Advice on Air Compressor's needed

What brand your compressor is compared to your airbrush is pretty irrelavent. What kind you get will depend on what you want to do with it. If you don't mind noise, or can put it in the garage and run an air line, you might just go with a good wally world or Home Depot comressor. Those have the added benefit that you can use them for filling car tires and running air tools and whatnot. They're cheaper than hobby compressors. Hobby compressors are usually smaller, and much quieter than the other type. The one I got when I got my taxes back cost me 300 bucks, but it came with a regulator and water trap/filter, extra hoses, and an air tank. The best thing about it is that it's super quiet, you can barely hear it at all. Look at the compressors at Dixie Art's page and see what appeals to you, then go down to the Home Depot and eyeball their compressors and make a general comparison. See what would work the best for you and get that, you won't go wrong that way.

I spent about 150 bucks for Badger 180 compressor. It didn't come with a moisture trap, regulator, or pressure gauge, so that was an additional purchase. It lacks an air tank, but still gives even air pressure, without any pulsating. On the downside, although it was fairly expensive, it is hardly whisper quiet and the the silly thing doesn't even have an on off switch. It's turned on/off by plugging/unplugging it. On the bright side, it thus did provide impetus to build a paint booth with a switched power outlet! Although I have no real complaints about how it works, if the thing ever blows up and needs replacement, I would probaly explore different options. If my booth is still out in the garage where noise doesn't matter too much, I would probably explore the Home Depot option, or if I have my booth inside the house, I would probaly explore a quieter (even if more expensive) option.

You might want to look at an evilBay dealer known as AIRBRUSHCITY, they have a wide variety of brushes (cheapies up to Badger and Paasche) as well as a bunch of various compressors, all with the CORRECT outlet fitting. I have been pretty happy with them, since I can't really afford an Iwata yet!

Brian

maddafinga said it all - it boils down to one thing really.. noise. If you live alone or don't have a problem with noise the $60.00 one from Wal Mart will work fine. If the reverse is true then the other type would be a good bet. (and keep you out of trouble with angry, sleep deprived spouses or roomates!)

Watch the papers for a Michaels 40 or 50% off coupon, that puts their hobby compressors in the same range as the Wal Mart ones... www.badger-airbrush.com has a Thayer and Chandler refurbished compressor with a warranty for $99.00.

good luck to you!

Try Walmart, Home Depot, Tractor Supply Co. Stay away from Hussfield-Campbell. One you can adjust airpressor on. I have a 2 gal. tank Pro Choice. Not real loud, so it won't wake the wife.

I use a cheapy 5 gallon compressor that I have in the basement where I build my models. I put it in another room though, so the noise doesn't scare the bajesus out of me everytime it turns on. I tried those ones without tanks from badger and paasche and they just weren't good at providing steady or adequate pressure for me. Basically get one with a tank, regulator and water trap and you'll be OK.......
Craig