Question about Fusion Air Compressor

Greenshirt wrote:

I recently purchased a Fusion Air 2000 online and while it makes noise there is very little pressure.  The spec says max 25 psi and with my old compressor that was the minimum which was really too much.  The gauge never goes above about 5 psi and it never "auto stops" when I stop using the AB.

The compressor seems to be working as expected. You need to describe more accurately on what you saw as the problem. The Fusion Air 2000 is one of the lowest powered compressor, but should be able to drive an Iwata airbrush with regularly thinned enamel or acrylic model paints. Were you NOT able to airbrush at all?

The compressor should stop when it reaches 25 psi before using the AB. It will drop to 10 psi or below and the motor starts running again once the AB is blowing.

All these are normal for a low end compressor like the Fusion Air line.

I followed the instructions (rarity!) for attaching the hose, adapter and fitting that came with it.  My next step is to call the OLHS for a return/replacement as I'm ready to assume I got a faulty unit.

If the air pressure did not go above 5 psi when NOT using the airbrush, the compressor could be defective or the line could be leaking. Check for leak before sending it back.

Am I doing something wrong?  I've never had such a high quality compressor before.

This compressor is at the low end of Iwata's budget line compressors. If you want a high quality compressor, go with the Iwata Smartjet as a minimum or the Iwata Powerjet Pro if you can afford it. If you want a high quality compressor without paying the Iwata price, check out the house brand by Airbrush Depot or BearAir or Paasche. There are many posts on this topic if you do a search on earlier posts on this forum.

You can find Iwata compressor information at their home site.

 

The Fusion has a gauge on it that isn't registering anything, but it's first "value" is about 5psi.  So I must assume the pressure is less than 5psi.

I've tried it with and without the AB connected, no change.  With AB and no paint, some air comes out, but it's very low pressure.  Since the compressor is rated at 25 psi, I'm expecting that much, but not getting it.

I've checked for leaks by putting water around the joints, along the hose.  I even removed all adapters/hose and the pressure seems low.  I put my thumb over the connecter and it feels like a very low pressure.

I chose this compressor because it was demonstrated at the Nationals this year and it fits my needs.  But that assumes it works...

Tim

It sounds like a defective compressor.

Until last year, the low end model of the Iwata compressors was the Silverjet. Then, Iwata added this "Fusion Air" budget line below the Silverjet and markets them through the general hobby stores.

I don't know what is their marketing target, but the specification of the Fusion Air models are way below that desired by the average modelers.

For the price that you paid for the Fusion Air 2000, there are many good quality compressors. You should scan back a few pages of this forum to find what were recommended here.

 

TC-700 BABY....I WUV IT!And having a tank makes all the difference and no pulsing.I never could justify dropping thousands on an AKC Registered dog,when i could get a no name that would always end up being a better dog all around and saved me some coin.(AIRBRUSH DEPOT)and thier staff is quite friendly and know what they sell,and what would fit your needs and your budget.Listen to Keilau,he is kida the compressor guru around here.

Maximus DukusErectus wrote:

Keilau,he is kida the compressor guru around here.

That is absolutely not true. Mike V has very extensive knowledge and first hand experience about airbrush compressors and so are some others. I learned from them.

I know some basic about compressor from using small (~ 1 hp) portable tools compressor and apply them to selecting my second airbrush compressor and adding an airtank to it last year. It aroused my interest and I started collecting information for an AB compressor list. I am an thermodynamics engineer in trade, know something about compression, expansion, noise and that's all.

An airtank is always a desirable feature. If you have a good quality compressore of sufficient power (pressure and air flow), you do not necessarily need an airtank. If you want an airtank, buy a compressor with one. Airbrush Depot has a kit for adding an airtank to an existing compressor. I did that from scratch, it was not cheap nor easy to get it leak proof.

 

Thanks everyone.  I talked with Iwata-Medea and they agreed to repair it.  Off it goes tomorrow.

I already have a large compressor with a tank, but it's noisy and I want something quiet I can use in the basement (proper ventilation of course).  I've purchased a high end booth online and am ready to run the piping from the booth to the outside.  I just needed a nice quiet compressor.  It was demonstrated at last year's Nationals (I bought the Iwata AB) and decided to wait on the compressor when I'd figured out how to lay out the basement. 

Tim