Compressor Suggestions?

whats your price range? look into a compressor with a tank. a good quiet setup is the Iwata smart jet. 

Harbor Freight 1/8hp, tankless, reg, moisture trap and quiet as can be, for not a whole lot.

As you have probably noticed a decent compressor will cost as much, if not more than a decent airbrush.......

I am brand new into the airbrush/compressor scene, so I was hoping for some tips on what to look for (PSI, moisture catch, regulator, tank size, etc).

A reputable piston compressor with an output of roughly 50PSI minimum is a good start & a combined filter / regulator is pretty much a must.  A receiver compressor is also well worth the investment, with somewhere about 2L probably being fine for single user scale modelling use. If you can splash out on a twin piston unit, comparative to a similar single piston, as well as being more powerful these will usually give a longer service life as the components are not worked as hard.

I was hoping some of the forum veterans could share experience on what to look for in a quality compressor.

I'm not exactly a veteran, but - Reputable brand (Sparmax, Iwata (which is more or less Sparmax), Badger, Paasche, Silentaire & Sil-Air are some) with receiver.

I also ran into some notes on going the CO2 path. Any ideas on that would also be great.

Lots of pro's & con's;

+ Silent, no electricity source required, constant pressure output.

- Without weighing your bottle, it hard to tell how much CO2 is left, the bottle is heavy & potentially     dangerous, unless you have a second bottle it's possible that you will occasionally run out

Also, has anyone used the Badger compressors?

Not me, but plenty here have.

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Thanks for the quick replies guys. I will  give these suggestions a look-over. I am looking for something that will introduce me to using a compressor without spending an arm and a leg for it. But I also live in an apartment, so noise is a deal breaker for me.

I am not going to be using it in long bursts, just for laying down a even layer for body work, etc. I'm getting tired of spray cans!... haha I'm sure you all have been down that route in your greenhorn days.

I'll look into the tips here. There's still some terminology I don't understand, but I will research and post back with an questions. Thanks again guys.

This one here Reasoned?

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-5-hp-58-psi-compressor-and-airbrush-kit-95630.html

I'm guessing you own one for your building? What do you like/not like about it?

icer22x

This one here Reasoned?

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-5-hp-58-psi-compressor-and-airbrush-kit-95630.html

I'm guessing you own one for your building? What do you like/not like about it?

Harbor Freight tools are NOT known for reliability, but can be good value for the money. This is typical of the made-in-China compressors. Modern compressor relies on a very thin telfon type coating on the cylinder and piston wall to keep it cool and quiet. The coatings wears out. A precision made compressor runs quieter, cooler and lasts a lot longer.

There are reports of happy HF compressor users on this forum. You can do a search for them.

I would have perfer the Sparmax or Iwata compressor due to their established track record for the low end offerings in the $200-300 range. Even that is much more than the HF.

icer22x

This one here Reasoned?

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-5-hp-58-psi-compressor-and-airbrush-kit-95630.html

 

I'm guessing you own one for your building? What do you like/not like about it?

I couldn't get the link to open but I was wrong, it's the 1/8hp (without AB).  Are there better compressors out there? Sure   But for as little as I have it on at any one time, it suits me fine.  I really can't say anything bad about it, I was concerned about having consistant air pressure, due to no tank, but can not tell any difference.

Quiet operation. Delivers 0 to 40 PSI constant pressure for a quality finish. Works with all airbrushes.

• Auto shut off at 40 PSI, auto-on at 3 PSI
• Adjustable pressure regulator with moisture trap
• Direct hook-up with all airbrushes using universal 1/8"-28 NPS
• Fitting with 1/4" NPT male adapter
• Thermal overload protection with automatic reset
• Rubber suction cup feet for stability
• Built-in carrying handle for maximum portability

Thanks for all the information, I really appreciate it.

I think I'm hooked to this Iwata Smart Jet. All the reviews on it have me drawn. The downside is the price. :( But I think it would be worth the change.

Does anyone have any usage experience with this particular model? Do you have any cons with this machine?

The Smart Jet is a fine compressor, but you may get a higher spec Sparmax for much the same price. As far as I am aware the Smart Jet is made for Iwata by Sparmax......................

icer22x

I think I'm hooked to this Iwata Smart Jet. All the reviews on it have me drawn. The downside is the price. :( But I think it would be worth the change.

Does anyone have any usage experience with this particular model? Do you have any cons with this machine?

Milairjunkie

The Smart Jet is a fine compressor, but you may get a higher spec Sparmax for much the same price. As far as I am aware the Smart Jet is made for Iwata by Sparmax......................

I second this suggestion. If you are in the US, the Sparmax TC-2000 can be had for about $200 by mail order or at Hobby Lobby.

If you are in UK or Europe, the Revell Master Class Compressor is a wonderful value at £166.66 before VAT.

Thanks! As I looked more into the Smart Jet, I don't like how the initial burst of air is around 60 PSI and then it drops to a constant 35. The reviewer I was watching said that this really isn't a big deal since you're going to test spray the first shot, but I can see it getting annoying. Also, the regulator is just a knob at the bottom of the moisture trap that constantly lets air out (keeping the motor running constantly). To solve this, couldn't you just leave the regulator closed and buy a regulation adapter that screws onto the airbrush-side of the hose? I saw someone with one of those. I don't know how accurate they are...

These were just two little oddities I noticed with the Smart Jet.

I will definitely research the SparMax. Thanks for the help guys.

EDIT: Briefly looked at Sparmax's website. Do they have a U.S. - based office? Or is everything in Taiwan?

Also, is this the same compressor as the TC-2000?

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=174529

Many of the ones suggested are not particularly quiet- in fact some are pretty noisy.  One problem is that in ads some of them are labeled quiet or silent with no actual sound pressure level (db) specified. If it is sold as a quiet or silent compressor that spec should be there.  I also am looking for a silent solution and definitely looking into CO2.

icer22x

Also, is this the same compressor as the TC-2000?

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=174529

Yes I believe it is, the TC-2000 seems to be branded as the Stormforce over your side, have a look here;

http://www.merriartist.com/Sparmax_TC_2000_Stormforce_Airbrush_Compressor_p/tc2000.htm

Don Stauffer

Many of the ones suggested are not particularly quiet- in fact some are pretty noisy. One problem is that in ads some of them are labeled quiet or silent with no actual sound pressure level (db) specified. If it is sold as a quiet or silent compressor that spec should be there. I also am looking for a silent solution and definitely looking into CO2.

 

The only quiet compressors on the market, which you might call "silenced" as opposed to "silent" are those from the likes of Sil-Air & Silentair that use refrigeration motors. Most of these, before you get to the very powerfully ones are rated at about 30dbA, which although not silent is definitely quiet, but they are expensive.

I think most of the hobby compressors that are described as quiet / silent / whisper........ operate in the 45>60dbA bracket & I would agree that the lower end of this bracket is reasonably quiet. I think the overstated descriptions come from comparisons to your typical DIY / small workshop compressor, many of which are certainly noisy.

CO2 is a valid choice & will certainly have a smaller initial outlay than a "Silenced" compressor, but with cared for Sil-Air's lasting to & beyond the 15 year mark they are probably more cost effective in the long run. CO2 does, like anything have it's pro's & con's; /forums/t/139497.aspx

Has anyone here used/experienced the TC-2000/Stormforce compressor? I'm wondering what the decibel output is and whether the parts are of quality construction.

This little machine looks to have drawn me away from the Smart Jet. I like the dual pistons. Just wondering if it is as quiet or close to the Smart Jet.

icer22x

Has anyone here used/experienced the TC-2000/Stormforce compressor? I'm wondering what the decibel output is and whether the parts are of quality construction.

This little machine looks to have drawn me away from the Smart Jet. I like the dual pistons. Just wondering if it is as quiet or close to the Smart Jet.

Yes, Sparmax has a good track record of quality construction. The TC-2000 is supposed to be the same compressor as the Iwata Power Jet LIte w/o the case. I have an older model Paasche DA400 which was made by Sparmax and use the same motor. They all have a noise spec of 56-58 dB.

Sparmax stopped publishing the more detailed spec when they pulled back from retailing business a few years back.

I noticed that the Stormforce compressor is out of stock at Hobby Lobby now. It is no assurance that they will sell the twin piston compressor made by Sparmax. Many compressor sellers switched to manufacturer in China to maximize profit. BearAir, Paasche and Badger are among those who did.

I have to agree with Reasoned. I bought a 3 gallon 100 psi compressor at Harbor Freight and I just love it for my airbrush (Iwata HP). I had a coupon so I only paid $39.99 plus another $20 for a decent filter/moisture trap. It's not as quiet as some compressors, but it works for me. People upstairs can't hear it running until they get to the top of the basement stairs. To put it another way, I can run it at three o'clock in the morning without waking anyone up (my workstation is in the basement). The final decision is obviously yours, but for the price I think I'll always use Harbor Freight compressors. Even if I have to replace it every couple years I think I'll be better off than if I had spent hundreds on one of the fancy expensive compressors.

keilau

I noticed that the Stormforce compressor is out of stock at Hobby Lobby now.

Ah crap, they are. Just when I was about to print my 40% off coupon and go buy one. Haha No worries though, with 40%, it still comes to around the same price that other online retailers are selling them for.

icer22x

keilau:

I noticed that the Stormforce compressor is out of stock at Hobby Lobby now.

 

Ah crap, they are. Just when I was about to print my 40% off coupon and go buy one. Haha No worries though, with 40%, it still comes to around the same price that other online retailers are selling them for.

Call your local Hobby Lobby manager before you go. The local store may still have one even if the national stock is out.

Good luck and let us know how you like it.

keilau

 

 

 

Call your local Hobby Lobby manager before you go. The local store may still have one even if the national stock is out.

Good luck and let us know how you like it.

I definitely will. I can't wait to get my airbrush... there's so much I've been wanting to do with models that I haven't been able to. You guys have been very helpful.

Also, quick question - how is this magazine? I'm thinking about getting 10 months, but I was mainly wondering how much of it is tips/technique as opposed to other stuff.

icer22x

I definitely will. I can't wait to get my airbrush... there's so much I've been wanting to do with models that I haven't been able to. You guys have been very helpful.

Also, quick question - how is this magazine? I'm thinking about getting 10 months, but I was mainly wondering how much of it is tips/technique as opposed to other stuff.

I have been a FSM subscriber for many years and feel it is a well balanced magazine. You get a very good per copy price by subscription. And access to full feature of this web site, mostly extra pictures. But FSM has moved many of the good downloads from free to paid section in recent years.  In terms of tips and techniques, it does not have as much details as some of the British magazines, but still good. 

I also have a subsription to the AIRFIX magazine from England. But it costs 3 times more than the FSM. Find a good local hobby store and sample several modeling magazines before deciding what to subsribe. FSM is probably the cheapest you can get in annual subscription.

Icer, welcome to the forum!

Not sure if it's too late to chime in or not and this might not be what you're considering...but I just recently replaced my old compressor with a Craftsman Evolv from Sears.  It has a 3 gallon tank and, compared to my old 6 gallon compressor, is as light as a feather.  Even my wife carries it around when she needs it.  It's also substantially quieter, too.  I believe it normally goes for $99 but you can get it for even less when Sears has their usual sales.  It's also perfect for inflating bike tires, kids' toys, etc.  Not sure if you have a need to do that though.  But as an air compressor for my air brush, it works perfectly.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00915206000P

Having been an apartment dweller myself in the past, I can understand your need for quietness and possibly even space consideration.  I lived in a one bedroom apartment before I got married.  My "workshop" was the basement late at night also.  Am I assuming that, when you paint, you run down to the basement, model, paint and compresser in hand?

Eric

echolmberg

Icer, welcome to the forum!

Not sure if it's too late to chime in or not and this might not be what you're considering...but I just recently replaced my old compressor with a Craftsman Evolv from Sears.  It has a 3 gallon tank and, compared to my old 6 gallon compressor, is as light as a feather.  Even my wife carries it around when she needs it.  It's also substantially quieter, too.  I believe it normally goes for $99 but you can get it for even less when Sears has their usual sales.  It's also perfect for inflating bike tires, kids' toys, etc.  Not sure if you have a need to do that though.  But as an air compressor for my air brush, it works perfectly.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00915206000P

Having been an apartment dweller myself in the past, I can understand your need for quietness and possibly even space consideration.  I lived in a one bedroom apartment before I got married.  My "workshop" was the basement late at night also.  Am I assuming that, when you paint, you run down to the basement, model, paint and compresser in hand?

Eric

 

Thanks for the suggestion Eric. My situation is similar to yours! One-bedroom apartment and close to getting engaged. I do not have a basement though... never heard of apartments with basements, haha. This is also my first time looking for an airbrush/compressor. I already have my brush picked out - Badger Patriot. Just looking for a good compressor to go with it.

I was looking at that Craftsman. I am a HUGE fan of Craftsman - I buy all their tools when working on my car. I just have a few questions about that one. It looks like it has a regulator on it, right? Can you get low pressure from it? I'm sure I don't want to be spraying at it's max - 100 PSI. lol Also, what about sputtering? Every single review I've read/watched since I've been looking has said compressors with tanks can cause sputtering - something I definitely want to avoid.

icer22x

 what about sputtering? Every single review I've read/watched since I've been looking has said compressors with tanks can cause sputtering - something I definitely want to avoid.

I'm figuring that you are talking about the compressor intermittently passing water (eh)?

Receiver / tanked compressors usually outperform those without a tank in regards to water output - they produce just as much moisture as those without, but this is generally condensed back into water (which sits at the bottom of the tanlk) when the compressed air cools as it enters the tank. This is almost 100% true when the compressor is recharging & no air is being drawn from it & even when you are drawing air when it's running, the tank acts as a buffer & will still condense some of that moisture. This is part of normal operation for a  receiver compressor & the all have tank drain fitted at the bottom of their tanks.

In comparison a unit without a receiver has (excluding the hose & regulator) nowhere for the moisture to condense..................

I've found that all compressors produce excess water, which is why I have a moisture trap on my regulator, and an inline one on my hose. Tanks store water quite well, which is why you need to drain them occasionally. However, my experience is that not all the water produced in a tank gets to the hose. Something that is guaranteed with a non-tanked compressor. The benefits of a tank (less wear and tear, less pulsing due to diaphragm or piston action) outweigh the potential dangers of sputtering. In either case as good moisture trap will prevent the water from getting to the paint job.

I am lucky I live in an area with relatively low humidity, typically in the 35-50% range. I'm on vacation in NYC and Holy Cow, you can drink the air!

Hey Icer,  I've been following your post and these guys are giving you great advice. A compressor with a tank is definitely the way to go. Like you, I'm a big fan of Craftsman. I just bought their Powermate brand 26 gallon compressor for my garage, but down in the basement is the 3 gallon job I bought from Harbor Freight and I just love it. I saw one guy had a 3 gallon craftsman and if you're more comfortable with the name brand then I say go for it. At less than $100 it's a good investment (I paid $40 for my H.F. job, but I know it's not the same quality as craftsman).  And a good water trap is essential. I got mine at H.F. for about $20 and it does the job quite nicely. It automatically drains itself every time I drain the compressor and I haven't had ANY water or sputtering issues with my Iwata HP airbrush. One thing I saw in the post needs a little expansion, though. Don't drain your compressor "occasionally". Drain it EVERY TIME you use it. Water sitting in the tank can cause rust and that's BAD. Your compressor will last much longer if you drain it every time. And when I bought mine I went to the store and asked to hear it run. Most stores will do that for you and then you can hear for yourself how much noise it makes before you make your decision.

echolmberg

Icer, welcome to the forum!

Not sure if it's too late to chime in or not and this might not be what you're considering...but I just recently replaced my old compressor with a Craftsman Evolv from Sears.  It has a 3 gallon tank and, compared to my old 6 gallon compressor, is as light as a feather.  Even my wife carries it around when she needs it.  It's also substantially quieter, too.  I believe it normally goes for $99 but you can get it for even less when Sears has their usual sales.  It's also perfect for inflating bike tires, kids' toys, etc.  Not sure if you have a need to do that though.  But as an air compressor for my air brush, it works perfectly.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00915206000P

 

Wow, thanks guys! And thanks for the welcome Eric. So it seems a compressor with a tank is the way to go. I know tank-less compressors are still a good investment, but I do want a compressor that runs the least amount of time possible just so I can preserve the inner-workings. Honestly, I was avoiding a tank because of the reviews talking about sputtering. But I can see all I need is a good moisture trap and I'm set (well, almost).

Eric, if you have a moisture trap on your compressor, where did you get it? I am thinking about stopping by Sears and seeing if they have one of these compressors. I'm going to look at Harbor and see if they make a moisture trap for this. Also, you mentioned it was substantially quieter than your other compressor - do you know about how many decibels it puts out? And how does the regulator work? Pretty accurate? Everything I've researched so far says that 35-40 PSI is the max I'll need for modeling.

EDIT: I was looking up moisture traps and came across this:

http://www.dickblick.com/products/moisture-trap/

Would this work for any tank compressor? Also, how long do they last? Do you just empty them before every use?

I agree in that everyone here is making some excellent suggestions!  Just to expand on my past, I also had one of those smaller tankless airbrush compressors.  I wish I could remember the name brand seeing as how it came with my wife when we got married.  LOL!  It was blue but that's all I can tell you.  It was adequate but it had no regulator other than a little needle valve which you had to open or close in order adjust the pressure.

The apartment building in which I lived had underground parking which came in handy during the harsh winters up here in Wisconsin.  It was also where the set of washers and dryers were.  Late at night when I was ready to paint a plane, I'd haul my stuff down to the laundry room, paint as quickly as I could so as to avoid anyone suddenly coming down to do some laundry, then haul it all back upstairs again.

On my Evolv air compressor, I do not have a moisture trap.  Yes I know they are good investments but with this compressor and in my Craftsman 6 gallon compressor before that, not once did I ever have an issue with moisture spitting out and ruining my paint job.  Maybe I'm just riding on luck so far but I have not had any problems with it.  I did, however, have that problem with my little blue tankless air compressor which was my wife's.

I read hear how one can get a Harbor Freight compressor for a fraction of what I paid for my Craftsman.  It is my understanding that the Evolv is technically manufactured overseas somewhere but I can't help but go back to the Craftsman name.  All my tools are Craftsman and they've never let me down once.

I also looked up the stats on the Evolv and I could not find a decible rating for it.  I'll try to do some more digging to get that info for you though.  As one other person mentioned, see if the store will let you fire up the compressor to see what they sound like.  I think that's excellent advice.  I wasn't able to do that for mine because I got it unexpectedly as a Father's Day gift.  Again, I was lucky that it has proven to be far quieter than my old 6 gallon one.

The regulator seems to work alright but not quite as sensitive as the one on my 6 gallon job.  I typically paint at the 18-25 psi range and it seems like the regulator on the Evolv starts to be accurate once it gets to 20 psi but not below that.  (I don't know if this makes any difference or not but I use an Iwata about 5% of the time and an Aztek the other 95%).

I hope this all has helped!  Once you get married and your own house, your modeling area/conditions will improve exponentially!!!!!  Congrats on the soon-to-be engagement, also! 

Eric

icer22x

 Honestly, I was avoiding a tank because of the reviews talking about sputtering. But I can see all I need is a good moisture trap and I'm set (well, almost).

As said, a compressor with a receiver will "Sputter" less than the equivalent compressor without a receiver. Most, if not all airbrush compressors are sold fitted with moisture traps - why not see how it works before shelling out on an additional trap?

icer22x

Also, you mentioned it was substantially quieter than your other compressor - do you know about how many decibels it puts out?

 

About 55>58 dbA

Milairjunkie

icer22x:

Also, you mentioned it was substantially quieter than your other compressor - do you know about how many decibels it puts out?

 

About 55>58 dbA

If the 55-58 decibels is true, then that's pretty good considering one web site I found stated that normal conversation is between 60-70 dB.  I did find a forum where one person said their Evolv was 84 dB and he was complaining about the noise.  I don't know how that person measured it or how he got that number but if he's getting 84 dB, then city traffic (inside car) is rated at 85 dB.  All I can tell you is that my 4 and 7 year old daughters used to run upstairs holding their ears when I fired up my old 6 gallon Craftsman.  Now, with my Evolv, the kid are no longer afraid of it and they don't even plug their ears.  LOL!  Far from scientific but I thought that was pretty good considering my girls scream when I chase them with the vacuum cleaner.

Eric