Commpressor Question

[UneekG]

What is the main difference between the high cost, small, "made for airbrushing" compressors and the ones you get at Lowes/Home Depot? In reading up on what has been posted in the forums, once you buy the compressor, you still have to buy other stuff to go with it, like the water trap, gauge, etc. I want to buy a cheaper one if I got to buy other stuff too. So why do they cost so much and are they really any better than the ones from the home improvement stores?


Thanks

CJ

[egneg]

The big difference is the amount of noise they make. A silent compressor is quite expensive but they make very little noise (like a refrigerator). The standard/cheaper ones will wake the dead. As far as the filters and gauges go that depends on the model - you may not need them as some have them as standard items.

[ABD]

the big ones ya buy at lowes or sears are fine and dandy..usually loud though..yup ya need the reg an water trap with any comp..some come with, others don't...those lil ones..most are quite..but they heat up fast which builds more moisture..Where the bigger ones with a tank help with such..gives the air time to cool...some of those lil guys only push a limited amount of psi too....say if you sprayed at 60psi...you'd really be working that lil guy, if it even went that high.

just a few things that come to mind..Hope that helped a bit:)

EDIT..Egg beat me to the post..hehe:)

[UneekG]

I never even considered the noise the compressor would make. I wish I could hear one before I bought it. I know when I work on my drawings, when I am in a groove, i could go on for hours. I am not sure if I would be that way when airbrushing or not, but I would not want to have to stop to wait for my compressor to cool down. About how long can these small compressors run?

Thanks for the info.

CJ

[sharonsstudio]

I had a small campbells comp 10 gal tank made alot of noise but turned on alot. that died went and bought a craftsman 25 gal tank fills up and takes a while before it turns on again not a noisy either,. never used the silent ones so couldn't tell you what they are like..

[ABD]

I have an old Passche 1/4 horse one..Oil less diaphram, small one piston, no air tank..Still works and has to be near 15 years old..but it only pushed like 30psi at best..probably wont push more than 10 now..hahaa!

I also had an Iwata comp..2 piston, still oil less..(real small)..was super quite..Like barely a hair dryer sound. would almost go up to 100 psi..but the water trap never held up..It made so much heat it'd spit water like every 15min.

The big loud ones are LOUD!...I have a 60gallon...Scares the hell outta me when it kicks on unexpected..hahaha!...LiL ones are fine in my opinion for a few years of practice..Ya wouldn't wanna use one all day everyday...A long hose helps cut down on pulsation, (happens with no tank)..I think ya need a bigger Moisture trap than they come with. They just fill up to quick and ya gotta constantly check it, or it goes "Splat".

Again just my findings over the years...Everyone has there different deals:)

[redanner]

A lot of the small 5 gal. air compressors you buy at Wal-Mart or such air made for the pneumatic nailing guns. Thats what I bought for $100.00 and it is noisy but works great turns on every 5 or 10 minutes depending on how much spraying is going on. A person could probably run 2 or 3 airbrushes at once I have 4 hooked up to it but only spray 1 at a time. I've turned or family room into a art studio its open air up to the living room and the noise from the air compressor doesn't interfere with the TV! If it did I would here about it! I did have to buy moisture trap but the regulator came with the compressor! The regulator at the air compressor doesn't help much for controlling pressure at the airbrush. I have a second regulator at the airbrushes. Heres a pressure drop chart.

[Cult airbrush]

When I started airbrushing I got a big compressor.While I was staying with my parents, there weren't any neighbors to bother.Like redanner said it works every 10 minutes but it goes to 94 Db!!!Now that I'm leaving in an apartment, the small silent one is a must I think.The only problem is that it costs three times higher :( at least.

[theairbrushguy]

I would say that it really depends on your budget. If you can afford silent, great. I just got a used 20-A as a silent back up for $265 + shipping on ebay. New about $450 or so. If not get a cheaper loud one and make it fit your surroundings. Set it in a basement or attic and run a hose to your work area. You can also make a "housing" (leave an opening) that muffles the noise.
Good luck.
TABG
www.theairbrushguys.com

[UneekG]

Thanks guys! I will probably get one from either Sears or Home Depot. I have a little storage room that I will probably set up in, so I shouldn't really bother anyone. I like building stuff too, so it will give me an excuse to buy a nail gun at some point.

Thanks again!

CJ

[redanner]

Thanks guys! I will probably get one from either Sears or Home Depot. I have a little storage room that I will probably set up in, so I shouldn't really bother anyone. I like building stuff too, so it will give me an excuse to buy a nail gun at some point.

Thanks again!

CJ

UneekG just remember if the compressor is enclosed where fresh air can not get to it will run hotter taking the hot air in its surroundings then you will have more moisture than usual to reckon with!

[fontgeek]

The variety of what is out there is staggering for the "cheap" compressors. Some are made to work only for short spans of time, where you need to inflate a tire, but then leave it off for the rest of the day. Others are made to run big tools or spray guns all day, where they have to move a whole lot of air, and do a fairly high rate of pressure too.
I have a few compressors, one of the Home Depot type for working a nail gun, it has two tanks that hold two gallons each, the compressor is fairly noisy, and if I were in an appartment, it would make me crazier than I already am.

I have a Jun-Air Maxi 6, it is 15 or more years old, and still runs wonderfully, it has a mild hum when the compressor is running, and unless you are right next to it, you wouldn't hear it.
I recently got two compressors for more mobile work, one is a little eighth horse power Grex compressor, and the other is also from Grex, it is basically the same as one of the big Silent Air style compressors, I haven't had a chance to test that one yet. The little one I have been using for the last month on a mural with a friend, It has run like a top, it's pretty darn quiet, and it has kept up and kept cool for the whole nine yards. We could have it close to us, be able to talk and listen to music without having to yell or have the music blasting. It has the automatic shutoff, and the cost was just under $150. It could be carried in one hand, in fact, I may look for a bowling ball bag for it. It has a handle on it, but the bag would help keep it clean when it isn't being used.

If you are in doubt about what to get, or if noise is a real issue for you, then you might consider using CO2 until you find the compressor you need to fulfill your requirements.

[UneekG]

Got a campbell Hausfeld compressor with a 2 gallon tank. The Noise isn't too bad for me. Tried it for the first time last night. Didn't really do anything but play around. Dots and Daggers are next!

Thanks for the input guys.

CJ