compressor advice

Look into a CO2 tank.  10lb lasts a long time, cheap to fill.  Zero condensation and absolutely silent!  No I'm not a salesman.  

The most that is required in adapting most any air compressor is an adapter for the threads your airbrush uses and an appropriate regulator with water trap, it's really not complicated. The complicatiion comes in over thinking it lol !. That said, a lot of people like the California Air Tools compressors. Another one that gets good reviews is the Point Zero airbrush compressor with tank at Amazon fwiw. I have one of their regulators and can attest that it's very well made. I think if I was looking for reasonable quietness for low money and decent quality I would start with one of these two brands vs say Paasche or some other airbrush name brand, though they may also be very good.

My own compressor is a home owners grade portable, noisy compressor with 8 gal tank. The good news is it only needs to be aired up every few days when airbrushing models, the bad news is it's very loud whern I do that. But while I'm painting models it's not even plugged in, so the noise is basically not relevent to me and it can power other kinds of air tools like nail guns and lvlp spray guns for heavier work. And it has the capacity to blow off models with plenty of air left over to paint them ( course you can use canned air and do that too with a small compressor).

Look at the 1/5th HP airbrush compressors on Amazon. I have one I got from there that is a point zero brand. It's very quiet and works just great for the needs of airbrushing and are not expensive. It does vibrate around on my concrete basement floor so I put it in an open box which prevents that.

I use a Craftsman 1 hp compressor with a 3-gallon tank, but I use it to run air tools in the garage, as well as to run my airbrush.  It's noisy, but I live alone, in a single home, so I don't have to worry about disturbing anyone.

One of the guys in our club demonstrated an Iwata compressor that was as quiet as a refrigerator compressor, and it wasn't much bigger.  It had two attachments, so you could have two airbrushes connected at the same time.  He ran it at one of our meetings, which was in a small room, about 20"x20", at the back of a store.  It was really quiet, even in that close setting.

I don't remember the particular model, but I thought that if I were to migrate to a hobby-specific compressor, I'd look at Iwata's catalog, and probably get that particular model.

I know that doesn't help much, since I don't have the specifics, but you might want to look at Iwata's catalog.

Brian Miller

...I want something easy, cheap, and quiet, but I can probably have two of those and not all three. What do you guys use? Thanks.

Hi Brian.

If you just want it for a ab then these tick all your boxes.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Air-Compressor-1-6HP-Pressure-Regulator-3L-Tank-for-Spray-Gun-Air-Brush-AS-186/272570804533?hash=item3f767c6935:g:Q9sAAOSw5qdcJHpo

had mine for about 9 years now with no problems.

Mick.

If I were starting out agian and didn't want to spend big money on a Silentaire I'd get this

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-gallon-05-hp-135-psi-ultra-quiet-oil-free-professional-air-compressor-64592.html

Big capacity for airbrushing and can be used for other tasks around the house if needed.  Goes on sale every once in a while for 10-20 bucks less.

If I knew I would stick to the hobby (or simply had the means)  I'd have just gotten the Silentaire first without buying stuff in between.

Brian Miller

So, I've moving in a few weeks and I'll have my own model room for the first time. I'll also be able to use an airbrush for the first time. I have airbrush, but no compressor. I have no idea what to get. I want something easy, cheap, and quiet, but I can probably have two of those and not all three. What do you guys use? Thanks.

Take a look at this $120 tools compressor at Harbor Freight:

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-gallon-05-hp-135-psi-ultra-quiet-oil-free-professional-air-compressor-64592.html

No, it is NOT ultra-quiet as Harbor Freight would like you to believer. At 57dBA, it is quiet enough for indoor use without causing domestic dispute. It is not much noiser than most "airbrush compressor", but has a much higher air flow rate and potentially more durability. Most important, the price is right. And you can talk normally a few feet from the compressor.

Turn it on at the store to see how you feel about its noise before taking it home.

keilau

Brian Miller

So, I've moving in a few weeks and I'll have my own model room for the first time. I'll also be able to use an airbrush for the first time. I have airbrush, but no compressor. I have no idea what to get. I want something easy, cheap, and quiet, but I can probably have two of those and not all three. What do you guys use? Thanks.

 

Take a look at this $120 tools compressor at Harbor Freight:

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-gallon-05-hp-135-psi-ultra-quiet-oil-free-professional-air-compressor-64592.html

No, it is NOT ultra-quiet as Harbor Freight would like you to believer. At 57dBA, it is quiet enough for indoor use without causing domestic dispute. It is not much noiser than most "airbrush compressor", but has a much higher air flow rate and potentially more durability. Most important, the price is right. And you can talk normally a few feet from the compressor.

Turn it on at the store to see how you feel about its noise before taking it home.

If interested, Harbor Freight has a 15% off coupon for all compressor. Look it up before you go.