Compressor Suggestions?

Haha I have to ask - did you ever have anyone walk in to do laundry and have that awkward stare off before you offered up your explanation? That image ran through my head. Too funny.

Well, I think I am going to stop by Sears after work and check this thing out! Wish I had my Badger 105 already... I'm going to be sitting in my room playing with m compressor. haha

I will post back with any questions. Thanks for you're help guys. I look forward to using this community as I drastically improve my modeling skills.

echolmberg

 

 

 

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

Haha! Well thanks man. With the size of the parts we paint plus the capacity of 3 gallons of compressed air, I don't see the thing running all too often.

icer22x

Haha I have to ask - did you ever have anyone walk in to do laundry and have that awkward stare off before you offered up your explanation? That image ran through my head. Too funny.

I lived in that apartment for a year and a half and I can honestly say that not once was I ever walked in on as I was painting!  Talk about dodging a bullet!  I just would have felt dumb if some cute female would have walked in while I was trying to paint a little plastic airplane.  It probably wouldn't have been high up there on the "cool" meter.  Not exactly "James Bond-ish" if you catch my drift.  More like "Hi.  I'm Eric and I never evolved emotionally beyond the age of 12."

Eric

PS.  I saw one web site that showed the Craftsman 1.5 gallon compressor at 55 dB.  However, I, myself, have never owned one that small so I don't know how well it would work out.  Remember, once those tanks get below a certain pressure, the compressor will automatically start up again unless you remembered to turn it off.  I typically forget.  So if you have one of those smaller capacity tanks, the motor will come on more often.  They may be smaller, more portable, lighter weight, quieter, etc but they will run more often.  Just another thing to ponder. 

Good luck and keep us informed as to how things are going!

Eric

Hey Icer,

You asked about regulators and said you were going to Harbor Freight so I thought I'd write again. Here's a photo of my regulator and water trap. As you can see, I have it hooked up so it just plugs in, that way I can use it in the basement or the garage and I don't have to have two traps. You can find this item in the Harbor Freight online catalogue, too. Just go to www.harborfreight.com and enter the number 68232 in the search box. It's the Central Pnuematic regulator/moisture trap and it's $19.99 (less if you use one of the 20% off coupons from their flyer). It automatically drains itself when you drain your compressor (it opens when the PSI gets down to about 5 lbs). I typically spray at no less than 15 psi so it works great. I set the regulator on the compressor itself at about 60 psi and then fine tune with the regulator on the water trap to get between 15 and 25 psi, depending on what I'm doing. And if you're going to H.F. you might want to know that they're having a great sale right now and I just got some 4" bar clamps for $1 each. Hobby Lobby has the exact same clamp for EIGHT BUCKS!! Also, they have these really cool mini clamps that come in a pack of six for $2.79. Yes, I bought several packs. :-) They also have all the fittings you'll need for your hose to compressor connections at pretty good prices.

Hey Icer.

Me again. Here's a photo showing both kinds of those clamps I told you about in action. The mini clamps are holding the tail and there's also a red one laying on the bench. The 4" bar clamps are just $1 each right now (no coupon necessary) and these are the ones from H.F. except for the one just forward of the cockpit. That one's a craftsman but they're MUCH more expensive. The mini clamps are $2.79 for a pack of six. Now that I have them I don't know how I ever lived without them. :-)

A good noise test of the compressor is whether your wife can talk to you without raising her voice or you turning off the compressor. The better airbrush compressor passes this test.

Test running the compressor in store is not accurate. The store has high ceiling and open space. The compressor always sounds less noisy. Sears has good return policy and you should be able to return if it sounds too noisy for you.

I added an airtank to my dual piston compressor myself. The compressor does not run less time with a tank. It just wait longer before running the motor again, but it also runs longer too. The key is to get a compressor with enough power, quiet and having auto-on-off feature.

Thanks Gary! Heading over the H.F. right now! I actually just picked up the Craftsman Evolv. I couldn't resist the online discount so I ended up spending $86. Considering I was reading to spend around $200, I think I did alright. I've been playing around with it here. It's loud, but not ear-bleeding. I can stuff it into a plastic storage crate with some blankets around it (not covering the air vents of course!) and it reduces the noise enough for me to feel comfortable running it in my apartment. Plus, I'm on the ground floor (concrete slab foundation) so no need to worry about vibrations. Overall, I am happy with my purchase. With the default regulator I am able to get it down to airbrush-worthy PSI no problem. But I am probably going to invest in that reg./trap that you showed me. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY BADGER 105.

P.S. - Nice work on your plane! I can't even see the plastic seam lines from the two halves - that is one thing I hope to prefect here in my next two projects (up next for me is a B-25J Mitchell). What plane are you building there?

Also Gary, thought you might like to see this:

http://www.harborfreight.com/22-piece-spring-clamp-set-8826.html

Hey Icer,

Great find on the spring clamp set. I hadn't seen that one, but I'll look for it the next time I go to H.F.  It looks like they're assorted sizes, too, which is even better. I think you'll like the evolv brand. I have their shop vac and it's pretty cool. Much cheaper than most name brands, too. You did pretty good on the compressor for that price. Just be careful putting blankets around it. You need ventilation around the compressor to prevent heat build up. My big one says it should be at least 12 inches from the wall or anything else, but I imagine for the short periods of time we actually use our airbrushes you should be OK. The plane in the photos is the Airfix 1/24 scale FW 190, which I'm doing as Emil Lang's "Black 7" from 1943. The seam lines are still there, they just don't show up in the photos.

This is what I love about this forum - guys sharing information not only on models, but stuff like good finds on tools and things. Glad you joined and I look forward to sharing more great finds in the future. Let us know how you like your Badger when  you get it.

Reasoned

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

my water trap is starting to crap out. have you had this problem?

icer22x

Thanks Gary! Heading over the H.F. right now! I actually just picked up the Craftsman Evolv. I couldn't resist the online discount so I ended up spending $86. Considering I was reading to spend around $200, I think I did alright. I've been playing around with it here. It's loud, but not ear-bleeding. I can stuff it into a plastic storage crate with some blankets around it (not covering the air vents of course!) and it reduces the noise enough for me to feel comfortable running it in my apartment. Plus, I'm on the ground floor (concrete slab foundation) so no need to worry about vibrations. Overall, I am happy with my purchase. With the default regulator I am able to get it down to airbrush-worthy PSI no problem. But I am probably going to invest in that reg./trap that you showed me. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY BADGER 105.

The noise would have driven me crazy. My compressor shopping experience a few years back. It is personal. But the saving of one or two model kits is not worth the price of living with the noise while modeling.

The Harbor Freight filter/regulator uses 3/8" connectors and you need to get adaptors to reduce it to 1/4" NPT.

Heat is the worst enemy of a compressor. It will increase the moisture content in the output air and eventually shorten the life span of the compressor. It is important to keep the compressor in a well ventilated environment.

Hey Icer,

Got another find for you. When I first bought my airbrush I naturally started looking at airbrush holders. Man, those things are expensive!! Here's a photo of my solution. I got this at the dollar store for ... one dollar! It's designed to stick to the wall of your shower and hold a razor. The suction cup didn't fit the edge of my bench so I just put a couple of screws through it and voila! One very convenient place to hang the airbrush during painting sessions. Yeah, I'm a cheapskate but I've got a perfectly good airbrush holder for a buck. :-)

Gary

The filter regulator I posted the photo of uses 1/4 connectors and I didn't need to buy any adaptors. It uses the same size as all my other air tools, 1/4 NPT

My bad. The filter DOES use 3/8 NPT for the inlet and outlet, but the adaptors come with the filter.

garylee

My bad. The filter DOES use 3/8 NPT for the inlet and outlet, but the adaptors come with the filter.

You will need 2 male-to-male adaptors, 3/8" to 1/4", for the compressor and airhose. The HF product picture shows male-female type adaptors. Check to make sure at the store before taking it home. It may save you an extra trip. I noticed that you have quick disconnect at both end of the filter/regulator in your setup. Icer may need to do the same thing.

For many tools compressor, the air outlet connector is a 1/4" quick disconnect. For airbrush compressor, it usually comes with a 1/4" to 1/4" adaptor. Not sure what the Sears compressor comes with.

I am also not sure if the HF filter/regulator is a good fit for airbrush. It is a high flow volume filter, which means coarse filter grid. Air tools are much more tolerant of debri and, in fact, wants oil mist in the air stream to help lubricate the air tool. I have a Sears 1-HP compressor in my garage for general household works. I usually do not mix the accessories with my airbrush setup.

randypandy831

Reasoned:

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

 

 

my water trap is starting to crap out. have you had this problem?

Nope, mine is newer but I've also never found any moisture in it... yet.

OK, Keilau, let me clarify because you're absolutely right, that filter does come with a 3/8 male to 1/4 female adaptor (x2). I probably should have mentioned that when I bought the compressor I also bought a little accesory kit (I think about ten bucks, no more than $20) that came with a 1/4 NPT male to male, the quick disconnect, several male QD fittings, as well as some other stuff, like a blow gun and a nozzle for filling tires and what not. With that kit I didn't need to buy anything else. Well, except for some teflon tape.

Now, you say that filter is high flow so it could be better. Tell me more. Should I be using a low flow filter? maybe I could add another filter (with a finer grid but without the water trap) down stream from the water trap? I haven't had any problems so far but I don't want to start having trouble right in the middle of a paint job. I'm also wondering about the wisdom of using the same filter for both compressors. I attach the filter directly to the compressor on both of them, so I don't see what the damage could be, but perhaps you know more than I so please share your experience. I know that without the filter on the larger compressor my DA will start bleeding water after a while. The larger compressor is the Sears Powermate 26 gallon 1.6 HP model. Yes, I know, I really shouldn't be using a DA with that but the flow rate of the compressor is 5 cfm at 90 psi and that's exactly what the DA says it needs. But for this discussion I'm mainly concerned with the little airbrush compressor so any tips or advice on how to make that set up better and/or trouble free will be most appreciated.

garylee

OK, Keilau, let me clarify because you're absolutely right, that filter does come with a 3/8 male to 1/4 female adaptor (x2). I probably should have mentioned that when I bought the compressor I also bought a little accesory kit (I think about ten bucks, no more than $20) that came with a 1/4 NPT male to male, the quick disconnect, several male QD fittings, as well as some other stuff, like a blow gun and a nozzle for filling tires and what not. With that kit I didn't need to buy anything else. Well, except for some teflon tape.

Now, you say that filter is high flow so it could be better. Tell me more. Should I be using a low flow filter? maybe I could add another filter (with a finer grid but without the water trap) down stream from the water trap? I haven't had any problems so far but I don't want to start having trouble right in the middle of a paint job. I'm also wondering about the wisdom of using the same filter for both compressors. I attach the filter directly to the compressor on both of them, so I don't see what the damage could be, but perhaps you know more than I so please share your experience. I know that without the filter on the larger compressor my DA will start bleeding water after a while. The larger compressor is the Sears Powermate 26 gallon 1.6 HP model. Yes, I know, I really shouldn't be using a DA with that but the flow rate of the compressor is 5 cfm at 90 psi and that's exactly what the DA says it needs. But for this discussion I'm mainly concerned with the little airbrush compressor so any tips or advice on how to make that set up better and/or trouble free will be most appreciated.

Gary, the proof is in the pudding. I can see that you are doing well modeling. If your setup works fine for you in airbrushing, it is a GOOD setup. No reason to change it in any way.

My comments are meant for new comers to airbrushing like Icer. It just supplemented the details that you leave out, such as the accessory kit of connectors. It may save some frustration to find missing components after getting home.

I presume that you do not have your big Powermate compressor in the modeling workbench area. You must have a good arrangement for minimizing the noise. I have no firsthand experience with either the Powermate or the Evolv compressor. Personally, I have separate setup for airbrushing and household airtools. I like that arrangement better.

You have the spirit of this forum in sharing your experience. They are helpful to all of us.

Thanks for the info. about the reg./trap. I took my compressor back to Sears today. It was just too loud. :( If I had a house with a basement, it would have been fine, but I just need something quieter. Sound is the major determining factor for me.

Benn looking at the Sparmax AC-500, Sparmax TC-2000 and the Iwata Smart Jet (no tank for this one though :(). Quiet AND comes with a tank. Any suggestions?

One thing I didn't like about that Craftsman was it triggered the compressor too soon. The compressor would shut off at around 90 PSI in the tank and kick back in around 75. I thought I could at least drain the tank halfway before it would kick back in.

icer22x

Thanks for the info. about the reg./trap. I took my compressor back to Sears today. It was just too loud. :( If I had a house with a basement, it would have been fine, but I just need something quieter. Sound is the major determining factor for me.

Benn looking at the Sparmax AC-500, Sparmax TC-2000 and the Iwata Smart Jet (no tank for this one though :(). Quiet AND comes with a tank. Any suggestions?

One thing I didn't like about that Craftsman was it triggered the compressor too soon. The compressor would shut off at around 90 PSI in the tank and kick back in around 75. I thought I could at least drain the tank halfway before it would kick back in.

Sorry to hear the Evolv didn't work out for you.  I feel kind of bad that I brought it up.  I feel bad that you had to take the time, gas and energy to get something you eventually returned.  Sorry about that. 

Otherwise, when I fill mine up for airbrushing purposes, I'll let it fill up until it shuts off and then I'll unplug the unit to make sure it doesn't kick back on.  If I'm airbrushing, there's no need for the compresser to come back on when it gets down to 75 psi.  That's still more than enough pressure to paint a model during an airbrushing session.  But you're exactly right.  It will kick in after it drops a few PSI.  But for what we're using it for, we just need to remember to shut the unit off or unplug it after the initial fill-up.

I was hoping the Evolv would fill your needs.  My wife was sitting next to me last night as we were reading over the chat thread.  She even remarked that when I have the compressor turned on downstairs, she can't even hear it upstairs.

Eric

For Keilau: Thanks for the kind words. No, the big compressor is not near the modeling area. Here's a photo of my cheap little Harbor Freight compressor ($39.99 with coupon). A lot of guys talk bad about the quality of H.F. stuff, but I just love this little unit. It's actually really quiet, too. You have to actually be on the basement stairs before you can hear it running. It does everything I want it to do and doesn't give me any static. As you can see, I have the quick disconnect that came with the compressor attached to the compressor itself so I can just plug in the filter. So far I haven't had any issues with cross contamination from the big compressor and I've never seen even a hint of airtool oil when I use it on the little one. If I ever do detect even a hint of trouble I'll get a new filter for the little one and move this one to the garage permanently. I also liked how using the Q.D. on the compressor eliminated any clearance problems with the filter hitting the tank.

For Icer: Sorry to hear the craftsman didn't work out for you. I still think if you're in  Harbor Freight anyway you should given this one a listen. Remember what Keilau said, though, and take into consideration that it would be a little louder once you get it home in a smaller space. At least you should get some idea if it's louder or quieter than the craftsman. I still recommend a compressor with a tank. If you go with the Iwata maybe you can add a tank. I've seen 5 gallon tanks for about $30 and 11 gallons for about $40 but I don't know how difficult it would be to set them up with a tankless compressor. I saw one guy in this thread that said he added a tank so he would know more than I about that. When I first started out I had a tank made out of an old propane tank (like for your BBQ) and I filled it with a Black & Decker Airstation. Loud as all get out but I didn't have the noise concerns you do. Good luck with this, and I'll be looking forward to hearing how it finally comes out for you. And once again, great find on that 22 piece clamp set. It's at the top of my list for my next trip to H.F.

OOPS!!! Wrong photo. Let's try this again.

Since using a tankless compressor for several models, I would not let that be a reason for not buying one.  As stated numerous times, the HF1/8hp compressor works flawlessly (for me) to spray a small amount (as required for most models), is quiet and adjustable.  Now if I were an AB artist running it all day long...... perhaps a different response.

icer22x

Benn looking at the Sparmax AC-500, Sparmax TC-2000 and the Iwata Smart Jet (no tank for this one though :(). Quiet AND comes with a tank. Any suggestions?

I would say the order of preferance is just as you have it;

AC-500, twin with receiver,

TC-2000, same twin without receiver,

Smart Jet, Single from Sparmax - you will pay for the Iwata name.

Noise output from these will be similar.

icer22x

One thing I didn't like about that Craftsman was it triggered the compressor too soon. The compressor would shut off at around 90 PSI in the tank and kick back in around 75. I thought I could at least drain the tank halfway before it would kick back in.

No matter what point the compressor is set to recharge, overall the running time will be no different - a 1/2 tank will take twice as long to replenish as a 1/4 tank (more or less).

No worries Eric! It was a great suggestion - and as you said, you had no way of relaying to me how it would sound in my little apartment. When I finally get a bigger working space I will no doubt turn to Craftsman again and look at their other models. I was just paranoid that everyone around me could here it chugging away. Haha And I did exactly as you said - I let it charge to full then shut it off (when I was playing around with it). I then used the attachment as a pretend airbrush to see how fast a full tank would drain using around 20 PSI. Now with the attachment I was using I understand the air was coming out a lot faster than it would from an air brush. I just couldn't get past the idea that my neighbors were just being too nice to come down and beat on my door and ask me WTF I had running in my room.

Milair: That AC-500 only has a 2.5L tank on it. That's ALMOST a gallon. I have zero experience with air depletion when using an airbrush, but say I get my Badger 105, how long would it take to deplete a 2.5L tank of air while just holding down the trigger? I'm trying to see if I should get a cheaper tank-less compressor and just buy a bigger tank for it.

P.S. This is by far the most helpful non-arrogant forum I've been to in my many years of internet surfing. Maybe the paint fumes affect our brains in such a way...

If I could, I'd buy you all a beer for your help. Guinness of course. Non-negotiable.

Not to thread jack, but for those of you with the Harbor Freight compressor, I have a question.

I saw in an eariler post that it comes with an optional 1/4"male in - 3/8" male out.  How do you removed the factory fitting to install the adapter.  I want to use my nicer hose but it has the 3/8" female fitting.

With the regulator/trap assemble plastic and the fitting brass, it looks like it is sealed some how.  I used a 13 or 14mm wrench and the sucker wouldnt budge. I didn't want to crack the regulater.

FYI, even though the compressor is only a week old, I would recomend it.  I ended up spending my money on a nicer AB (iwata HP-CS) and saved on the compressor.  Works great, though I am a newbie to air brushing.  If I ever need to replace, then I might go up on a better unit.

Thanks!

John

icer22x

That AC-500 only has a 2.5L tank on it. That's ALMOST a gallon. I have zero experience with air depletion when using an airbrush, but say I get my Badger 105, how long would it take to deplete a 2.5L tank of air while just holding down the trigger? I'm trying to see if I should get a cheaper tank-less compressor and just buy a bigger tank for it.

If you leave it with me, I can tell you more or less exactly how long it will run for.............. I'm assuming that the 105 has 0.5mm needle / nozzle & also that you will spend most of your time brushing at an average 20psi?

john087

With the regulator/trap assemble plastic and the fitting brass, it looks like it is sealed some how.  I used a 13 or 14mm wrench and the sucker wouldnt budge. I didn't want to crack the regulater.

 

I can't comment on your exact model, but regulator fittings are normaly fitted in factory with thread sealant which often dries very hard, like varnish. It should come out with some persuasion, but it might be wise to hold the regulator body firmly in a vice to try & prevent any possible damage - you will also need some thread sealant or PTFE tape when fitting the new part.

icer22x

Milair: That AC-500 only has a 2.5L tank on it. That's ALMOST a gallon. I have zero experience with air depletion when using an airbrush, but say I get my Badger 105, how long would it take to deplete a 2.5L tank of air while just holding down the trigger? I'm trying to see if I should get a cheaper tank-less compressor and just buy a bigger tank for it.

Most of the airbrush compressors, all 3 of your candidates included, have an auto-on-off pressure of 15 psi apart. It will not take long for a 1-gallon tank to drop 15 psi in airbrushing. So the compressor motor will kick on every 2-3 minutes. But it is quiet enough that it will not bother the modeler when it does.

I have a Paasche DA400 without an airtank. It is very similar to and came from the same factory as the Sparmax TC-2000. I added a tank to it myself. It was a fun project, but did not make any difference in the compressor performance.

Keilau: Nice thread! That's what I am leaning more towards. No sense in spending $100 more for a 2.5L tank. I'd rather get the TC-2000 and get used to it first. If I feel I need a tank later on, I can always get some brass tubing.

Where did you get that tank by the way?