Airbrush Fittings

[PeteySödes]

I need a sanity check. I currently have the cheapo Master Airbrush TC-80 compressor and just got a new badger hose with the built in moisture trap. I think its 1/8" and it doesn't fit the compressor, which i *think* is 1/4". 

 

Can anyone with more experience point me in the right direction for what fitting i need, amazon link or whatever works.

[.Torch.]

I would measure your fittings first, will make it a lot easier if you are not sure on sizes.

[Arkhanist]

I wasn't able to find the master TC-80, but all the other master compressors have 1/8" (inch) BSP* male connectors which is the defacto standard for small compressors. Larger compressors for air tools etc usually use the larger diameter 1/4" BSP male connector. I'm assuming the badger hose you got is basically this official one, with the in-line water trap, which does come with a 1/4" BSP female end for the compressor, i.e. a big one. The airbrush end is for badger airbrushes which is a bit custom, only badger use it. (Most other airbrushes also use 1/8" BSP)

 

 

So taking both of those into account, I think you have two options:

 

1) a 1/4" BSP male to 1/8" BSP female adapter - the new hose screws onto the larger end, and the smaller hole screws onto the compressor. It's basically stepping the hose down from a bigger connector to a smaller one. It's a slightly unusual setup because people more often want to use a 1/8" BSP hose with a beefy compressor so are going the other way - so make sure you get the male-female the right way round for you, but it is a standard adapter.

 

One example is this one, by master themselves:

 

 

 

2) if you look at the badger hose itself, to me it looks like it's made up of two hoses - badger female to 1/8" BSP female screwed on one end of the water trap, then a 1/8" BSP female on the other end of the trap to a 1/4" BSP female which goes on the compressor. IF that is the case, then you could replace the 1/8"BSP -> 1/4" BSP part of the badger hose with a standard 1/8" BSP female -> 1/8" BSP female hose which will then fit straight on your compressor fitting with no need for an adapter. Normally compressors, including Master, come with an 1/8"BSP -> 1/8" BSP hose as it's the defacto standard, so you may already have one! It would also be two less fittings (both ends of the adapter in option 1) in the chain, so it will leak a bit less. Worth a try if you have the stock 1/8" BSP hose from the compressor.

 

_{* BSP = british standard pipe, in case you were wondering.}

 

 

[PeteySödes]

Awesome thanks for taking the time, that was what seemed to make sense to me too. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something. Thanks again!