B.A.D. You're on to something, but its still in the planning/testing phase until the summer of 2017... Then the Rat-MINI will be pushed to the next level...
Today was a pretty busy day for the paint shop, even though no paint got sprayed... I decided to ditch the Mazda in favor of more space... The guy I was buying it from under the condition that he got it running has made no attempt to even look at it, and hasn't even called me since September... So I told him he has 2 weeks to get it out of my garage, or I will find a way to put it back in his driveway on my own, probably dragging it with dad's pickup. That will free up a ton more space which I desperately need. Good riddance RX-7, things would be different if it ran! So with the new shop space, I went and priced out a bunch of stuff for the shop... Going to be building a 5X5 foot sound proofed room for the compressor, and an airbrush station on the back wall that will be big enough to spray a hood on! Plus I will be adding more lighting all high intensity LED flood lights, and upgrading the air system to a more professional setup. I did start on building a multi outlet surge tank for the air today, and the fab work is nearly done. Started with a 5 gallon tire fill tank from Harbor Freight... Cut some useless stuff off... Drilled some holes, and welded the nuts on for the new ports... Still need to add the feed port to the bottom which will be for a 1/2" hard copper line into the 25 gallon expansion tank that will be coming next. Then it's getting some crazy paint!
This tank shouldn't need a drain... Its a bottom fed tank that acts as a distribution block and keeps pressure steady if there is a sudden surge in the system (like when the compressor motor kicks on, or a sudden drop in pressure...) But since I am all about over building things, and I only have one shot to get it right, I'll add a port at the bottom for a drain valve... Also going to add another feed port at the top for other purposes...
Looking online for better prices on parts, I found this... So glad I'm building my own! Look at the prices! So far I've spent $27.00!
That thing is expensive !!!! Your's will function exactly as you want it to...and it'll be a work of art.
Merry Christmas everyone! I went out to start working, and it started snowing as soon as I pulled the Rat out of the shop, so I had to close everything back up. Can't wait for this MAZDA to un-ass my floor space so I can have some room to stash the Rat when it can't be outside... Next week its gone, even if I have to yank it out of here with a rope!
You sure your gonna paint with that contraption Dick, or are you gonna open up your own distillery on the sly....?
Ha ha! Firebro, it's just to stabilize the system for low pressure (less than 40 psi). Unfortunately the nuts I welded to the tank leak at the threads at about 90 psi, and I don't want any leaks in the system, so it has to be redone. I already picked up a new tank, cut the un needed parts off, and have it sitting in a trash bag covered in stripper juice... Also went and got some actual 3/8 and 1/2 NPT bungs to be welded on, but its too cold this weekend to do much. All the brass that goes from each outlet bung to the hose (brass 90 degree elbows, a 3" extension, a ball valve shutoff, and the adapters) comes out to $40 PER AIR LINE! Friggin NUTS! That is for the 2 3/8 outlets, still haven't figured out the price for the 3 1/2 ports! Then I will also need all the plumbing from the compressor to build the actual system... 4 1/2 regulators, 1/2 and 1" copper piping, plus all the fittings and filters! Considering the compressor itself was free to me for doing a friend a big favor a few years back, I can live with the cost.
I got an airbrush kit for Christmas. It's from Master airbrush. A small piston compressor, water trap, airbrush, and hose. Now to get some paint and start practicing. Maybe one day I'll be as good as Dick.:fingerscrossed:
Congrats MRNTD! Get out and practice with it! The little bottles of Testors model paint are cheap and readily available...
Thanks. I worked with it some over the weekend. But getting the viscosity right is difficult. At least from what I read said that was the problem. I ordered some plain black airbrush paint yesterday. It will be here by this weekend. So more practice. I might be asking for tips by spring.
A good glass eye dropper (one of the big ones) will help getting your mixes consistent. Really there is no best viscosity for paint... Different thicknesses create different effects as well as air pressures, learn how to use it to your advantage. It takes a lot of practice to get everything right, but once you pick up on stuff it comes easy... Before Goldsmithy sent me the airbrush I'm using, I didn't touch one for 15 years! I've still got practice to do, but I remember quite a bit.
Haven't updated the thread in a while... But that doesn't mean I'm not ramping things up for summer! Been doing a lot of work to the garage getting it cleaned, organized, and opened up so I can handle some bigger stuff! I won't be opening until after the Dragon, but I can't wait. I also decided it was best for me to expand a little outside of just doing MINI stuff, so today I turned the shop FB page lose to the Fiat community.
Ok since there is nothing to read in my usual threads, and I am starting to get stuff ready to spray for the Dragon... Ladies, or guys who can un objectively think like a lady for a few seconds to a minute, you get to pick! Without knowing all of the project details, which of these three is most appealing to you? (1) (2) (3) And go!