Zippy hobby compressor or multiuse compressor...?

I have a two gallon "pancake" tank compressor for running my AB as well as pneumatic tools, filling tires, etc., and they work okay. I bought a cheap one (probably the same kind that you see at Harbor Freight), and if I had to do it again I would buy a bigger compressor with a five gallon tank. Not for airbrushing, but for use as a tool compressor. A brad nail gun can run through a tank pretty quickly, and since they are so dependant on consistent power, you can get inconsistent results when you want to attach baseboards and the like. Airbrushing works great, though.

Since your wife will use it for attaching canvases, it should be fine. I have no idea how you have your build table is set up in the basement, but I would try to have the compressor in another room, or at the very least build an enclosure around it to muffle the sound. It is LOUD! Run a hose over to where you will work and mount a pressure regulator and moisture trap at the "business" end of the hose, then attach your airbrush hose to that. That way you can be sure of dry air, and can control the pressure without having to move.

You can get 2 way manifolds that you can attach to the compressor, and an extra hose. Then your wife can be hooked up to the compressor at the same time, without disturbing your setup.

I agree with Bill... if  you both might be using it at the same time I would go for the bigger tank.  Get two 50' hoses if possible and put the compressor as far away as possible to eliminate noise.  Mount the regulators on the bench where you will working and you're set!  MusicCity has a similar setup and I'll see if he might have a link to pics of it on his website.

If you can't put it far away from ya you could at lease build a well ventilated box with some sort of noise dampening interior to cut down on it.  (Egg crate foam comes to mind)

MusicCity has a similar setup and I'll see if he might have a link to pics of it on his website

No link but here's the photo.

Thanks a lot for the pics Scott!  To be honest, today was so bad at work I had already forgotten about going look for that on your site...

FANTASTIC!  You guys are great.  The explanation was excellent and one picture is worth at least several words.  Thank you very much for your help (from me and my wife).

I haven't done much pneumatic plumbing.  Should I be able to get the fittings to build the manifold in the image at Harbor Freight as well, or do need to go somewhere else?

Thanks again for all of your help.

Cheers.

Absolutely! Pneumatic plumbing is the easiest kind of plumbing. It's only air, after all. Real easy to clean up if you mess up! What you'll need is completely dependent on your layout. Scott's pic is a great example, your results may vary.

For instance I have a 2 way manifold mounted on the compressor, one hose runs to my spraybooth, the other is for use in the garage. I have two 50' hoses as Tom suggests and I have quick connects on all my pneumatic tools (brad nailer, nail gun, tire chuck and blower) and on each end of both hoses. This allows me to quickly change tools or to hook the hoses together for those rare 100' requirements. I then have a 6' "whip" hose for use with my tools. A whip hose has a swivel head and allows me to unkink the hose easily. I also have a regular 6' hose installed on my spray booth with quick connects to the first 50' hose (lost you yet?). Inside my spray booth I have a regulator and moisture trap to which I connect my airbrush. The compressor has a regulator as well, and yet another moisture trap.

Once you figure out where the compressor will live, and how long the hose(s) you need (it's always better to have more hose, then it is to have just enough!) This kit from Harbor Freight will get you started, and has a tire chuck, blower, some quick connects (available seperately) and even comes with teflon tape. Just wrap a couple or three turns around the male threads before making any threaded connections. You will want to replace the tape each time you take threaded connections apart.

This is what I mean by manifold. You can buy two head kinds as well, I just couldn't find one on their website.

Once you get everything in and assembled, if you ever decide to expand, the local hardware or do it yourself store should have anything else you might need.  Since you are ordering the compressor it probably won't be any extra in shipping just to get everything in one box...

Ditto on the teflon tape mentioned, since there will be a lot of connections with the setup you are wanting to do, the tape will help reduce pressure loss from leaks...

Good luck!!

im a beginner in air brush and im thinking of buying a aircompressor (in harborfrieght) im not tryiing 2 spend too much cuz im a beginer so which one should i get the 30psi or 40 psi..... im basically using it to draw on tee shirts (clothing) and maybe draw on ma sheetrocked room? and would that compressor handle the job ?

Hi guys, i have a quality porter cable compressor for nail guns.  I see that great photo in this thread. I also see that he has a second regulator after the water trap and T. ........Is that neccesary? Or will the regulator on the compressor suffice???


Can a water trap and such be purchased at Lowes?

I've got to set this up to stop buying cans.

Comments please.

The second regulator is not strictly required, but will save having to go back and forth to the compressor for minor adjustments. You will want to make minor adjustments! I have a similar setup, though in my case I put the moisture trap after the regulator.

Lowe's should carry them, any place that sells compressors should have that stuff. If there is a Harbor Freight they will likely be cheaper. I bought my regulator at Princess Auto (Canada's version of Harbor Freight) for $10 and the moisture trap for $7. You can certainly spend a whole lot more! Make sure that any regulator you do buy can read down to 5 or 10 lbs of pressure.