Need help selecting a compressor for airbrushing :D

AlphaEtOmega

The big difference I can spot between the 6310 and the 1650A are:
- Materials: Steel compared to Aluminum
- 6.3-Gal compared to 1.6-Gal
- Minor thing: Weight, Wheels, etc
- But more importantly I am not sure if the 1650A has a water trap as it doesn't say in the Home Depot description.

You missed the most important factor, the noise level, which made the 1650A model popular with modelers. It is more than twice as quiet (-4 dB) as the other two you are considering. The aluminum tank is a no rust design which will be important to keep the airstream clean in the long run and the lighter weight makes it more convenient for indoor use. The other 2 models are not noisy, just not as quiet.

All 3 models has a regulator and dual pressure gauges which is very good. But they do not have moisture trap. You will want a higher quality, diaphram type regulator near the workbench anyway, which comes with a mositure trap in most cases. It is important that you do not get the cheap regulator from China on Ebay. They are not real regulator, just an adjustable orifice with a gapping hole.

Choice for Airbrush:
1st) Badger 155
2nd) Iwata Eclipse HP-CS / Badger Krome
3rd) Everything else mentioned
4th) Everything not listed

For many years, Badger has been advertizing that the most important spec of an detail airbrush is the "linear air flow angle", the smaller the better.

http://www.badgerthayer.com/renegade.html

In recent years, they market the new head series (NH, 155/105) for mass market such as cosmetics and cake decoration which do not require the same quality and accuracy. It allowed them to be very competitive price wise. But they still continue to make the legacy series (100/150) and the high end Renegade series for the more demanding users. Ironically, I found that the higher priced Krome is much easier for beginner to learn from than the cheaper NH series airbrushes.

Personally, I do not like the touchy, quick release type trigger of the Patriot airbrush. You barely touch the trigger and the paint comes out in a hurry. It needs much more skill for the user to gain finer control. The Krome trigger is very different in nature with a long linear stroke that makes it easy to control and learn from for modeling.

Alpha - My California Air Tools compressor is the 1610A, (Cat.#4231,) did not come with water trap. I bought one from them to include with the shipment, good unit, but installed directly from the air supply coupling it is a good bit too tall to clear the tank below. For now a six inch nipple extends the trap over the end of the tank. Next time I'll replace the taller trap with a shorter one, so it's weight can be suspended closer to the supply coupling.

The aluminum tank doesn't cause me concern, the max pressure is low enough that it's not a real strain for it to contain. I learned about Cal. Air Tools from a very knowledgeable friend, (Don Wheeler,) then in checking with some commercial craftsman friends, I further learned of their reliability and industrial quality construction. On the job they are given hard use and take a beating, holding up very well. After using it for a while I must say I'm very satisfied with it, it's even better than I had hoped for.

The lighter weight of this model is important to me, as I move it between two locations depending on weather. At 73 years my mobility is getting a bit more restrictive, this unit is easy enough with convenient handle and balance of weight, for me to move it about with little effort. I enthusiastically recommend this compressor, speaking from experience with it.

I bought my Badger 155 with all three tip and needle sizes, great rig, completely happy with it, but seldom used. I have found my 100G, 200 and 200NH to be my go to brushes. If as you say you are doing single color spraying, the simpler brush you can find that does all that you really need is,  (I think,) your better choice, The 200 and 200NH are great tools, uncomplicated, superb application of paint, among the easiest to use, maintain and clean. The 155 is not actually complicated, but does require a few more steps for both application and cleaning. I'm not really discouraging the 155 selection, but still I feel it may be more than you actually need for a first airbrush, given your intended use. Just my thoughts.

Hope this gives you some more help in deciding. Best of luck with whatever choices you make.

Patrick

wow they have really jacked the prices up on them California air tool compressors. I bought a 1610A last year from Home Depot and it only cost a bit over a 100

Hello everyone thank you for your replies they have been very insightful.

I will definitely check out Chicago Air Brush Supplies, TCP Global, and Home Depot for my purchases, which was my main concern on where to get it.

I was decided on a compressor which was the California Air but am currently still researching.

The one I was also referring to for clarifications was the 6310 model shown here.
But am comparing it to the 1650A version shown here and linked by keilau.
Then there is the 4610 version as patrick206 has recommended, shown here.

The big difference I can spot between the 6310 and the 1650A are:
- Materials: Steel compared to Aluminum
- 6.3-Gal compared to 1.6-Gal
- Minor thing: Weight, Wheels, etc
- But more importantly I am not sure if the 1650A has a water trap as it doesn't say in the Home Depot description.

Alternatively I was then thinking it may be better for a cheap compressor from TCP Global as Geezer and BlackSheepTwoOneFour has mentioned, for the sake of learning encase if anything goes wrong since im still learning and am not confident on how to use the compressor or what I would have to look out for like heat emitting/temperature, PSI, water gauge, etc.
I would have to read up on the specifications of their compressor choices again though.

As for airbrushes:
I will most likely get the Badger 155 as BarrettDuke and patrick206 recommended, and from reading online people (including keilau here, also recommend this over the Badger 105 at least.

Otherwise am considering getting the Iwata Eclipse HP-CS but am considering price for it and the cost due to the more so expensive California Air Compressor compared to the Badger, Iwata and TCP Global one's

TL;DR Ver.
Thanks everyone for helping!

Choice for Compressor as of now:
1st) California air variation (no order)
--  6310
-- 1610A
-- 4610
2nd) TCP Global compressor that is around $100
3rd) Everything else mentioned (Iwata Smart Jet)
4th) Everything not listed

Choice for Airbrush:
1st) Badger 155
2nd) Iwata Eclipse HP-CS / Badger Krome
3rd) Everything else mentioned
4th) Everything not listed

Whoops
Double Post!

Not sure how to delete D:

AlphaEtOmega

My Airbrush choices so far are:
Badger 105 Patriot (probably this one?, replacement parts are cheaper too)
Badger Krome (heard this one is harder to use)
Iwata Eclipse HP-CS (heard this one is really good, but nozzle is smaller/fine)
Other recommendations? Which do you guys recommend?

My favorite among these is the Iwata HP-CS. It is an excellent allround airbrush for modeling.

The Badger Krome is equally well designed for modeling. I have no hesitation to recommend either.

The Badger Patriot 105 is not in the same league of the above two. If you choose the Patriot due to budgetary reason, make sure that you get the one with the ultra-fine needle. Even with that, it lacks the quality and refinement of the above two. I had all three and you can search my comments on them.

The choice of an airbrush is very personal. It is best if you can try the balance, the trigger action etc. before making the decision. 

My compressor choices so far are:
Badger TC910 Aspire Pro (probably this one?)
Iwata Smart Jet
CALIFORNIA AIR TOOLS - Portable Air Compressor Ultra Quiet Oil-Free Steel Tank (6.3 Gal)
Other recommendations? Which do you guys recommend?

Not sure which California Air Tools model you have in mind. The CAT 1650 A is one of the best value for the money and very quiet too. See the discussion at ARC:

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=271509&st=0&p=2574268&hl=california%20air%20tools&fromsearch=1&#entry2574268

The Badger TC910 is another of the made-in-China compressor. You can get the identical compressor from other house brand at half the cost.

Come back to let us know how you decide and how it works out for you.

Alpha - Just some general thoughts from me.

For airbrushes I use almost exclusively Badger, 100G, 155, 200, 200NH. Paasche VJR. If you're doing mostly figures a 200NH might well be all you need, simple and reliable workhorse, or the 155 for double action could be a good fit. There are so MANY great airbrushes out there, but I have learned the simplest and most durable to be the best for me, not much need for buying more than you actually will require.

Compressors: I have used Badger and Coleman diaphragm (SP?) They did the job well and lasted a long time, but were awfully loud, to the point of being uncomfortable. I recently bought the twin cylinder California Airtools  excellent, powerful and so quiet. Wish I'd learned about them 40 years ago, wouldn't hesitate to buy another if needed.

I bought the compressor through Home Depot online store, don't know if you have them in Canada. It was US $170, including shipping.

Good luck finding what you need.

Patrick

You can find nice air compressor/airbrush combo sets as well.

I bought this last year at TCP Global website last year:  www.tcpglobal.com/itemdetail_AB.aspx

The only thing I had to get was the adapter for my Paasche airbrush hose for this compressor.

They carry most major brand airbrushes as well. Check it out...

Any of those airbrushes will work. Search for Don Wheeler or google him. Great airbrush resource and a heck of a nice guy.

I have a tc20t - very similar to many small compressors but with a tank. Seems to get the job done. May even be able to find a combo kit with the badger a/b

Alpha, You've done your homework well. I think you'd do well with any of the selections you mentioned. I use a Badger 155, it just seemed more versatile. When I buy a second AB, it will be a gravity feed, like the 105. I use an Iwata Smart Jet. It is very quiet. I wish it had an airtank, though, with a pressure regulator. I'll buy one for it some day. You can control the air pressure on the Smart Jet, but it's a little involved. It's very compact, has some minor design issues that don't affect functionality, but for noise issues, it's hard to beat, and the price is fantastic. I bought it from Chicago Air. Delivery took a few days.