Question for MikeV or anyone else about larger compressors

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Question for MikeV or anyone else about larger compressors

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 26, 2005 3:13 AM

Hi,

I'm a newbie poster here. I just had a question for MikeV or anyone else that could help. My Holdings mini compressor recently died and I figured that instead of purchasing another painfully expensive hobby compressor, I could opt for a cheaper alternative.

I've been very impressed with MikeV's recommendation of cheap viable alternatives including that fantastic little reconditioned number. However, I'm in Australia and my current options are to either use a heavy duty 2hp belt drive Ingersoll Rand AC that I already own (which I figure to be too powerful for my needs) or a little 2hp direct drive air compressor. It's 1500 watt (200L/min) with 7.27 cfm true air delivery with a 21 litre air tank. It's relatively cheap ($97 AUS) and has a regulator.

Is this overkill for using a small hobby airbrush? I really don't want to fork out another couple of hundred bucks for these mini hobby compressors but I also don't want to buy this 2hp direct drive if it's too powerful for my airbrushing nedds.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated Smile [:)]

Many thanks in advance

Eugen

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MusicCity

Member since
January 2004
From: USA

Posted by MusicCity on Saturday, February 26, 2005 6:43 AM

If you already have a compressor then by all means use it. A large compressor simply means a large volume of available air. It will most likely already have a regulator on it, but if not you will need to add one. I have a 2.5hp compressor and run a 50 foot hose over to my bench. At the bench I have a secondary regulator and moisture trap (not really necessary, more for convenience), as well as a "T" fitting so I can get low pressure air for my airbrush and also high pressure air for blowing off my bench and models.

Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Saturday, February 26, 2005 7:44 AM

ditto... I use a 2.5 hp compressor with a 2 gallon tank and it works fine!!! I got it at the hardware store for about $69 US

oh... and welcome to the forum!! I see this was your first post!

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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MikeV

Member since
April 2003
From: Hayward, CA

Posted by MikeV on Saturday, February 26, 2005 10:46 AM

Eugen,

Welcome to the forum.
I agree with the others.
The size of the compressor doesn't really matter and the fact that it is bigger only means that it can be used for other useful things as well such as running an impact gun, spraygun, nailgun, filling the car tires, etc.
I have a Craftsman 1.5 hp 12 gallon tank compressor that I used for a long time and it worked great. I still have it but rarely use it as I have both a Badger Million-Air as well as a Jun-Air silent compressor.

Mike

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 26, 2005 1:20 PM

I have a coleman, it's 1 hp and has a 2 gallon tank. it works well for airbrushing, as well as air tools.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 28, 2005 12:30 AM

I run my Badger 200 off a cheap and cheerful GMC 1.5HP 40L compressor I bought at Bunnings for $99 (Au$). If GMC has a repair centre close by (as Perth does) you should be able to pick up a non claimed repair or reconditioned unit even cheaper. I did buy an additional water trap and initially had difficulty obtaining the appropriate adapter but it is now working brilliantly and I am very pleased. The biggest problem now is the noise but I turn the compressor on and allow it to come up to pressure before returning to the workshop to spray. Because of the capacity it rarely repressurises more than once or twice (even for big spray jobs) a session - it does make me jump when it does however!! This compressor comes with one non adjustible and one fully adjustible outlet and is powerful enough to run an automotive spray gun for larger projects (I sprayed my workshop and will use on my R/C planes). Don't feel obliged to buy a purpose designed airbrush compressor. Cool [8D]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 28, 2005 6:01 AM

Guys,

I really appreciate all your suggestions. I did settle on the 2hp direct drive AC after all. I've only just unpacked it, but plan to give it a run by the weekend. The old testors airbrush has had it too. Well......there's a surprise!
(what do they say, when it rains it pours?)
lol

Anyhow, I've saved on the compressor so I can splurge a bit on the airbrush. And no more plastic/siphon ABs either.

Back to the model production line :)

Pz Eugen

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 28, 2005 6:03 AM

Scratchbuilt,

Thanks for the welcome. It's great to be here Smile [:)]

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MikeV

Member since
April 2003
From: Hayward, CA

Posted by MikeV on Monday, February 28, 2005 7:33 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Prince Eugen

Scratchbuilt,

Thanks for the welcome. It's great to be here

By the way, "scratchbuilt" is a ranking not a name. Wink [;)]

Mike

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon

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