Airbrush Artist Needs To Know The Laws On Refrigerator Gases And Removal

Hi, I'm an Airbrush artist and my compressor recently broken down. Unfortunately to buy a new compressor that is quite enough to use in my spare room, but more importantly supplies a constant flow of air is expensive. So i decided to consult a fellow artist that has a great deal more experience then me on cheaper options. This is what he surgested.....

A refrigerator compressor linked to an air tank with an air flow regulator and filter. He claims that he has been running his airbrush this way on the same compressor for more than 10 years.

I thought that this was brilliant idea, an air flow regulator with built in gauge and filter will set me back about £15 and i have a friend that has offered to convert an old gas bottle into an air tank. So at the moment the idea stands at £15 and a few beers.

Now the point of this thread. I am sure that i myself can remove a compressor from a refrigerator with little hassle, but i am aware that they contain gases, this is where you guys come in.

Question 1. Are there any laws that state this operation must be undertaken by a train pro?

Question 2. If the answer to the above is no, when i remove the compressor will the gases escape?

Question 3. If the answer to the above is yes, who do i contact to get the gases removed before i remove the compressor or can i do it myself?

Any suggestions are muchly needed and appreciated.

The right answers may result in custom graphics for your van!!!!!:D

1) no
2) yes
3) any local fridge company
4) i don't have a van


cheers

richard

Rbartlett,

Thanks for the response it was breif but informative.

Maybe a custom tool box then;)

Oiuska

You will probably find that the equipement you propose building falls under a pressurised vessel and may be subject to controls within the Health and Safety legislation

Machine Mart do these type of compressor vessels quite cheaply and that in my opinion will be the safest option.

Regards

Aiyub,

Thanks for the advice, i have checked into this matter, because gas bottles are pressurised containers they will be more than surficient. I will only be pressurising to around the 30PSI mark. Before i took up Airbrushing i was a plumber and i specialised in high pressure steam piping. Any joints made between the compressor and the tank will be made of solid pipe and not air hose, reducing the risk of failure.

Cheers

Martyn

Hi Martyn, what you need to be aware of is that fridge compressors carry-over oil into the discharge pipework, which would contaminate your paint. I've seen fridge type compressors used for airbrushing (I was a paste-up artist for a very short while before becoming a fridgie) but they've been converted so that they have an oil sight-glass to keep an eye on the oil level & the tops have been removable so that you can top that level up. I don't know how they stopped the oil from contaminating the paint though as I'm recalling from memory what was 20 years ago, maybe thay used some kind of filter or seperator.

I'd like orange flames down each side of my van & a mural of a naked lady entwined with a snake on the bonnet:D

Hi

If you type air brushing in the search bar above you will some threads on your question

Regards Bernard:)


Ps. I would like of naked lady with a blow torch in her hand

Phil68, Thanks for the response, i have already sourced an airflow regulator that has a built in filter so this will solve the problem of oil in the air lines. As for the compressor, as fridges are ten a penny these days i'm not to fussed if it breaks.

Cheers

I'll do the refigerant reclaim for you. Not too far to travel. send me a PM