Help with compressor choice...please

welcome to the forums!I say get any of those compressors, I personally like the iwata because... well.... its iwata. same with the airbrush. Omni's are also nice, at less price (hey that rhymes) and thank you for the compliment

i have the hp-cs and love it!! i also have an omni 5000 that i loved but started having trouble with it and didnt feel like going through the hassle of figuring it out and bought the hp-c and hp-cs. the iwata hp-cs is a very nice brush if you have the budget for one. if you dont, the hp-cr will get you by. as for compressor's, the extra cash you pay for a hobby type compressor is rediculous in my opinion. i would check out sears or home depot or something for a minimum 2hp with a 5 or so gallon tank for around 120 bucks and it will do all you need and more. unless ofcourse you need a silent one. i parked my compressor out under the carport and ran a hose to my hobby room. the hose enters the house where is attaches to a moisture trap/regulator which attaches to a psi gauge which attaches to another moisture trap and to my brush. it works and i just barely hear the drone of the compressor as i spray. later.

QUOTE: Originally posted by AmStaff IHere are my narrowed down, compressor, choices : Iwata Power Jet Createx Stealth 5000 Silent Aire Super Silent 20-A Silent Aire Scorpion II TT

The Silentaire 20A is the best hands down in that group, although it is also the most expensive.
I agree with Chris in that unless you need a silent compressor then an industrial type is the best way to go. You can even get one with a big tank and fill it up and then shut it off and have enough reserve to easily paint most models.

QUOTE: Airbrush wise, I am looking at : Iwata Eclipse HP-CS Omni 4000

There are fans of both of those airbrushes and you have to decide which to buy.
I personally see no advantage to the Iwata and it is 50% more money.

Mike

I agree about the industrial. I have a Husky Quiet Air and it is great. Not to loud really and I can pump up a car tire if I need to. And it cost less than $100 too. Only way that made sense to me.

I just recently found an old medical machine that I had to use a while back that is also an air compressor. Its extremely quiet, you may want to check out a medical supply house to see if they sell them but I have no clue how much they go for.

I just set up my Omni 4000 today and did some playing around with it (first time I've ever used an airbrush) and it works beautifully. Even for a newbie like me I can really get some great results. Works very nicely...my only complaint is that the action for releasing color could be a little smoother...sometimes it sticks a little. If I knew more about airbrushing I could probably fix it or figure out the problem though.

Is Badger 175 airbrush any good?

QUOTE: Originally posted by bbaerst I just set up my Omni 4000 today and did some playing around with it (first time I've ever used an airbrush) and it works beautifully. Even for a newbie like me I can really get some great results. Works very nicely...my only complaint is that the action for releasing color could be a little smoother...sometimes it sticks a little. If I knew more about airbrushing I could probably fix it or figure out the problem though.

The Omnis are great airbrushes. I have a 3000 and may get a 4000 soon as I'd like to have a gravity feed brush.

The operation will smooth out as it is used some, but you can also get some airbrush lubricant and use it on the needle and the link behind the trigger and that will smooth it up quite a bit.

QUOTE: Is Badger 175 airbrush any good?

If it does what you want it's a great airbrush! MikeV will certainly be familiar with it. I haven't used one personally, but since it's a double action brush and a Badger it has to be good

QUOTE: Works very nicely...my only complaint is that the action for releasing color could be a little smoother...sometimes it sticks a little

yes, do as scott (musiccity) says and use some airbrush lubricant. you can also adjust the spring tension on the trigger by taking the handle off and unscrewing the spring adjuster (part # T612 on you schematic page) to soften the feel of the trigger a bit. i unscrew mine all the way back til its about to touch the needle chuck (part # T616). that will be a personalized adjustment so you'll have to play with it. later.

Scott is right.
My Omni 4000 was a little stiff at first also and I think it is probably the Calrez needle bearing that you feel. Some lube will make it much nicer.

Mike

QUOTE: [i]you can also adjust the spring tension on the trigger by taking the handle off and unscrewing the spring adjuster (part # T612 on you schematic page) to soften the feel of the trigger a bit.

Doh! I forgot about the tension spring

Hey caseyn5, I use a medical compressor. the psi is rather high, like 35 or so, so you need a regulator, but the goo news is that it is the standard 1/4 unc thread.

Thanks for the informative replies.
Maybe the 'commercial' compressor is the way to go. I do like the quiet of a 'hobby' compressor, though.

I'll let you know what I decide.