Another option? A nitrogen or CO2 tank.
Paul Boyer uses CO2, and I use a nitrogen tank to run my airbrush. I bought the regulator, and essentially rent the tank. A welding-supply store near here supplied everything I needed, including the how-to info.
The tank lasts a looooong time, and a tank-pressure gauge helps me keep track of how much gas is left. Even as much as I build, I only go through a couple of tanks a year. I have an old Badger piston compressor on-deck just in case I ever run out mid-project, but it hasn't happened yet.
The nitrogen tank's silent, and I can throttle it anywhere from 1 to 1000 psi (just before the airbrush blows up, I'm guessing, but you get the idea). The hugely variable air pressure does make a lot of different effects possible.
When the tank runs down, I drop off the empty and exchange it for a full one. I did so over the weekend, and it took 10 minutes and $20.
Something to think about, and I hope this info helps.
Matt Usher @ FSM
