Thoughts on a good air compressor

I have a Smart Jet and love it. Very quiet and ultra reliable. You can get a brand new Smart Jet for less than $260 at Chicago Airbrush or Amazon.

All listed are nice. I have the Sparmax TC620X and quite like it. Twin piston and only $299 shipped from

http://www.dixieart.com/Sparmax_Compressors.html

Looks similar to the Acheive TC610H but for the twin piston.

I have the Iwata Silver Jet.  Had it about a year. I paid somewhere around $115.  At first I was bothered by the fact that I only could get 15 psi in operation with my airbrush.  That is fine for gloss, but I used to use 20 psi for flats.  A month or so ago I decided to add a t-fitting to the output fitting so I could have both my SA and DA brush hooked up simultaneously.  This time I wrapped all the male threads with teflon plumbing tape.  Problem fixed! get about 25 psi if I want it now!  Guess the threads were leaking too much air before.  Anyway, really like the compressor. I have it sitting on a rubber mat which makes it even quieter than when I just place it on the wooden cabinet I have next to my workbench.

I have the Badger TC-910.  Amazon has them for less than 290 and free shipping:

www.amazon.com/.../B005UH7CVI

It is small and pretty quiet.  I have been very happy with mine.

John

Thanks all for your answers.

Thing is, I live in Canada so shipping is a real pain.

When people living in the US get free USPS shipping, here in Canada sometimes it's almost 50$ (basic fee, no tracking). This on web site like Chicago Airbrush Supply and TCP Global.

Any opinions on the big Iwata Power jet Pro ? Is it "too much" ?

Assuming that the Sparmax is a TC610-H, it's the best compressor by quite a bit, more powerful that the other & with a 2.5L receiver.. All your choices are ultimately manufactured by Sparmax, so they are all variations on a theme & have the same build quality. The Iwata's tend to be more expensive from new, hence the TC610-H being no dearer than the lower specified Iwata's.

MilairJunkie, the Sparmax is exactly the TC610H

Someone else (I think it's Bish) said he has the TC620, which is twin piston. Anyone can explain the difference please ?

Twins are generally smoother running (mechanically) than comparative singles, in a compressor without tank they can offer smoother airflow (less pulsation) & dependent on the particular set up they may offer more power.

The 620 used to be the TC620 with a 3.5L receiver, this has now been replaced by the TC620-X which has the same motor/pump, a 2.5L receiver & a curved front with top mounted regulator.

In comparison the 610 & 620 offer virtual identical performance (same fill & recharge times with 2.5L receivers) & I assume that the RPM on the 620 may have been reduced to extend the useful life of the unit. Although the two compressors have quoted noise level that are similar, in real life the 620 is the quieter of the two, producing a deeper & slightly less obtrusive sound than the 610.

Hope that's of some use.

Hi JayF,

It was me (Bick) who has the TC620X and I said "I quite like it" but I could have said 'its wonderful' or 'I really, really like it' or even 'I love it (a little stretch)'.  Sparmax make really nice compressors and as Milairjunkie said "all are variations on a theme". Iwata likes them enough to put their name on them. I just wanted to add a thought , please give consideration to one that has a tank (or receiver) like the TC610. I was happier after I did.