I need a little honest advice....... I'm looking for an airbrush compressor to use with my paasche h. Harbor Freight has a few, but don't know if they have enough (cfm) power? I've heard that paasche's use a lot of air. Does anybody have one of these, and if so how good are they and how long do they last? I'll be using Badger Model Flex and Polly Scale paints if that makes any difference. Noise and money are an issue. Can't have a tank with kids running around, so I'll need a reasonably quiet compressor. Thanks in advance for any help!
I have a Badger 150 and a Paasche VL set. I use...... THIS Compressor I got it at some discount place for around $80 or something. Not the most expensive compressor in the world. But it does okay. It certainly has enough "oooumphh" to push plenty of air through either of my brushes. If I had the space, I would get something with a much larger tank. I run this compressor between 19# and 28# depending on the paint I am using, etc., etc. For as little as I paid for this thing, I am sure the gauge is not the most accurate in the world. So my actual air pressure may be different from what I am seeing on the gauge. And that's fine. The point is there are tons of small compressors out there that will drive a home-use air brush. Before I got my current compressor, I was using a Badger tankless compressor for years until it "wore out". It also drove both brushes just fine. As for noise, that's pretty "relative". Both compressors I own make plenty of noise. But I suspect that is because they are in my hobby workshop which has tile floors, they're not bolted down, or no sound attenuation, and so on, so the noise is "amplified" somewhat. But the noise has never been so bad it is an "issue" here. With your noise concern, you should plug 'em in at the store just to see for yourself HOW MUCH noise the one you consider taking home makes.
Freight Train: Here are recent posts about airbrush compressors. These links are to the How To Forum. They will, in turn, link you to the threads. Compressor thread #1 Compressor thread #2 Welcome to TB.
I got mine at Harbor Freight I have an air compressor for duel purpose. I use it to pressure up a 2 1/2 gal paint pot for compressing air bubbles in my resin casting. The second purpose is used for air brushing. All activities are done in the Garage turned shop. While at Harbor Freight I purchased the 2 1/2 gal pressure pot and found a 2 gallon pancake air compressor discounted as it was the only one left/demonstrator model. Hey it worked and I got it for $40.00. Have had it for 3+ years now and still running strong. It may be a bit noisy, but I do work in a garage. If you need a high cfm output I suggest getting at least a 2 gallon tank'd air compressor, big is you can afford it. Hobo Tim
As far as a compressor for your air brush just about any one you get will do the job. Will it be quiet? Not likely on the low end of the money from the big box companys. The larger the tank the less the compressor has to run once it's filled up. If your really intrested in a very quiet unit go to a art supply house, Passche web site, or others that you can find on line with Google. But expect to pay a premium price in the neighborhood of around 400.00 bucks and up for a real good unit. By the way the most CFM's you will probably ever use for painting is about 35 and 16 is the norm. And get a air filter to go with that regulator it's worth the price. "Still Training After All These Years"
My tank just has a motor that runs around moves a belt that spins a flywheel. Seriously, though, what is the kids/tank connection? I have two little kids and I keep them away from the moving parts of my compressor when I am running it, and I always discharge the air when I am done so they don't play with loads of psi built up, but I have FAR more dangerous things around than my little tank air compressor. P.S. Welcome to TRAINBOARD!
Reasonably quiet? The $40-$80 products will have enough pressure, but will either be loud enough to wake up the dead or at least take them out of deep REM.
By tank, I mean a compressed gas tank. After that Mythbuster episode, the wife doesn't want any high pressure tank in the house because of the kids maybe knocking it over and so forth. Sorry.... You'll have to forgive me....I can be a little slow at times (not thinking right). Been a long week. I was probably half asleep when I posted this. I had a larger air compressor until it gave up the ghost this week. Every time it cycled, it would scare everyone in the house including the dog. I was hoping to find something a little quieter. Wasn't sure how good or quiet those airbrush compressors are. I really appreciate everyones help here. Thanks guys!!!:thumbs_up:
I have one like this http://www.diy-compressors.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28_23_70&products_id=59 but it's pricey as Lee says. (I think the same unit comes 'badge engineered' in a few guises). However, I don't regret it at all. It is very quiet - it's the kind of compressor used in refrigerators - it is fully automatic for start stop when air used/needed, and has tank, regulator, etc, built into the one small casing. Incidentally, the tank may not seem big, but the compressor is switched to keep it at high pressure (70 psi I think). The regulator drops this to whatever is needed (usu. about 20 psi), so a small tank goes a long way.
I have a huge 60 gallon 6.5HP vertical and I just have the badger adapter with a regulator/separator to drop the pressure and filter moisture. It's kind of like killing a fly with a bazooka but it works and it never cycles unless I'm doing alot of painting.
