The Ship Model Forum

Hello Les back here. If you require a compressor to spray automobiles or cabinets go for the biggest. However I am assuming you work in your house. I have used storage tanks for other uses but found that you run out of air before your finished. Have to stop for a recharge. I spray cabinetry for a living so have a large compressor system for this purpose. For anyone that sprays for a hobby in your house a small single tank compressor is the best option. Quieter the better. This is why I highly recommended the Makita compressor. It is less money than art store compressors and performs the same. However use what works for you.

Hello Les here. Sorry for the late reply. I have recently replaced my old DeVilbiss with a Makita model AC 001. Available at Home Depot etc. Less cost than art store compressors. Super quiet and highly recommended. She's a beauty.

[quote="garyrunnalls"]I gave away all my noisy compressors and use CO2 tanks, LOVE em!!!!!!! around $200.00 start-up and 20 bucks to fill a tank that lasts 2-4 months. I don't miss the BBBRRRRRRRR rrrr noise at all and much easier to control air flow and pressure.[/quote]

This is actually a great idea. Especially if noise is an issue.

If you're going to get a cheap compressor make sure it has a tank.

But if you prefer a compressor and noise could be an issue then I would steer you back towards something similar to what you saw at the hobby shop. Piston compressors with tanks are excellent for airbrushing and the better ones are very quiet. Something like a Paasche DC600R Air Compressor would work well for you.

Good luck!
Dave

I gave away all my noisy compressors and use CO2 tanks, LOVE em!!!!!!! around $200.00 start-up and 20 bucks to fill a tank that lasts 2-4 months. I don't miss the BBBRRRRRRRR rrrr noise at all and much easier to control air flow and pressure.

Congratulations. I'm glad you found one that suited your needs.

Bob M.

Tonight I was able to try out my new compressor for the first time.
After doing quite a bit of research, I picked up one of these, the "JC10" from Rolair, a small company in Wisconsin.

[img]http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g309/Jim21680/Rolair%20JC10.jpg[/img]

It's an oil-free, 2.5 gallon capacity unit that runs at 60dB (which is pretty darn quiet for something like this).
That's about the level of a normal indoor conversation. While I don't think it would compare to the "silent" compressors, it's hard to beat at this price range ($240).

I could've got something smaller & cheaper, but this will handle various household jobs as well.
My airbrushing skills need some work, but I'm very happy with this purchase. It definitely seems to be a high-quality product.

I started out using a Sears 5gal. oil filled nail gun compressor...had to use it in the shed because it was so noisy.
In addition to models, I do gunsmith work also. I use extensively a line of metal coatings called DuraCoat for modern re-bluing. This product is applied with an AirBrush at low pressure. My Sears unit was a good compressor but it just wasn't fine tune-able enough to get the low working pressures I need for the DuraCoat.
Was in Harbor Freight one day and they had a airbrush/mini compressor set for like 50 bucks or so....I bought it..have used it now for nearly 2 years both for gun work and model building and this little unit works great! It's a 1/6 H.P. oil-less compressor that will push out up to 55 or 60 psi if needed I normally run it from 7 to 15 psi. It has a moisture trap included but I run an additional one in-line with it just in case...can't take a chance with water on an antique firearm finish. Anyway this unit works great and I haven't had any problems with it...it runs a little hot after prolonged use but it's super quiet and dependable. As for the airbrush that came with it......ahhh..trash it and buy a good one instead.

HF still carries it but it's a little more now...same unit though http://www.harborfreight.com/16-hp-58-psi-oilless-airbrush-compressor-60329.html
For a good affordable hobby compressor that's dependable , compact and quiet..this rascal fits the bill...

That idea of a tank came to mind recently...my dad even suggested finding an old truck tire. I have no experience yet, but I'm assuming a 10-gallon tank at 150psi would last long enough to paint a 1/350 hull & superstructure. Those tanks go for about $35 bucks at the local box stores. Not a bad idea...

Just to complicate things a bit, remember that a compressor is not your only option. If you live in an area where you have access to a supplier of mixed gasses, you can always buy or rent one of their tanks and have it filled with good old plain air. It is utterly silent and unless you do a heck of a lot of airbrushing, a full sized tank will last you for a very long time. This is an especially good option if you live in a situation where compressor noise is going to be an issue. Personally I have a Campbell-Hausfeld with a 2 Gal. tank that I bought years ago at a flea market for next to nothing. Has served me well and I have no complaints. But, it does sound like a 747 on takeoff thrust when it is running.

Just a thought.

Bob M

Hey all,

Any thoughts on [i]oil-lubed[/i] vs [i]oil-free[/i] compressors? Oil-lubed are generally regarded to be quieter and last longer, but will I run into problems with airbrushing? (I will definitely be using a filter).

The "last longer" argument doesn't really have much weight in the decision, as I've heard numerous stories of oil-free pumps last many years.
What I have in mind is a typical 3-6 gallon tanked compressor, probably from Craftsman, Porter Cable or Bostitch.

Charlestonguy said:

[quote]I agree, but mine has 75 Lbs max. What I like about the extra air pressure is you can use it for all sorts of paint, heavy metal flakes will need more pressure than sold colors.[/quote]

75 lbs. !!!!!! I regularly spray between 8 and 13 lbs. How far back are you spraying from?? Can't imagine metal flakes taking that much pressure. Maybe if you thinned the paint more....

Hi all-
I was looking at getting a compressor from Home Depot as they are on sale now. I have seen ratings on horsepower, pressure and storage tank size. Isn't the flow of air also important? What flow in "cfm" is needed to paint models? Some are less than 1 cfm with a storage tank but others are 2 to 5 cfm. What is truely the rating of the "ideal" compressor for model painting in terms of hp, psi, tank size and cfm?
Thanks!
J Seeling

Try evil bay just got one sent to brisbane from sydney 1.5hp with water seperator $49 i ve seen them go for less works just fine (with postage).


ed

K-mart check yer local
2hp 24L tank $65.00 on clearance, I'd buy it but postage might be a problem & stuffing it into your letterbox could damage the paint job
Tony

[quote="les"]It should work well for you. One note, I was told to have a guage that would keep my running pressure in the center of the guage. I added a guage to mine behind the one that came with it that is maxed out at 25 lbs. [/quote]

I agree, but mine has 75 Lbs max. What I like about the extra air pressure is you can use it for all sorts of paint, heavy metal flakes will need more pressure than sold colors.
Also if your needle is clogged just switch over to pure thinner and blow the crap out with extra air, then switch back to normal setting and keep painting.

It should work well for you. One note, I was told to have a guage that would keep my running pressure in the center of the guage. I added a guage to mine behind the one that came with it that is maxed out at 25 lbs.

As for your choice of compressor, you have to realize how often you'll acutually be running it. Even if it's designed to last one year of constant running, it's going to take you years to hit that mark painting models.

Thanks for all this info! I went and looked at some cheap ones in Supercheap today. I saw a 99 dollar 2hp one that I guess would handle airbrushing OK. I think that I would need a really big machine for spray painting full size stuff so maybe that's off the agenda.

I like the idea of a compressor with a tank for 99 dollars. They had water traps/pressure gauges there for 39 dollars too.

[quote="Charlestonguy"]The add said it has no gage, so I guess you can't adjust your pressure except with the airbrush trigger?[/quote]

Mine has a gauge and pressure selection knob. It mounts off of the body, on the same mount that has the moisture trap and airbrush holder. Quite the cool little setup actually, and with a length of hose between that and the compressor, I can have those items right where I'm working while the compressor sets off in the corner out of the way.

[quote="Tigerfish"]
That GMC is available at Bunnings right now (I'm just north of Brisbane BTW). They have other compressors right down to 89 dollars. But I have no idea about how good they'd be, particularly if they're noisy (I expect they are). As I have some vague ideas of how useful a big compressor would be for other projects (I have built one real sailing boat and want to build another) but I don't want to end up with a piece of cr@p not ideal for either role. As usual if you want quality you pay for it and I'm unfortunately a bit of a tightwad. :big_grin:[/quote]

Forget the hobby stuff!
Get the largest tank & comp you can then. Secondhand can be ok. A vertical tank with the comp on top, was sold by Servex, (an ozzie company still in business I believe). You can turn the reg down for airbrushing etc.
If you are considering a 1to1 scale boat Painting/air sanding (uses lots of air quickly) you do need a large cap compressor, none of these will be quiet. During the day no problem, at night unless you are on a large block or keep on good terms with the neighbours, BBQ's occasionally, it can be a problem after midnight.

[quote="Devin"]I'd say go for the inexpensive hardware store compressor with the tank if you can. I had one and liked it --it was nice to also be able to use it with air tools and to fill tires -- but for an apartment dweller, it was too noisy and bounced around too much.

I invested in a [url=http://www.dixieart.com/TC2000.html]Sparmax TC-2000[/url] and it's been one of the best hobby investments I've made (well, it and the Sotar 20/20 I use with it). It's dual piston and has an automatic on/off switch. No tank, but due to that switch and the dual pistons, there is no pulsing at all. It's also dead silent, I can run it at any time of the day or night and no one else is the wiser, and it doesn't drown out my music as I work.

I can't recommend it highly enough.[/quote]

The add said it has no gage, so I guess you can't adjust your pressure except with the airbrush trigger?