Compressor Questions

keilau

Thanks for the recall info. I checked mine and its actually a 6 gallon and the model number is not in the listed recall range. I will call CH on Monday just to double check. Seems like some of the Chinese made goods have health and safety issues.

plastickjunkie wrote:

My small compressor took a dump a while back and began using the Campbell Housefeld 10 gallon one in my garage. I just drop the preassure down. I actually get better results with my Badger using this method than when I used the smaller compressor.

Early in 2008, Campbell Hausfeld recalled a quarter million compressors that were imported from China. You can check your model at this link. This includes the Campbell Hausfeld and the Husky brand sold at Home Depot.

Campbell Hausfeld used to be a reliable name in the compressor industry with 165 years history. But they seemed to have abondoned the professional market in recent years and concentrated on the consumer market. Their low end compressors are so low in horsepower and high in noise, it is not even good for driving a nail gun. Some of the better low power tool compressor can be used for airbrush and quiet enough to sit in the next room. But I cannot recommend another Compbell Hausfeld.

Compressor technology is very mature. Every household in the US are likely to have at least two super quiet and efficient compressor motors, one in the refrigerator and one in the air conditioner. You can buy one of this quiet compressor for less than a hundred dollars and build your own super quiet airbrush compressor if you are a handy welder. Otherwise, manufacturers such as SilentAire Technology or Jun-Air which make high quality compressor for professional use, such as dental office, also market their low end for airbrush use. These super quiet compressor usually starts at $500 and up.

The typical piston driven airbrush compressors that you find at craft dealers such as BearAir, DixieArt, AirBrush-Depot etc. starts at $120 and up. The good ones are quiet enough to be used next to your workbench and enough of power for airbrushing. Read the FSM article that I cited before or read other user's experience on this forum.

Hi Keilau,

Just saw this thread, and although I don't have an airbrush (yet), I found your advice and summary on compressors one the best I've seen (and will keep in mind when I do get around to getting an airbrush).  Thanks for posting it.

Cheers, Rick

mbuk wrote:

Is a compressor with a tank absolutely necessary? I've heard "pulsing" can be a problem without a tank. Does pulsing cause much of a problem?

Yes, compressor pulsation WILL cause problem. You can still run into it when you pay premium for an older design diaphram type compressor. (This older compressor usually does not have airtank because they are too low powered to fill a tank.)

However, most modern designs of airbrush compressor do not have pulsation problem. You can find good reference in the July 2008 issue of FSM where they reviewed a number of small airbrush compressors. Some of them work better than others and the expensive ones are not necessary the better ones.

Find a compressor which can provide 0.7 CFM AT 45 psi or higher stably, you are set. (If you have a gravity feed airbrush, you may be able to get by with less compressor power than this.) An airtank is nice to have, but not necessary. Pulsation does not exist when you get a properly designed, piston driven airbrush compressor.

Be wary about compressor specification that says 0.7 CFM max and 45 psi max. It simply means that the flow is 0.7 CFM at near zero pressure and 45 psi at NO flow.

Is a compressor with a tank absolutely necessary? I've heard "pulsing" can be a problem without a tank.

Does pulsing cause much of a problem?

I'm really looking for advice as to what specs are needed to use with a Badger 200NH.

Does anyone out there use this airbrush with a compressor that works well?

Looking for something to suit this airbrush.

Thanks.

Have you looked here:

http://www.tcpglobal.com/airbrushdepot/compress.aspx

Or here:

http://www.harborfreight.com/  (Do a search on compressors)

-Jesse