After the holidays, I'm always a little compressed!

Went ahead and bought the Airstream compressor.  Out of the box it looked perfect for my needs.Quiet, built in pressure gauge, nice airbrush holder.  Then I used it.  Very disappointed. Does not maintain its pressure setting. After setting at 20psi, depress the trigger and a blast of air and paint comes shooting out and the pressure drops to about 50% of the original setting.  If you keep the trigger depressed, the psi stabilizes but at the lower setting.  In other words, every time you press the trigger, you lose air pressure and get a splatter of paint.  Lastly, the machine nearly vibrated off my desk.

Tried different paint viscosities and different pressure settings. No improvement. My old compressure didn't do this so why did I just spend $130 for a new machine.

Took it back to HobLob.  No problem returning it with the receipt. Looked at the Iwata Smart Jet http://www.iwata-medea.com/index.php/products/smart_jet compressor. With the 40% off coupon, cost about $60 more than the Airstream.  Bought it and so far I am very impressed. Nice even pressure, down to 1psi. Built in moisture trap, quieter and little or no vibration.  Has an auto on/off feature but only at higher psi's.  No problem though. Worked like a regular compressure on lower settings.

BigSmitty

Looks like a little beefier version of Iwata's Silver Jet hobby compressor (beefier by having a 1/8 HP compressor motor vice a 1/10 HP on the Silver Jet).  Can't speak to their compressors, but I have the HP-CS airbrush from Iwata and that thing is bulletproof.

Take a look for yourself.

http://www.iwata-medea.com/index.php/products/silver_jet/

I think if it's only $190 and you have their trademark 40% off coupon, it's a good compressor for the money.

They may in fact be made by the same Ding Hwa Company in Taiwan. Ding Hwa also markets their own brand Sparmax.

While you are over at Hobby Lobby, take a look at their Storm Force compressor. It is the Sparmax TC-2000. It is a much more refined compressor than the Airstream Mini that you are considering, but a little more money. In the long run, the extra investment is well worth it.

Looks like a little beefier version of Iwata's Silver Jet hobby compressor (beefier by having a 1/8 HP compressor motor vice a 1/10 HP on the Silver Jet).  Can't speak to their compressors, but I have the HP-CS airbrush from Iwata and that thing is bulletproof.

Take a look for yourself.

http://www.iwata-medea.com/index.php/products/silver_jet/

I think if it's only $190 and you have their trademark 40% off coupon, it's a good compressor for the money.