Fluid bed sizing

[Michael B]

I am looking at buying a fluid bed but do not know what size to get. My jigs range from 1/64 all the way to 3/8. What size would be best for the sizes I use? Also do I need to/ should I buy a cup for each color?

[Pepop]

If you have just basic ability, you can make your own WAY cheaper. The photo below shows the setup I copied on top & one exactly like my setup on bottom. I built mine for under $40 complete with 4 cups & 4 stations (able to use 4 colors at the same time). I found that the air pump I bought wasn't strong enough to drive all 4 stations so I closed off 2. It works great now. I started with coffee filter's as diffuser material but then I bought diffuser disc's from TJ's @ $2.50 each and super glued them to the bottom of each cup (I have 10 cups now) and they work great. The video shows my Yellow Chartreuse "boiling". Click the photo.

[Cray]

I use the 2 in size about 2 1/2 in deep. Found that works for me but don't paint many larger than a 1/4. Like PePop I built my own. For the cost of one manufactured unit you can build a whole rack of cups. Do yourself a big favor buy the cups from TJ with filter or the disk and glue on like PePop said. Best thing I did for painting. Several videos on how to build on YouTube and somewhere in here Fatman has a real good thread on building fluid beds.

[Pepop]

Fatman's Fluid Bed tutorial is without pictures for the time being. He's working on it. I forgot to mention, mine are 2" cups about 2 1/2" deep also. Plenty big enough for 3/8oz jigs I would think. I too don't ever go above 1/4oz but there's plenty of room in the cup, just make sure you have sufficient powder in the cup.

[plateboater]

Bought TJ's....3" love them. Run two most of the time. I did not have time to try to build.

[bugman]

The 2" size should be perfect for the size you'll be painting,I make several different sizes/styles of fluid beds and cups so if you need anything just holler.

[Michael B]

What is the advantage of running more than one fluid bed?

[Fatman]

Two tone colors - unless you brush tap

Pepop - Get a Tetra Whisper 60 dual nozzle air pump - I run 3 -2" beds at one time and it's got power for more.

[Pepop]

What is the advantage of running more than one fluid bed?

Dipping in 2 colors gives a more uniform look to the separation of the 2 colors.
This photo is of jigs dipped in two fluid beds

These are "Brush-Tapped"

[Pepop]

I'll look into that pump Doug. Thanks