Compressor Recommendations

hey, there is certainly nothing wrong with that paache H friend, you have a very nice and efficient tool in your hand. as far as compressors go, if you don't need a silent type, i'd steer clear from the hobby type compressors just because they charge 3 prices for them and all they do is pump air!! i'd go to home depot/lowes/sears and look for a small 2.5 hp compressor. according to the room that you have, you can find many compact models and the larger ones as well. i have a "Companion" compressor that is 2.5hp with a 7 gallon tank that i keep under the carport far from the modelling room and just ran a hose from it to my modelling room where it hooks into the filter/regulator and out to my brush. but, if you need something quiet, then prepare to pay dearly unless you can find a good deal on ebay or somewhere similar. good luck. BTW, anything that i ever bought from the iwata line was top notch. later.

Welcome to the forum ROK.

What are you wanting in a compressor?
Chris gave you some good guidelines to go by and there are some good deals out there on quiet compressors also, such as the Thayer & Chandler Airstar V which Badger has for $99 for a reconditioned one with a 6-month warranty.

Mike

I'm using a Makita Mac700. Oil-lubed 2 hp 2.6 gallon tank for $180. If you're careful & pay close attention to what you're doing, it even has two adjusting screws for cut-in & cut-out pressure in the switch box in case you don't like the factory settings. I airbrush with it any time I want with 3 other people and 1 pomeranian living here, and they're never bothered by its sound.

I'm using a Lowes industrial style compressor I got for 77 dollars... it's a bit noisier than the type you are talking about... but I usually fill up the 2 gallon tank and turn off the compressor and use the air in there... it usually lasts a good bit.. when it get's down to about 60psi in the tank I crank her up and fill it again... so far the wife hasn't complained... in fact I've even filled it when she was watching TV and she never said a word..

If you want quiet go with a modelling brand... if you want budget and still works good, an industrial style compressor works fine... you'll just have to change the pressure gauge on it to on that has 1 PSI increments on it.

All above are very good. some more good ones: Silentaire, Badger whirlwind, Iwata sprint jet/smartjet/powerjet, Mako Shark (made by Iwata)

Hi,

Many thanks to all of you for the information. A lot of great ideas. I was a bit wary of those compressors mainly geared for air tools but with the guidelines suggested I'll give them a good look.

Thanks again!

ROK

What is your price range for a compressor, how much noise can you stand and how interested are you in making plastic models?

Have to agree with roosterfish.
My 2nd Compressor set me back $450, my first was more like $170.

Both are good and do the job, difference is the noise level that they give off and how long I can run them.
My 1st Compressor has no tank and is NOT silent, the 2nd has the tank, auto-switch off and is silent but needs oil(pricey) refills from time to time.

Really depends on your needs and your budget.

BTW, nearly went for a compressor that cost $900, when a few guys in the shop told me that they are using my current compressor(2nd) and it fulfills our needs better than the more expensive one and has a very similar performance level.

i have a testors AC700 and i think it is pretty good for now

I don't currently have an airbrush but am getting one for Christmas (either a Badger 360 or 155), I plan on using my 2.5 HP Campbell Hausfield compressor with a 4 gallon tank. It has a regulator on it but I figured I would get a second regulator with a moisture trap to fine tune the air output. It's kind of loud, but once the tank fills up after about a minute, I should be able to do any painting job I want with the air in the tanks.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337 Mako Shark (made by Iwata)

Wrong. It is made for Medea not Iwata.

Mike

QUOTE: I plan on using my 2.5 HP Campbell Hausfield compressor with a 4 gallon tank. It has a regulator on it but I figured I would get a second regulator with a moisture trap to fine tune the air output. It's kind of loud, but once the tank fills up after about a minute, I should be able to do any painting job I want with the air in the tanks.

Good plan, and it's pretty much what I do. Mine is on the other side of the basement with a 50' hose going to my bench. I have a second regulator and moisture trap at my bench and everything works fine that way. Depending on the pressure in your tank you should be able to get about 30 minutes of painting before you need to repressurize it. Mine is a 5 gallong and pressurizes to 140 psi. I spray at about 15 psi and clean my brush at about 40 psi. I can get 30-45 minutes easily.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity QUOTE: I plan on using my 2.5 HP Campbell Hausfield compressor with a 4 gallon tank. It has a regulator on it but I figured I would get a second regulator with a moisture trap to fine tune the air output. It's kind of loud, but once the tank fills up after about a minute, I should be able to do any painting job I want with the air in the tanks. Good plan, and it's pretty much what I do. Mine is on the other side of the basement with a 50' hose going to my bench. I have a second regulator and moisture trap at my bench and everything works fine that way. Depending on the pressure in your tank you should be able to get about 30 minutes of painting before you need to repressurize it. Mine is a 5 gallong and pressurizes to 140 psi. I spray at about 15 psi and clean my brush at about 40 psi. I can get 30-45 minutes easily.

Nice to know I'm on the same page as someone who's been doing this awhile. I've been watching the forums and picking everyone's brain to make sure I was going to do this right. Thanks for the support. Pete

QUOTE: Nice to know I'm on the same page as someone who's been doing this awhile

Yeah, it works just fine. I've got a weird setup because I've actually got two compressors. One is a 5-gallon automatic compressor and the other is an old non-tank compressor that is either on or off, but it's quieter than the big one. If I plan on doing a good bit of work I crank up the tank but if I just want to blow something off I use the quicky non-tank compressor. My bench has a tee fitting and one side feeds the regulator for my airbrush. The other side just goes to a hose with a blow gun on it. I have a moisture trap on the inlet side of the tee so it filters either compressor. I also have a quick disconnect so I can hook up either compressor real easily. It's kind of bodged together, but it's real flexible and works very well.