Compressor / Air source indecision?

ben1227 wrote:

Is that air star one of the silent compressors that needs oil?

No. It is oiless but is pretty quiet also.

My Badger Millionaire uses oil and is more quiet than a refrigerator.  

milair....that compressor in the pic looks to be the exact one I purchased a year ago. The same compressor is still available from where I bought it as well as a number of other online sites. Model# is TC-20.

Quiet??? I think its very quiet. I can't hear it over the vacuum, but I'll hear it if I'm listening for mouse farts.

Milairjunkie wrote:

The Badger Airstar 5 is exactly what I am looking, looks like a quality bit of kit for a good price, only thing is, I'm in Scotland? Thank's all the same.

Email them and see what it would cost to get one shipped there.  

The Badger Airstar 5 is exactly what I am looking, looks like a quality bit of kit for a good price, only thing is, I'm in Scotland?

Thank's all the same. 

DHM wrote:

I don't need to hijak the thread but how much pressure can you get out of a refrigerator compressor?  I ask this because call me crazy, but I like working at high pressure.  And by that I mean I spray anywhere from 15 to 60psi, depending on the application.

Well, it seems many of the "silent" type air compressors use the same compressors found in fridges, so it must work!

Here's a link to one person's quest on building his own compressor.

It certainly isn't a task for the faint hearted, but then neither is airbrushing at 60 psi! Mr. Irvine's problem with his first fridge compressor for airbrushing was that it was too powerful.

edit Here's another link to a home built compressor. This gentleman claims up to 87 psi! /edit

I am not sure of the longevity of this compressor, but the Badger (T&C) Airstar V is quiet and a refurbished one from Badger is only $99.

Bottom of the page at this link:

http://www.badger-airbrush.com/garagesale.htm 

I don't need to hijak the thread but how much pressure can you get out of a refrigerator compressor?  I ask this because call me crazy, but I like working at high pressure.  And by that I mean I spray anywhere from 15 to 60psi, depending on the application. 

I will say that bill is probably right, and even if the compressor is quiet it probably won't last as long as you might want it to.  The compressor happens to be a clone of ABD TC-20T.  I have seen the TC-20T in real life and know it is fairly quiet, but I have no idea about the clone. 

"Quiet" and "Inexpensive" are mutually exclusive terms. Truly quiet compressors are pretty expensive, and truly inexpensive compressors are pretty loud. I haven't actually heard the compressor you show, but I imagine that it would drown out a loud vacuum cleaner. 

The air tanks the good chef mentioned are pretty decent. They're also available in larger capacities.

CO2 is completely quiet, except for the hiss of air, but not really convenient for someone who doesn't have a man room (yet).

One thing to try and get is an old refrigerator compressor and hook it up to a tank. Fridges are really quiet! 

I'll tell ya I just when through this and the guys from the LHS have helped me use a small airtank that is used for filling tires.  I have a workshop compressor that can be used to fill this tank but you could also fill it at a gas station.  The tank I have is 5 Gal.  and I think that I should be able to get a couple 1/48th aircraft out of it before I have to refill.  I unscrewed the hose from it and then added a water trap and air regulator.  I tested a couple compressors for sound and they were loud.  Even if they said whisper quiet.  I ended up saving a fair amount of money and also have a tool that I can use for multiple tasks. 

 Hope this helps......

On the workbench:

Still trying to decide where to start!!