Fluid bed Question

rlcam · #1 (**permalink**) January 10th, 2008

I have missed something on making a fluid bed,I think.Once you have the base,have your air inlet mounted,and you put the cup in the top.Is there a bottom to the cup with holes in it or do you put the paper over the base and wedge the cup in and then pour the paint in.I guess I want to know if the cup has holes or is it just a length of pipe wedged in with the paper over the bottom.Hope this sounds like I know what I'm talking about...I think...God it's late and i'm soooo confused, I think.Thanks guys for any help......Robert

Spike-A-Pike · #2 (**permalink**) January 10th, 2008

For better or worse, I had the same question a few months ago. The brown paper sack got the best reviews by other members and put a thin bead of silicon RTV on the bottom of the cup and put it on a single layer of the paper bag with 3 Tom Clancy novels on it over night. Next morning I took an exacto knife around the outside of the cup to trim off the excess. If I every need to replace it, I'll just pull the old one off, clean it, slap a new one on.

Hope that gets you up and going.

beezerbassman · #3 (**permalink**) January 10th, 2008

I did the same thing as Bruce, but I used pvc cement to glue the bag to the pipe it has worked fine. I had enough pipe left over that I made a cup for each color and don't have to worry about cleaning out the cup before changing colors.

Spike-A-Pike · #4 (**permalink**) January 10th, 2008

beezerbassman.

I can not stress the importance of keeping your power dry to keep it fuild in the bed... actually, I haven't had any issues with this yet. I remember cadman and others stressing it's importance and since he gave me the plans, I figure I'll follow his advice.

beezerbassman · #5 (**permalink**) January 10th, 2008

i have not had any problems yet with the powder. my only problem is with different colors and getting the air flow but from other posts it is a common issue but with more time and experience that will all work out.

Brian_Va · #6 (**permalink**) January 25th, 2008

Does anyone know the lbs pr sq inch, and cfpm rating required for a fluid? Or, will an airbrush compressor do the job?

LedHed · #7 (**permalink**) January 25th, 2008

Brian
An aquarium pump will suffice – if you want to try the micro mesh screen PM me your snail mail.

Brian_Va · #8 (**permalink**) January 25th, 2008

Well, I have a very small aquarium pump laying around, I guess I'll have to try it out for myself. If that doesn't do it then I'll switch to the air comp.

LedHed · #9 (**permalink**) January 25th, 2008

Brian
You will still need to use an inline valve or a valve mounted on the fluid bed. I use inline valves because I have tubing quick connects mounted to the bed. The valve acts like a pressure regulator. When switching colors I change the bed and cup - don't have to clean anything. Seldom use the fluid beds anymore - mostly for single colors.

cadman · #10 (**permalink**) January 25th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by LedHed

Brian
You will still need to use an inline valve or a valve mounted on the fluid bed. I use inline valves because I have tubing quick connects mounted to the bed. The valve acts like a pressure regulator. When switching colors I change the bed and cup - don't have to clean anything. Seldom use the fluid beds anymore - mostly for single colors.

Brian, I will agree 100% with LedHed in regards to " Seldom use the fluid beds anymore, except mostly for single colors". When you get to the point when you are doing 5 and 6 colors like myself and Ledhed, and when you are blending these colors to get special effects, the fluid bed at that point becomes obsolete. If you are only going to do one color on the entire jig, then you can't beat it. Just remember, the world is open only to your imagination.