Compressors... (also for Ed and Chris...)

Jeeves,

Those should work fine but I am not sure of the durability of that brand although they are probably fine.
I would recommend the ones from Sears as they are known for dependability. The one here is only $99.99 and should fit the bill nicely for airbrushing: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00915210000

Here is a photo of it:



This compressor also has a cast iron cylinder and uses oil so it should be quieter and last longer. The tank is 2 gallons and the motor is 1.5 hp.
Just remember though that you will need an oil/water separator between it and the airbrush.

Mike

Thanks Mike!

Does Sears sell the oil/water separator?? Also-- in any of these-- I imagine I'd have to buy a moisture trap...are there any other pieces that one should add onto the compressor to improve performance and the quality of the paint job (i.e.-- eliminate spatter, etc)....or to regulate the pressure???

Jeeves,

Sears sells this unit which is a combination: Oil /water separator and regulator all in one. I have one and it works nice. They are a bit expensive though and run $49.99.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00916022000

Dixie Art also sells several here that are good. The Paasche one looks a lot like the Norgren one I have that I use the most:
http://dixieart.com/MiscAccessories.html

I don't know how well these work but Harbor Freight has this one for $19.99: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42035

I would run a short airhose from the compressor to the regulator/separator and then connect your airbrush hose to the regulator. That is all you need.
Actually, the compressor I mentioned comes with a yellow coiled airhose that would be perfect to connect to the regulator.

I just noticed that the compressor mentioned already has a regulator on it so you might be able to just find a water/oil separator alone for less money.

Mike

Also, that compressor I posted from Sears in on sale until the 29th, so you can save $20 up until then.

Mike

Jeeves if you feel like fighting the madness....Friday after thanksgiving that compressor as will some other models should be reduced in price. At least they were last year around $65-$75 bucks for everything shown in the picture...More than likely thats what I am going with for my AB comp....

QUOTE: Originally posted by HistoryinScale Jeeves if you feel like fighting the madness....Friday after thanksgiving that compressor as will some other models should be reduced in price. At least they were last year around $65-$75 bucks for everything shown in the picture...More than likely thats what I am going with for my AB comp....

That may be worth a look too. Have you heard one of these units operating Chris? I was curious as to how loud they were. That is the only problem with industrial type compressors, they are too loud to run late at night for most people.

Mike

This one is a bit noisy...not overly so just not quiet like some hobby compressors...Of course its quiet until its time for the tank to refill....thats when the noise kicks in.

QUOTE: Originally posted by HistoryinScale This one is a bit noisy...not overly so just not quiet like some hobby compressors...Of course its quiet until its time for the tank to refill....thats when the noise kicks in.

I know what you mean Chris. When I first started airbrushing T-shirts in the garage I had my Craftsman 1-1/2 hp, 12 gallon tank compressor in the garage with me. I would be painting and the thing would come on and I would almost jump and mess up the stroke I was painting.
With the Jun-Air setup I put together a while back it is a pleasure to start it up and only have to hear 40 dB coming from it.
I could paint in the garage at 3:00 am and it wouldn't bother anyone.

Mike

MikeV -
Have the compressor under your bench, turned on, and you are trying to carve a block of plastic and it suddenly decides the pressure has gotten too low and starts up - as the brits say - "bloody hell" - both figuratively and literally - lol

I have one of the Husky compressors from Home Depot. I have the 2 gal quite air. I have been quite impressed with it. It has a built in regulator, got a moisture trap for $20 at HD for it. It is quite enough that I turned it on in the living room 15 feet from the kids bedroom when I got it and it did not wake them up. I have alot of friends that use Husky for commercial use and all of them said they are good products. The one I got was only $79 to. Just my

Took another look at the Husky in person yesterday....I like it!! The Sears one looks great too..... decisions decisions.... lizardqing-- how did you attach (mainly where?) the moisture trap?? I like the way you can control the pressure on the smaller Husky!

Wow Chris wish I had pulled this up before I bought the craftsman unit....Oh well...I did opt for the extended warranty with free replacement within the 3yr time frame....so it jumped the price up a bit....but not by an unreasonable amount and if I should happen to kill this one then I just take it and swap em out....

Bump for how to attach the moisture trap.....

Hi Guys! I bought a 2 Gallon compresor (Campbell Fieldhaus) from Pep Boys for $79! Automatic, oilless, not too noisy and perfect for airbrushing. I added a small water seperator (already had a pressure regulator on it). You gotta love it! Also, see Harbor Frieght site for good prices. BTW, most compressors are similar if not the same, just sold under different names. Spray Away!

I have the same comp as Martys works really well and is quiet enough for 3:00 am sprays. Only thing I did was and a moisture trap and replaced the lame gauge on the regulator with 1 that is easier to read.

Good afternoon. There are several manufacturers hanging their name on this compressor. I bought my BCP (no name) unit in May of 02 at Target, and since then I have seen the same unit under the names of Delta (Lowes), Craftsman , and Campbell Hausfeld (Walmart). The only difference is the treatment of the motor housing. I had been using propellant and had just purchased the Paasche hobby compressor when I spied this unit.: just what I had been looking for. The Paasche has been retired even though it is like new. The BCP was void of instructions, and I was concerned about the lubricant contaminating the air. However I have done probably 10 to 15 1/72 planes and have not experienced any ill effects yet. I did install a moisture trap, and have yet to accumulate any moisture. I am not familiar with the seperator about which you speak., and would appreciate any further description. As for the operation of the unit, It kicks off at 90 psi, and then kicks back on at 75 psi. It is rather noisy but probably no more than any other compressor, and it can surprise you if you're not expecting it to kick in. The unit hardly vibrates, to the point that I can walk away from the unit and leave it unattended. I am somewhat disappointed with the regulator, I would like to see a finer adjustment on the pressure. Maybe I just need more practice.

QUOTE: Originally posted by lizardqing2 [snip] It is quite enough that I turned it on in the living room 15 feet from the kids bedroom when I got it and it did not wake them up. [snip]

All I have to say is that your kids must sleep like logs! I live in a small 1 bedroom apartment with a 12foot x 12foot livingroom.

That Y1000 Husky is very noisy! It is fortunate that it only turns on to fill the tank and since I do not paint often that is great. I've made a cardboard shroud (with vents ) which I hope will cut down on the noise. No complaints from the neighbors yet though!

I should say that this is my first compressor, so I have no basis for comparison.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jeeves Bump for how to attach the moisture trap.....

I don't know if you got your answer. As far as I am to understand it, it has to go somewhere in your airline before you get to your airbrush.

The directions say it has to be mounted vertically, which is a problem if you put it between to hoses. I've "mounted" mine on the cardboard shroud I made.

I am thinking now that I should remount it right at the compressor (using a double sided threaded adapter. That way it would stay vertical and I would have much more hose to work with.

Suggestion. Go to a hardware store that sells compressors. For some reason I would trust the word of a guy at a hardware store over some guy at a department store.

I guess I am one of the fortunate ones.
I found a 20 lb. CO2 tank at the flea mart about 10 years ago for $10.00 and have been going strong ever since.
I do have a Campbell-Hausfeld unit with a 5 gallon tank. Very nice unit. But, if I were going to use it for modeling, I would have it outside and plumb it in through the wall.
It scares the %#$* out of me when I'm working on my vehicle and it starts up!!!!

Randie

QUOTE: Originally posted by ngc7293` I am thinking now that I should remount it right at the compressor (using a double sided threaded adapter. That way it would stay vertical and I would have much more hose to work with.

You can connect directly to the compressor if it is real close to the airbrush, but if you have a fairly long hose from the compressor to where you are painting it is much better to connect the moisture trap as close to the airbrush as possible. The reason being that the airhose can collect moisture in it from heat and pass that moisture on to your airbrush. If the moisture trap is connected directly to your airbrush hose then it collects water much better.

Is there anything solid like a workbench that you can mount the regulator/moisture trap to? That is how I had mine before I bought this silent compressor I have now.

They sell brackets similar to this one that the bowl of the regulator sits into:



I made one with a thin piece of 1/4" wood that I bored a hole into and then mounted it under the edge of a workbench with screws and then sat the regulator into the hole in the wood. I hope this helps some.

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV You can connect directly to the compressor if it is real close to the airbrush, but if you have a fairly long hose from the compressor to where you are painting it is much better to connect the moisture trap as close to the airbrush as possible. The reason being that the airhose can collect moisture in it from heat and pass that moisture on to your airbrush. If the moisture trap is connected directly to your airbrush hose then it collects water much better. Is there anything solid like a workbench that you can mount the regulator/moisture trap to? That is how I had mine before I bought this silent compressor I have now. [snip] I made one with a thin piece of 1/4" wood that I bored a hole into and then mounted it under the edge of a workbench with screws and then sat the regulator into the hole in the wood. I hope this helps some. Mike

Thanks for the info on the hose line. As far as mounting the trap, I don't have the means. Everything is portable or cardboard. I imagine if my spray booth (such as it is) was a little more solid, I could mount the trap there.

I got my compresser really cheap at Wal-mart. Its a Campbell-Hausfeld Quiet Air. It works great so far. It is also really easy to regulate the air pressure. I origanaly had the problem of it turning on it the middle of an airbrush session. But now I learned that I can just turn it off and when I see it getting low on pressure I just turn it back on and it doesn't startle me.

I'll say one thing for the Husky-- I like the fact that you can dial in what PSI you want to spray with-- but it far from quiet....I guess there won't be any late night spray sessions...at least unless the tank is full