need help choosing a compressor

If noise is not an issue, I'd get a small air-tool compressor, with a tank. You can get one at any home supply/hardware store. I have a Craftsman oil lubricated compressor w/ 2 gal tank. It works great, but is a bit loud (not an issue for me) when it kicks in to recharge the tank.

I would go with the ABD TC-20t. Right now i have a Badger 180-1 and use an aztec 4707 and omni 4000 with it When it wears out i will get something like what you are looking at. Nothing against the vinman buti would not get an air tool compressor they are way too loud even the small 1hp ones but that is my opinion. If you want to hear one of them go to a sears store and have them turn one on! Anyway good luck

 

They are loud, but I have a house and the compressor is on the other side of the basement in relation to my workshop. In the room it's in, it is very loud.

But to give you an idea, I can hear it in my workshop, it's about the same noise level as my oil furnace (much much quieter than the compressor you are looking at.) From the ground floor of my house, it's a soft hum. Not even noticible when there is a TV on.

The beauty is, they are MUCH cheaper: $90-$100 dollars. You get a lot more bang for the buck. And they only switch on every 20-30 minutes of spraying for about 10 seconds to charge up the tank. Other than that, it's off and completetly silent.

I have a regular diaphram compressor and when it's on for a while, it gives me a headache. (It's one of the reasons I went for a compressor with a storage tank.)

I agree with Vinny on this - I currently have a small 1.5 horse compressor in the basement w/a 20 gal tank (it has to be portable - I use it at the airport when I'm working on 1 to 1 aircraft in someones hanger) - in the basement when it's running, it is noticable but not irriatating.  Up stairs, its noticable but it won't wake you up if you leave it on and it starts.

However, if you live in an apartment, or live at home and want to use it in your room, the compressor you are looking at will probably work fine.  If I bought it to use, I would also buy a small tank like you get at an auto supply store to fill tires, remove the regulater from the compressor, run a short piece of hose to one side of a T-fitting installed in the air outlet of the tank and hook the regulator to the other side of the T-fitting.  Then when I wanted to paint, I would run the airpressure in the tank up to 90 or 100 psi, shut off the compressor and start painting.  When the pressure pressure in the tank drops to say 20 or 25 psi, would turn on the compressor and run the pressure back up.

And on a side note, I've noticed that there is a big difference in the amount of noise a regular aircompressor generates when it is on a concrete floor rather than a wooden one

And Welcome to the forum

I'm buying a 2 gallon garage style compressor tomorrow (SWMBO said I could!). I getting a brad nailer with it as we are in the middle of renovating our house. Which, by the the way, people who know better tell me will be where we will be until we sell the home! I have hundreds of feet of baseboard, ceiling and door moulding to install. The compressor is so I can use the brad nailer, and also to fill up the bike and car tires when the need arises.

Yeah, right! It's so I can retire my 20+ yr old diaphram compressor. Since I'm going to run a 50' hose from the outside storage area where the compressor will live, who cares how noisy it is? Well, other than the neighbours, but I won't run it before 9AM and past 9PM (that often). Promise!

Just like thevinman i have a 2 gallon copressor i have a shop out side its actualy a shed and we live in manufactured home and when iam in the shed its about as loud as a gas powerd R/C motor at idle inside the house i can barley hear it and for the price of  $49.99 i cant complane and its oilless the only maintance is empty the tank ofter each use. But i live in AZ so i dont have to use a moistir trap its dry out here. get what you can aford and save up some money to buy what you want.

Thanks for the responses, everyone! Noise is definitely an issue, as I will be working indoors.

So the ABD TC-20 with a tank sounds good? What, exactly, does the tank do? Does it make the job easier, the compressor last longer, etc.? Like I said, I'm completely new at this. Also, how do the PSI and CFM affect the airbrush's performance? Thanks once again.

-Raul

Okay, I'll throw my $0.02 in here.  My personal prefernce is for the 20lb CO2 tank that I'm now using.  It's silent and gives me great finishes.  Totally adjustable PSI with the right regulator and cheap to fill.  If noise is an issue (as it is for me as well) then I'd recommend this route.