Compressor

As long as it has a regulator and moisture trap. It will probibly be loud as heck though.

As much as I would love for it to be quiet I am just getting into this hobby and new to spray paint I don’t want to spend a fortune and find out I hate it. I am doing it outside in the garage so the sound isn’t too big of a problem. How much does a regulator and moisture trap cost?

Welcome to the hobby, a good regulator can be purchased for under 30.00 easily. I don't recall how much mine was but it may have been 15.00 or less from Harbor Freight. A moisture trap shouldn't be more than 10.00. If your asking about an actual hobby compressor, good ones start at about 150.00. Have fun, ask questions, and HAVE FUN.

Do all regulators work or does it have to be specific to that certain compressor? Same question with the moisture trap?

Yes all regulators work the same way, about the only thing a person has to worry about is will the airbrush line attach or is another fitting required. The moisture trap only works in one direction so there may be no problem putting it in between the regulator and airbrush line.

Just a small tip to help you along. Try to find a regulator that reads well in the lower range, 'cause most of your airbrushing will be done between ten and thirty pounds of pressure. Some of them are intended for air tools and other things that require high pressure, and are much less useful for our application.

If the place you purchase the regulator and trap doesn't have compatible fittings, a good hardware store can set you up with adapters for most any thread combination.

Happy modeling!

Bought one at Harbor Freight that's made for airbrushing, $60 and has a water trap. Just make sure that hose fits your AB. I have about 4 ABs and that hose doesn't fit my Paschae. It does fit Iwata and the Harbor Freight AB. You can get both the HF AB and compressor for about $100. Hobby Lobby has 40% cupon that really helps with purchases like that. PS, the HF is about $20 and is a decent AB to learn on, and it will teach you how to take care of them. That's what I started out on. Just NEVER leave paint in an AB, it's a bear to get cleaned once the paint has dried.