Compressor suggestions

I'd like to thank everyone for their suggestions.  I'm trying the compressed air tank because of the low budget and silence that it offers.

I purchased an eleven gal. tank w/ a regulator.  I used up about 35 lbs of pressure hooking everything up (down to 65 lbs).  I figured I'd have a learning curve and since the air is free.......well you know.

 

Thanks again

waste gate

TB6088 wrote:

I haven't really been "back" to modeling long enough to know what is standard equipment these days, but when I did, I decided to go with a CO2 tank/regulator setup.  It's silent (not just quiet), has an air pressure regulator and gauge, has no moving parts to break down or maintain, has no condensation problems, and costs me about $15 to swap out maybe once a year.  The whole setup cost me a little over $200 up front.  Given all this, I just couldn't see the appeal of a compressor.  In reading the forum, though, it seems that everybody uses one.  They must have advantages I'm not aware of, otherwise I'd advise you to go with CO2. TomB

I'm gonna second this one.  I also use a tank of 20lb compressed air and it works beautifully; better paint jobs, in fact, than I got with a compressor.  Initial outlay can be hefty, but when you compare it to "silent " compressors, it comes out ahead, actually. Having used "bottled air", I'll never go back to a compressor.

I never had a problem here or back in CT when I used my pickup to transport them, but I did stand them up in the back and use a small chain to hold them. Both here and in CT I'm not supposed to use my car. I guess it's a state law, the first time the guy seen me and the car he said no way, can't let you take them filled. WHOA I own those tanks, you ain't stoppin me! So he pulled out a waiver (happened in both states). Now I just showup and they swap the tanks, no more waivers. I guess they keep that one on file or something in case I blow up on the way home or something.

LOL, I've tried squeezing out a small job with 80 psi of gas and 50 psi of oxy on the tank gauges (two stage gauges). Well, the job wasn't small enough. 

I have the big garage compressor, but it's not in a heated area and plumbing the air into the house would be a pain. I'd hate to try and warm the air in the winter (sometimes 35º below zero) for spraying. Plus the electricity to run it is outrageous compared to the smaller hobby compressors. The thing dims all the lights in my house when it fires up. Heck, I think it dims my neighbors (the few I have) lights too hehe.

Jim, that must be a state Law back there on them tanks I fill my Oxy/ Acetylene across town & I have them in the cab of my pick up & the people there never said a word to me about it. & I agree, the dang things run out at inopprotune times Got a full gas tank & no oxy at the moment & 1/2 the job done
I could've gone that route for my A/B but, I have a Harbor Freight Hobby A/B Compressor & a Contractor's Grade twin tank compressor for running air hammers, cutters,etc. Sure does cut the time down on the air mattresses tho!! The neighbors know when I'm running it Infact, I just ran my landlord outta town he lived next door Of course, he's my dad too

Before I bought my hobby compressor I contemplated going the CO2 route. But then I remembered the hassles I have with my oxygen & acetylene torches. I always run out of oxygen at an inopportune time. It's an hour drive for me to get to the welding supply shop, they aren't open after 5pm or on weekends. So when I was working, I'd have to try to do it during my lunch break. Oh yeah, I'd have to sign a waiver because it is illegal to transport those tanks in a passenger car because they are under high pressure and explosive.

So to solve any possible headaches and to have air-on-demand I opted to buy the -
ABD TC-20T which sells for $169.98 (actually I bought mine in an airbrush kit).
It's a bit noiser than a refrigerator but quieter than a sewing machine.

I use a "garage" compressor, which is noisy, loud, vibrates and is loud and noisy and loud. Did I mention loud? I park it outside and run a hose into the hose to spray with, so only my neighbors hear it, and it isn't any louder than their above ground pool (that runs all night, or their stupid rat sized dog that yips all freakin' day!). It has three advantages that I can see over CO2:

1. Only cost me $100 and came with a pneumatic brad nailer and 10' hose.
2. Never needs refilling (not that big a problem for some and it would be others).
3. Run aforementioned pneumatic brad nailer, and fills car and bike tires, and makes really short work of blowing up air mattresses.

Of course there are disadvantages of the garage style, namely size and noise. Not all people can have one in their fourth floor apartment. I think if I were limited to having a quiet in-house compressor I would look very seriously at the CO2 setup.

I haven't really been "back" to modeling long enough to know what is standard equipment these days, but when I did, I decided to go with a CO2 tank/regulator setup.  It's silent (not just quiet), has an air pressure regulator and gauge, has no moving parts to break down or maintain, has no condensation problems, and costs me about $15 to swap out maybe once a year.  The whole setup cost me a little over $200 up front.  Given all this, I just couldn't see the appeal of a compressor.  In reading the forum, though, it seems that everybody uses one.  They must have advantages I'm not aware of, otherwise I'd advise you to go with CO2.

TomB

So you mean for the occasional model builder, buying an oil-less compressor that sells for $169.98 wasn't a smart move? I should have waited and saved more money or tried to use my electricity hungry garage compressor instead? 

My starter kit - click here
Compressor included in kit below.


I should have saved for one of these instead?
$589.00



or

$720.75





Thinking now about also getting an air tank similar to this one to play with.


And I always have old faithful - 2 stage, cast iron, 8hp, 100-gallon tank
(not Ingersoll Rand - some old no name brand and blue)

roosterfish wrote:

Why would you WANT an oil-less compressor to use?  The oil filled compressor isn’t a train chugging out black smoke.  Oil does not leak out of the seals like a worn out car.  Oil filled compressor are very precision built machines and worth every penny.  Oil compressors last far longer, are quieter and do not require extra maintenance other then check the oil level.  The only advantages I can see is the oil less compressors are smaller/lighter and they have the false economy of being cheaper.  Is there any specific reason why you need the oil-less compressor?

Spoken by a true Silentaire owner.
A quality compressor my friend.

Why would you WANT an oil-less compressor to use?  The oil filled compressor isn’t a train chugging out black smoke.  Oil does not leak out of the seals like a worn out car.  Oil filled compressor are very precision built machines and worth every penny.  Oil compressors last far longer, are quieter and do not require extra maintenance other then check the oil level.

 The only advantages I can see is the oil less compressors are smaller/lighter and they have the false economy of being cheaper.

 Is there any specific reason why you need the oil-less compressor?

H3nav wrote:

MikeV wrote: Why oil-less? They don't last as long.   How do they compare with the higher end twin piston compressors?   E

Any oil-less compressor will not live as long normally as an oil filled one because of heat.
Many of the oiless ones are good and should last quite a while but certainly not near as long as the oil filled silent ones such as the Badger Million Air, Silentaire 20A, etc.

MikeV wrote:

Why oil-less? They don't last as long.

 

How do they compare with the higher end twin piston compressors?

 

E

I recently bought a compressor from airbrush-depot.com - the TC-20T.  $170.  Seems to work really well.

Why oil-less?
They don't last as long.

Storch wrote:

Dixie Art has the same compressor for the same price. Though I haven't ordered from them, I've heard nothing but good things about them. I will say this, I picked this model up a little bit ago and it is a very nice compresor.

I recently ordered from dixieart. They are a decent company & I'm satisfied with their service
 here's the link for the compressor:
http://www.dixieart.com/Iwata_Studio_Series_Compressors_Main.html

Dixie Art has the same compressor for the same price.

Though I haven't ordered from them, I've heard nothing but good things about them.

I will say this, I picked this model up a little bit ago and it is a very nice compresor.