Recomend me a decent but inexpensive Air Compressor

harbor freight. im currently using one with no problems. always coupons going around. keep a look out. i got mine for $60.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-8-eighth-hp-40-psi-oilless-airbrush-compressor-93657.html

as for the enamel and acrylics, i personally use a acrylics. mainly because i airbrush in my room with the window open that gives good ventilation. enamels give a harsh odor. i wouldn't use them in an area without ventilation. but, i do sometimes spray enamels because i got a good amount of them. since your doing armor i will say tamiya acrylics will be your best bet. im not an armor builder but i know tamiya has some awesome armor colors.

CBennett

Ok guys im trying to get set up to paint. Never had a airgun and compressor but I asked the wife for one for Christmas. im pretty sure im getting the gun but i told her to hold off on the compressor. I need to know what to get...I wanted to stay in the $100 range give or take....any suggestions...

If quality is not an issue, you can google shopping for "airbrush compressor": http://www.google.com/#q=airbrush+compressor&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=shop&ei=MdLJTo32EeGi2gXVuZTHDA&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=6&sqi=2&ved=0CGwQ_AUoBQ&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=3a7c3e252db8fe33&biw=1022&bih=680

wow thanks for the reply! I think thats a great price...I was hoping there was going to be something decent in my price range. And on the paints...also thanks.. back when I was doing Models heavily it was pretty much Enamel or nothing..honestly back then I didnt even know they made acrylics :).

Do they make specific paints based on models does anyone know like do they make specific say German WWII acrylic paint kits that would come with the most common colors used in German(or soviet or American) Armor? or do you just have to get close...any good places to get these paints?? I THINK the base on my JagdPanther should be a yellow color do they make specific colors like JagPzr yellow or do i just have to look at a bottle and come close??

If quality is not an issue, you can google shopping for "airbrush compressor":

I did that but what I was hoping was from personal experience that on one of the less expensive ones someone here would have some first hand experience and be able to help me weed out/eliminate some of those and get to one that actually worked well..I did that search and came up with so much that thats why i had to ask for what people here thought...I figured someone here has had some first hand experience with specific under $100 models and had good or bad experience with them so I was hoping for some of their advice on what to get OR even better yet avoid :)..I asked this question on a few other places(not modeling forums) and got the...if you dont spend at least $300+ you wont get anything good routine..and I knew that was ...well to put it nicely false..

CBennett

keilau

If quality is not an issue, you can google shopping for "airbrush compressor":

 

I did that but what I was hoping was from personal experience that on one of the less expensive ones someone here would have some first hand experience and be able to help me weed out/eliminate some of those and get to one that actually worked well..I did that search and came up with so much that thats why i had to ask for what people here thought...I figured someone here has had some first hand experience with specific under $100 models and had good or bad experience with them so I was hoping for some of their advice on what to get OR even better yet avoid :)..I asked this question on a few other places(not modeling forums) and got the...if you dont spend at least $300+ you wont get anything good routine..and I knew that was ...well to put it nicely false..

No, you don't need to spend $300 to get something decent. But it is a stretch to keep it under $100. Compressor is one of those item that you get what you pay for. You want one that runs quietly and cool. A cheap compressor may run quietly when new, but may not last long. You can tell by letting it run continuously for 20 minutes. It should no more than warm to the touch. If it is hot to the touch, not so good.

The closest to $100 name brand is the Hobby Lobby Airstream Compressor, at about $110. It is similar to the Iwata Silver Jet, also made by Sparmax, but slightly more powerful. It should work ok with most gravity feed airbrushes. A really decent airbrush compressor with established track record in reliability will likely to set you back in the $160-200 range.

Other under $100 compressor options will be house brand units from Paasche, BearAir or TCPGlobal. They all come from China. They should run well and quietly when new and have the customer service of a reputable vendor. But the made-in-China compressor may have quality control issues. They also tend to run quite a bit hotter than the like of Iwata, Revell, Sparmax compressors.

I've been using the one listed above from Harbor Freight for about 6 months now. Not a long time but I haven't had any problems. It comes with a spare piston ring that's fairly easy to change if needed. I  used an Iwata Sprint Jet for 6 years and that's what gave up on it. The ring is the same on both compressors and I was gonna put the spare on the Iwata to get it going again but I like the auto shutoff on the Harbor Freight so I didn't.  When this one dies I'm either going to build one from a refrigeration compressor or switch to a CO2 system.

Tony

I bought a TC-20 fom TCPGlobal about a year ago and it has worked fine so far. I mainly spray Acrylics. It is small, quiet and costed me under $100 with freight included. Working pressure is about 10 to 50 psi, which is more than enough for Acrylics. I mainly use MM Acryl.

thanks for all the answers so far guys. I just want to be sure to get something decent.

I will have to say that the Chinese compressor are improving too. A good indication of the durability is how hot the cylinder head gets. I have this general rule of thumb. Force the compressor to run continuously for 30 minutes. If the cylinder is only warm to the touch, it is very good. If it is hot, but you can keep your hand on it, not too bad. If the cylinder head is too hot to keep your hand on it, it is a bad unit.

You can do a better test with a laser thermometer. Under 110°F, very good. Over 140°F, not acceptable.

Because the Chinese compressor varies widely in quality control, the result is not very predictable. It is best to find a local vender with good return policy. Test the unit at home. If not good, return it.

I recently did a little write-up on a FongHua Bida (AS186) compressor with tank. It is $40 US dollar plus shipping from Northern Tools in the US. No a bad deal for infrequent user.

any other idea on where to get this. Northern Tool says "

Item# 123009 is no longer available.

I recently bought a Starmax T-2000 at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon with which I have been very satistied.  I believe this is the company that makes the Iwata compressors.  It will set you back about $200 bucks, but there are no CHEAP and GOOD compressors that I have found.  Quality will cost ya.

I recently did a little write-up on a FongHua Bida (AS186) compressor with tank. It is $40 US dollar plus shipping from Northern Tools in the US. No a bad deal for infrequent user.

CBennett

any other idea on where to get this. Northern Tool says "

Item# 123009 is no longer available.

As far as I can tell, the Airbrush Depot TC-20T is the same compressor. There are some positive feedback on the 20T compressor at this forum. But you have to pay more than at Northern Tools.

Northern Tools apparently has one shipment of the airbrush compressor each year. Different models at different year. But it always went very quickly because they typically charge half of other airbrush specialist vendors. They sell the higher end models compared to Habor Freight which sell the cheapest they can get. You can sign up for their email promotion. However, don't expect the next shipment until summer 2012.

If you really want a decent compressor, look at the ones at Hobby Lobby. Their top 2 model are both excellent values. To me. spending $200 or so on a compressor that last many years IS inexpensive.

I have been using the 1/8 hp Harbor Freight compressor for 18 months with no problems. It works fine, the air regulator is very easy to use and the moisure traps is easy to purge.

It is advertised to go up to 40 psi, but 30 psi is the most substained psi mine will do. But I usually spray at 15 psi and only use 30 psi when cleaning my airbrush.

With the other stuff i have going a $200 compressor isnt in the works

Senco PC1010.  Available at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Senco-PC1010-1-Horsepower-1-Gallon-Compressor/dp/B0000AQK78

It's a bit over your stated budget at $119, but I've had it for over a year and it's an excellent compressor.  It advertises as 'ultra quiet', but I wouldn't go that far.  To me 'ultra quiet' is reserved for compressors based on refridgerator units, typically sold by SilenAir.  If you keep it in a room dedicated to your crafting and keep the door closed, people elsewhere in the house won't know it's on, but it's certainly noisy when you're sitting right over it.

The tank makes it an excellent AB compressor, though.  I don't trust models without one... you have to deal with at least some pulsation, and moisture is a much more evident threat.  You have to drain any moisture out of the tank every time you use it or risk rust, but the cheap disposable dessicant filter I've got hooked up on the outbound side hasn't even thought about changing colors in over a year of use.  The tank seems to be acting as a giant moisture trap since the air gets compressed there initially, and not in the AB feed hose.

The tank also means the compressor itself simply doesn't run that often, unless your blasting primer on a 1/200th scale ship or something similar. 

Very happy with it.

CBennett

With the other stuff i have going a $200 compressor isnt in the works

Understand. There are quite a few house brand compressor that can work well for you at under $100. Do a search on "compressor" on this forum and do your homework. You should do well.

If the manufacturer does not state the noise level in their product spec, don't buy it.

Most of the modern airbursh compressors by Iwata, Sparmax, or similar brands have noise level between 53-59 dBA. They are quiet enough to hold normal conversation while the compressor is running. Select a model powerful enough to provide 0.7 CFM at 40 psi or more/higher and auto-on/off switch. Airbrush Depot and BearAir have house brand compressor that are closer to your budget. Buy a model that comes with a moisture trap and regulator. It is nice to buy a model with air tank, but it is not necessary if the compressor is powerful enough to eliminate pulsation.

Good luck. And come back to share your experience, good or bad, to help others.

Thanks I will keep the noise ratings in mind.