now even more than ever I want to pick up one of these. Just awesome :yahoo: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Curtis Fry 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2011 Wow, that's pretty dang creative, man. So if anyone is interested, here's an auction for a compressor that these work with: http://cgi.ebay.com/SPARMAX-airbrush-airbr...6#ht_500wt_1156 A little easier than the cans or a cool pump. I got mine for $30. Pretty hard to beat the convenience.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oatka 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2011 Thanks guys! Wow, $30. Cool, I saved $30!!! of course, once the kids (pump pushers) grow up and move out I might resort to something like that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robert M 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2011 Old paintball tanks work well also if you have a regulator Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lykos33 0 Report post Posted April 14, 2011 Oatka , I wanna know where ya got the original set up for $50, the handle , markers and can? I have a compressor I can adjust down to 40 psi so air flow won't be a problem. How long do the actual markers hold out? I have no hobby shops any where near me and Michael's looks at me like I'm crazy when I asked about them... Thanks, Murray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
utyer 0 Report post Posted April 14, 2011 I don't know where Oatka got his but Dick Blick (art supplies) has the kit that Oatka got for 23.58 and each marker (sketch) is 4.87. The adapter can (which can be attached to a compressor) kit is more. They are all here: http://www.dickblick.com/brands/copic/?wmc...CFeM85QodFWSQIQ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oatka 0 Report post Posted April 14, 2011 Murray, I got mine from http://www.fineartstore.com because they are here in town for me. I had done some looking online and I was going to buy from https://www.oozak.com/copic.php but I didn't want to wait for them to be shipped. I think in the end, I paid about the same price, but got them sooner by going local...which I know is not an option for you. Good luck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robert M 0 Report post Posted April 14, 2011 Oatka , I wanna know where ya got the original set up for $50, the handle , markers and can? I have a compressor I can adjust down to 40 psi so air flow won't be a problem. How long do the actual markers hold out? I have no hobby shops any where near me and Michael's looks at me like I'm crazy when I asked about them... Thanks, Murray Michael's around here carry them they are in with the other airbrushes near the modeling kits. They run quite a bit more than $50.00 but with a 40% or 50% off coupon they are much more reasonable. Check the airbrush case they probably carry it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bryan Wright 0 Report post Posted April 14, 2011 I wonder how long the 180 can would last with the pump mod? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robcolling 0 Report post Posted April 14, 2011 Thank you very much for the post and the write up on your blog! That is some great engineering at work. I'll second the idea for a bicycle tire pump that you operate with your foot. I remember having one as a kid...I think I mounted it to a piece of plywood so it was more stable on the floor. Great work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oatka 0 Report post Posted April 14, 2011 I wonder how long the 180 can would last with the pump mod? Not sure. I only went to 40psi because I was concerned that something would fail, and I wanted to get through the 25 poppers I had before a failure. ....and see foot pump comment below Thank you very much for the post and the write up on your blog! That is some great engineering at work. I'll second the idea for a bicycle tire pump that you operate with your foot. I remember having one as a kid...I think I mounted it to a piece of plywood so it was more stable on the floor. Great work! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I think with a foot pump you could really control the amount of air in the can....and instead of going up to 40psi you could more or less just use the can as an extension of the whole pump....so instead of using pressurized air in the can, you basically pump when needed....reducing the pressure in the can (overall) and limiting the potential for failure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites