C02 air source for painting?

[Azrocks]

Is it possible to set up a CO2 tank to be used as an air source for painting? I'll be using an HPLV gun. I'm sure I'd have to use something to take the moisture out of the air.

Anyway, what do you all think?

[Azrocks]

For added info, I'll be using an Ultimate Air setup with an adjustable regulator.

[Azrocks]

Anyone?

[brownbear]

Hey anything is possible. But it seems like a waste to use C02.

The volume you use when painting is quite large.

IMOP you should just look for a used compressor. Or new if you want. A compressor for the garage is good investment.

[Azrocks]

Originally Posted by brownbear

Hey anything is possible. But it seems like a waste to use C02.

The volume you use when painting is quite large.

IMOP you should just look for a used compressor. Or new if you want. A compressor for the garage is good investment.

I wouldn't think the volume would be a problem with CO2. I could be wrong.

The reason I don't buy a compressor is......
1. I already have one, but it's too small for painting
2. I already have the CO2 setup
3. Instead of putting a couple hundred towards a compressor, I am going to use the couple hundred and get some good paint.

I see people use CO2 for airbrushing. They say CO2 is dry as a bone. Anyway, I'll look more in to it.

[Tools R Us]

The issues that I see are;

HVLP guns uses a lot of air, most in the 10+ cfm range. How many cf is in your bottle, how often will you need to fill it and do you really want it running out half through a panel?

At those flow rates I would be worried about freezing up the regulator and/or possibly having dry ice clogging up the gun?

If your just painting something small it would probably work. For a larger project like painting a truck I would beg, barrow, rent a compressor.

[brownbear]

the air it takes to fill a tire and the air to run a paint sprayer is quite different.

try it. Worst case is you waste a bunch of c02. keep a spare bottle handy too.

[Azrocks]

Originally Posted by brownbear

the air it takes to fill a tire and the air to run a paint sprayer is quite different.

try it. Worst case is you waste a bunch of c02. keep a spare bottle handy too.

Yeah, it might be worth a try. I was hoping somebody out there had tried it. I'm going to decide what gun to go with and see what cfm requirements is has and go from there. I wonder how a C02 tanks shakes down cfm wise?

[cruiser88]

I have seen industrail air dryers(used them) do not know if they make anything smaller. I asume you want something to dry the air more?