Non "Airbrush Company" compressors?

Yeah, why overpay? I use a compressor I built myself 15 years ago and it still works. The heart of it is a compressor module hacked out of an old italian refrigerator. Very quiet, capable of high pressures and I got it for free. It sits in an aluminium frame (for free) connected to a pressure switch (another freebie). It's set to maintain pressure in 0.2 - 0.4 MPa range. Ten years ago it started to run a little hot, so I refilled the oil and it was OK again. The air volume is OK for airbrushes up to Paashe VL, the additional air tank is not necessary (the module housing plus extra line length do the compensation) and using Humbrols I didn't have any problems with the oil residue neither. I say you don't get any better compressor even if you pay a lot of money.

With the cheap compressors the problems you SOMETIMES get are lack of spare parts and excessive noise. So if you watch for theese, you should be OK. Happy modelling and have a nice day

Pawel

I have a cheapo 2.5hp compressor works well for the last 18mnths, but they are noisy so I just fill up the tank and turn it off. The tank lasts at least 3-4 models in the 1/72- 1/35  ranges. My 350 scale yamato hull took about half the tank

Andrew

U use a craftsman air compressor in the garage.  I just turn it way down with a regulator and filter drier.  My airbrush even came with a coupler to connect it to the compressor hose. 

Most of the stuff at Harbor Freight are cheap knockoffs, and there would be a question about longevity. Now it could be that they work just fine and last for 2 or 3 years, and that might be worth the price of replacements. There is not reason they wouldn't work for airbrushes, as long as they push out air. Airbrushes don't really care where the air comes from, as long as it it clean and dry.

These come up pretty often as a question on the forums, and so far people either haven't bothered to get them, or they haven't come back and gave us a report.

You could be the first!