Airbrush compressor

[Saito2 8501]

With the increasing price of spray paint and the availability of cheaper, mixable (and longer lasting it seems) Createx paints, I have given some thought to getting an airbrush compressor. I already have an old Badger siphon feed airbrush with virtually no use on it. Harbor Freight (better known as Horrible Freight) tools had a little setup for $100.

Then I thought (I do a lot of thinking) of perhaps stretching my budget to $150 to get a better quality compressor. I know Iwata and Paasche seem to be big names in this space, but I also saw Tamiya offers a basic compressor with airbrush that seems to review well too. I'm painting nothing larger than typical 1/10th scale polycabonate bodies. Will the Tamiya compressor do the job or are there others that are better suited to painting bodies? I want something reliable over any added bells and whistles.

[Eric Bloodsmith 29]

I don't know much about the good brands, but I got an airbrush with a small compressor last year to paint video game controllers with acrylics and it barely worked, one of those cheapo compressors. If you can get a compressor with a tank, you should be fine.

[Gebbly 875]

I'm only a beginner with airbrushes so when I started I got a kit something like https://www.everythingairbrush.com/product/as-186-compressor-two-airbrush-starter-kit/ which included the TC-80T. Its a bit noisy when its filling up but seemed to work reasonably well when I did a static model.

[Mad Ax 11491]

Many years back I bought an airbrush starter kit that came with a little tankless compressor.  I didn't use it much until I got a nice dry loft room to paint in, only it would get warm in there, and over extended spray sessions the compressor would stall.  In the end I had to rig up my industrial extractor fan to draw through the compressor body to keep it cool.

Also having no air tank made it only useful in short bursts, so only for detail stuff, not for painting entire bodies.

I haven't used it a lot recently but I've been powering it from a Clarke workshop compressor.  That's not ideal as the Clarke can introduce moisture and oil, although I do have a wall-mounted moisture trap and pressure regulator.

Last year my wife and I bought a new mini-compressor and airbrush at an event, but so far we haven't even unboxed it.  In fact we only just cleared the spray bench 3 weeks ago.

[alvinlwh 8068]

Compressed air is compressed air. There is no need to go for a hobby branded compress air. What you need is a compressor with an air tank to take out the pulsing air and moisture. I had a 8l contractor grade compressor that is good for airbrush and pumping up the tyres and using an air wrench. It lasted for 20 years before it's tank rusted through. The good thing about contractor grade stuff is they are cheap and last for a long time. The bad thing is they are very noisy. 

I will advice against a Tamiya compressor, it is weak and expensive. 

[Saito2 8501]

Ok, the Tamiya compressor is out and I will get one with a tank. I have a big compressor I used to paint 1:1 cars with, but its out in the cold cold shop and very noisy. I'm looking for something that can be run indoors.

[Howards 911]

As long as it provides consistent moisture-free air at the pressure you need it for the duration you need it, it’s a much of a muchness. 

if you could get value from a shop compressor and don’t mind the noise then you can use that with the correct fittings. Run a long air hose to an indoors space? 

[OldSchoolRC1 1152]

I've had terrible luck with "hobby compressors" over the years and they are quite expensive. I agree with @Mad Ax - they just can't keep up when painting larger bodies.  Fine for detail work - trains and static models, etc. and that's it. 

I picked up a small-ish contractor pancake compressor at the local hardware store and built a small plywood box around it to keep the noise down. Still noisy, but not nearly as jarring as it was.  All the air I need and 1/3 the price. If going that route I would highly recommend a moisture trap on the line - mine made quite a difference. 

[alvinlwh 8068]

If you already have a big compressor and it is out of the way, consider getting a long hose as suggested, or an air tank. Use the loud compressor to charge up the air rank, shut it off, run the airbrush off the tank. On my small 8l compressor, I can airbrush for 2 - 3 minutes on a charged rank before the pressure become too low to use and I have to restart the compressor. I think air tanks comes in 24l size, and it will allow much longer spray time before you have to recharge it. 

[Gratuit 192]

I have this kind of compressor in my workshop. It has a tank, is quite cheap and quite quiet (for a compressor I mean)

[Rinskie 1352]

This used to be a topic near and dear to my heart. I used to love airbrushing and tried all sorts of things from 20lb CO2 tanks to small single pump compressors to compressed air cans. I needed something quiet because I live in an apartment which ruled out a pancake design. Since I am a bit of an Iwata snob, at one time I had 4-5 airbrushes and the compressor. Now I just have a basic Iwata Revolution, a minigun and the compressor. The compressor is the way to go but you don't need to spend $500 on one either. The rocket is the type of work I used to do and one day when I find my love for it back, I'd like to do it again. 

 

 

[Rinskie 1352]

14 hours ago, Saito2 said:

Ok, the Tamiya compressor is out and I will get one with a tank. I have a big compressor I used to paint 1:1 cars with, but its out in the cold cold shop and very noisy. I'm looking for something that can be run indoors.

You are already set. Set up a manifold and run a hose into your shop. That would be my dream set up. Say something like shut off valve installed on your big compressor, a copper line into the shop, a feeder tank with a tap and a 2nd regulator and Bob's your uncle. You could get that done for half your budget and have plenty of scratch left over. 

[guggles 367]

I got the fortress 2gallon from harbor freight. I really like it! Might be a little bit more noisy than a small airbrush compressor but it really is very quiet compared to a large compressor.  I like the larger tank size. It also can be used for lots of other small projects too. 

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-gallon-135-psi-ultra-quiet-oil-free-hand-carry-jobsite-air-compressor-64596.html

[No Slack 622]

I still use my Tamiya compressor. I bought it in 1994. It runs on racing packs. Very reliable. (Airbrushen I use are: Badger 150, Revell pro and H&S Ultra.)

Pictures are in my showroom.

https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=106489&id=31421