compressor types

The compressor you have will work, providing you have a decent regulator on it as well as a moisture trap. Most airbrushing is done between 5-15 psi, so make sure the regulator can read that low. For cleaning you can crank it up to 35-40 psi. An expensive regulator is way cheaper than a cheap compressor!

I have a "modeling" compressor that is quite noisy, and can barely push out 25 psi. I'm thinking of upgrading to a "garage" compressor that I can leave outside and just run a hose up to the spraybooth. That way I can spray in relative peace and quiet, inflate tires, and use pneumatic tools. I'm dropping hints like mad around my wife for Christmas, but she is either ignoring me, or playing it cool. It's a bit hard to tell them apart!

lol.  thanks for the info.  i know what you mean about the christnas hints.  my family is the worst but i usually end up surprised and getting what i hinting about.

i haven't gotten the compressor yet, i just wondered if there was a certain one i could get that would be better at doing both airbrushing and air tools.  is there one you'd recomend?  i work at home depot (although not with power tools) and i've thought the porter cable compressors would be the best but i don't really know many other brands.

if you're going for a contracter style compressor they all are about the same.. in fact a lot if not most of them are probably made by the same company... I got mine at lowes for like $70 and it works great.  A little noisy but it works.  You could leave it in the garage and get a 50' or so hose for it and be away from the noise that way.  Either way the noise isn't too terrible and my wife doesn't even notice it really when she is in the other room.  You could probably leave the regulator that comes with it on and use it to airbrush.. the markings are in about 5psi increments but all you need to find is your "sweet spot" where it sprays like you like it and remember that...

I say get the one at Home Depot so you get the employee discount.  I recommend one with an airtank as well... it helps even out the air flow as well as providing a reserve so it doesn't need to stay on all the time.  An added benefit is if you have other people in the house you can turn off the compressor and airbsuh for awhile with the reserve.. it will last for base coating an entire 1/48 fighter most times.

Oh I recommend a water trap/filter as well... about $15.00 or so...   you don't want water on fresh paint being spewed out of your airbrush!  Put it closest to your airbrush, which means anchored to your desk if you use the 50' hose, if you put it in the house then connected to the regulator is ok...

I just reread your post and you don't yet have a compressor, d'oh!

The one I'm dropping hints for is a 100psi Husky with a 3 gallon tank, there's a Delta 100psi with a 2 gallon tank that would suffice. I've showed both of them to my wife, and everytime we go to Home Depot (we're renovating our home, so that's more often than you might think) I go and stare at the Husky. Oddly the US store doesn't seem to carry it. The smallest one I see is a 4 gallon tank which would still work.

It's like we're opposites. I have an airbrush and small compressor and want a bigger compressor and a pneumatic brad nailer (reference renovating house above!). My plan includes a foot switch so I can turn the compressor on and off. I already have a regulator and moisture trap mounted on my spray booth, and the 25' hose that comes with the compressor would just fit.

Wish I knew somebody at Home Depot so I could get the discount, too!

I just went out and a 2 gallon compresor has 2 gauges one tell how nuch pressur is in the tank the second is the gauge for the out going pressur its not as noisey as a full size one it sounds like one of those portible emegancy air cmpresur and for 45.99  copared to harbor frates air brush compresor for 99.99 i can deal with a little noise besides ill let the tank fill and turn it off until i need fill it back up. Bought the 2 Gallon at Pay n Save affilited with cheker auto they have some good deals.