Opinions on "very quiet" compressors

One solution might be an air tank (portable one).  Put your existing compressor in garage, a regulator on tank if it doesn't come with one. Pump it up to fairly high pressure and it should last for an evening session of airbrushing. I know of a couple of people who use this approach.

Deskjockey,

Of the ones you mention I can only comment on the Sparmax TC620. I have the TC620X . It's somewhat quieter than a Badger TC910 Aspire (which itself is reasonably quiet). My compressor sits on the workbench where I spray and one can hold normal conversation or hear a radio while it's running; if I close the door to my shop, you can't hear it in the adjacent room. In addition to rubber suction cup 'feet', it has large rubber isolators between motor and tank to reduce noise even further. Not silent but certainly not loud. I think noise is reported at around 50DB but not sure.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys!  

Don--I'm afraid my old compressor really is on its last legs, so the tank option isn't very good.  I can't get it to pressurize more than 50 PSI because of the leak, and it gets worse every time I use it.  After nine years, it's time put put this $60 machine out to pasture.

Bick--thanks for the info on the Sparmax.  I hadn't seen much info on that model other than statements that it was quiet, so you've given me the most detailed info on it I've gotten so far.

I went to an Iwata Silver Jet compressor. It was just under $120.  It generally maintains around 15 psi. I used to do flats at 20, gloss at 15, but have been able to alter my technique to use 15 for both.  It doesn't allow a high flow rate at 15, so you can't use it like a spray gun and cover large areas quickly, but that is okay- I like to go slowly when I airbrush.  Sure, I'd like a more powerful yet quiet compressor, but the price was right.

I put my old pancake compressor out in the garage to do tires :-)

For what it's worth, I picked up a cheapo Chinese mfr. airbrush/compressor combo on ebay, all I could afford at the time, hoping the compressor might last six months. Was quite surprised, when I got it, to find that it was literally whisper-quiet. Even more surprised that after 5 years of regular (weekly, at least) use, it's still humming along like a jewel.

[By contrast, the only other compressor I owned, purchased from the Sears catalog in the late '70s, lasted  close to 30 years. It wasn't excessively noisy--about the decibel level of an outdoor conversation--but not as quiet as this one.]

It doesn't actually even have a name, though a quick recce on the internet shows that almost everybody that carries it lists it as model AS18B. My guess is that places like Harbor freight and TCP/Global, and discount web stores, probably carry it.

No warranty expressed or implied, just my own experience.

Most small / medium sized oil free airbrushing compressors are rated somewhere between 48 > 55dbA, but the reality is that in real world terms there isn't much between them. Other than "exotic" & expensive specialised units, no oil free piston compressors are "Ultra Quiet" or silent in comparison to the next - they are all much of a such.  

I would be tempted to stay away from a compressor without an air tank in you situation, as the constant on/off of an automatic unit can be far more irritating & distracting than a tanked model which although running for much the same time, will do so in far fewer (but longer) cycles.

Sparmax & Iwata units are both made by Sparmax, are of fine quality & will last the course, equivalent Sparmax models don't usually have the price tag that that the Iwata units can attract. The Silentaire looks to be typical Chinese fayre & the C.A.T. compressor is a mystery at the moment........

My Iwata is tankless, and hence runs all the time.  However, since it is very quiet, this is not a problem. It also does pulse, but at a very high rate. I was concerned about this, because I could feel the pulsing in the air output, but I find such pulsing does not seem to affect the finish.  I suppose if you move it fast enough, you might see a periodicity in the paint, but generally an airbrush has such low flow rate that you can't move the airbrush that fast and put down paint.

The Silentaire are Italian made, the Super Silent 20A is a oil filled refrigerator compressor, extremely, extremely quiet, but pricey. Check out their website: www.silentaire.com . If you live in the Houston TX area, they sell "seconds" directly from the warehouse at greatly reduced prices.

My Silentaire is pretty quiet, but I'm seriously-considering doing what Don is recommending.  

I think what Don was saying is just replace that dieing compressor with one that can be used for more than just an airbrush and fill a tank to use with your airbrush in the house.  The air pressure will be much more stable, as I can feel the pressure changes as the Silentaire starts and stops.

Gene Beaird,

Pearland, Texas

The refrigerator type compressors are expensive, but when you have had one for a while, there is no turning back. I've had three other different compressors earlier, and CO2, and am happier with my Sil-Air than anything else.

When my kids were young like that and silence was the main factor, here's what I used. Fully charged, I could often get it to last through several painting sessions. When it ran low I'd take it up to the local auto shop and ask to borrow their air line to fill it back up:

Chris

When I had kids at home I would open/close a window and place the compressor outside on a table near the window. I gently closed the window on the power cord and airline coming into the house.

After a few times I had it down to an art and could have it set up in about 30 seconds.

Hello!

You can also try to build your own "fridge" type compressor - I already built three of them babies, the oldest is working for me over 15 years now. More about it here:

cs.finescale.com/.../151920.aspx

Hope it helps, have a nice day

Paweł