?'s about air compressors...

That specification relates to the volume of air that it will provide. Air pressure and volume, in the context of compressor specifications, are related in that the higher the volume of air typically the lower the maximum pressure that is available. That spefication states that at pressure of 40 psi it will provide 1.7 scfm (Standard Cubic Feet per Minute) but at 90 psi it drops down to 1.4 scfm.

The compressor PROBABLY has a regulator on it to adjust the outlet pressure but you need to insure that it does. If it doesn't you will need to add one.

Also, 77 decibels is not quiet. If quiet is an issue ask them to plug it in and let you hear it run first.

Thanks for the help, Music City. So overall do you think this would be a good choice? Of course I would check first to make sure it had a regulator. Thanks again!

At my work there is a BIG old compressor of some sort which our PC service department uses to blow dust out of old computers (you wouldnt beleive what we've seen inside some of them).

It has a really, really big air tank. There is no pressure regulator that I can see but a pressure switch/relay automatically turns the compressor on/off to keep the tank about about 40psi.

If our maintanence guy can adjust the switch so that it keeps the tank at 20psi, and assuming my airbrush hose fittings are compatible, do you suppose its worth trying? I do VERY little airbrushing so I've never bought a compressor but if I could take a model in to work once or twice a year for base coating, I'd be set.

I'm not familiar with it so I don't know for certain. There is certainly enough volume and pressure for an airbrush. An airbrush only needs about 0.75 scfm or less and seldom will you need pressures over 30 psi. I don't know what brand it is but I had a Porter-Cable compressor that died twice before I scrapped it. Once under warranty that took over 6 weeks to fix (and Nashville is less than 100 miles from their plant in Jackson, TN) and again 3 months later.

For a "General Purpose" compressor like that I prefer one with a tank. Mine is a 15 gallon Craftsman. I fill the tank, shut it off, and paint from the air in the tank. In most cases I can paint all day from the air in a 15 gallon tank.

If you want an "Airbrush Only" compressor you might consider the rebuilt Air Star V compressors that Badger always has on their Garage sale site They are rebuilt but carry a 6-month warranty and sell for $99.

There are also alternatives to compressors such as gas tanks. Here Is A Page I wrote about the subject.