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Air Tools
Air tools were primarily used at the painting stage. I have a compressor and a small tank. Why both? Small painting such as R2D2 details on the body, legs and head are better painted with an airbrush. The compressor tends to condense water on the big belly. This water ruins the paint job. If on the other hand you fill the small tank with the compressor, water condensation is minimized and hardly noticed on the paintbrush job.
An alternative to this dilemma is to add a very good (but good!) water filter. Considering that with what you buy a good water filter you can buy two or maybe three small tanks, don't you think it is more cash effective? The paintbrush is a Paasche Single Action paint brush. I don’t think a double action is necessary for the details needed on the R2D2, but then again I am not a painter so don't take that from me. The air tank will have to be fitted with an air regulator. Buy a good one here. Cheap regulators will give you trouble.
The compressor is a Craftsman 125 PSI, 5 HP, 25 gallon unit. I used the compressor to dust away (impressively useful when you are milling a part), to paint the R2D2 big sections with a paint gun and to fill the small tank for the air brush.
Air tools? Most people ask why don't you buy air tools such as drills, saws and such? I just bought a Craftsman cut off saw and was very disappointed. I believe that to get the strength needed in most power tools you will need electricity. Air just doesn't do it. It is not the compressor since the tools are often rated at 90 PSI. They just won't perform as you want when aired. But then again I am not an air expert (I am not a Mechanical Engineer) and have not tested all air tools, so there might be others that do fine.
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