Compressor w/ tank vs. automatic

I have one similar to the 121TK and it works great. My son and I use it for modeling and my wife uses it for an occasional T-shirt.

I like the idea of having an air tank to keep a supply of pressure, but wasn't sure if the "mini" could handle my airbrushes.  Sounds like this compressor may be the way to go.  DOes anyone out there have any experience with the automatic compressors?  I called airbrush city the other day to inquire, and they said the unit only comes on when you press the trigger on the brush.  I asked if there was any delay, and they said no.  How does that work?  Wouldn't there be a slight delay while it builds up enough pressure to deliver the air you need?  I really don't know anything about them, since the unit I've been using is a continous on type.  Guess I want to hear the facts from the people here, in case the manufacturer is just telling me what I want to hear to sell their product.

Frank

Supraman-

Thanks, that's what I wanted to hear.  I may look into one with a larger tank, as that seems to be my best bet.  Thanks again!

Frank

Modern day good "garage" compressors are pretty much noiseless. Noise is similar to noice of refrigerator, which is not much, is it? Of course, size is still an issue.

Incidentally, I've made a compressor from old
refrigerator's pump (I've found it in a dump) and a tank from a piece of thick pipe:

I had to add a number of bits and pieces I had already in my basement (or expropriated/redistributed from those, who didn't really need them (i.e. were looking the other way when I was around.)) As you see, there is no problem for us apartment dwellers with such compressor. As a matter of fact, it works so quiet, sometimes I forget to turn it off! Air goes through my airbrush with much more noice than compressor makes. Good thing I was able to expropriate appropriate circuit breaker, which turns off the compressor when pressure in tank is good.

Mind you, I'm not sure if my pressure regulator is precise. While everyone insist that working pressure for airbrush is 15-30 psi (I can get up to 60psi), my airbrush sprays acrilics jolly good on 4-5 psi, and problems starts when I up the pressure to 10. What the world have came to, you can't even redistribute reliable hardware anymore! :)

Grahor-

Cool setup you got there!  I wish I were handier with that kind of stuff, then maybe I would try building my own too!

Grahor,

You must hang around a higher class of compressors than I do. All the garage style ones I've heard, I've definitely HEARD!

I might try the fridge compressor route when we upgrade our appliances next year, provided it's still working then.

It does sound as if your regulator is misrepresenting the pressure, BTW. 

Bgrigg wrote:

Grahor, You must hang around a higher class of compressors than I do. All the garage style ones I've heard, I've definitely HEARD!

A'men to that Bill! I have an 8 gallon compressor, and its a brute!

I have the Compressor with a tank from airbrush city, (121 I think) its a real good compressor, I use a Badger 175 dual action and it does fine. Jhande recommeded that one to me, and it was  a great purchase!

The only garage style compressors that I haven't heard are either the ones that are in the off mode or I just got so used to humming a tune with them for years I don't notice it so much anymore... Nah... I still hear the buggers!

This is the exact compressor I purchased for my modeling - Airbrush Depots ABD TC-20T
It's small, nice and quite, does a great job for all the families hobby spraying needs. If it ever burns out, I'd probably buy another one.

I save my big noisy expensive to run compressor for the real cars and BIG projects.

Jim,

How is it noise-wise?

I've never had a compressor before - the little airbrush work I did was with Badger cans of compressed air.  For building plastic models, do you generally need that regulator/water trap attachment?

Well, mine is about the same as Jim's compressor, and mine is very quite.

You do need the water trap and regulator to, you will be suprised how much water it will catch, and water and paint dont mix! The reulator will keep your air pressure in check, to much and you will have a horrible time trying to paint, to little and you wont be able to paint at all!