Compressor?

[MikefrMd]

Hi Everyone,

I'd like some advise as to what type of compressors everyone uses....I'm in the market for one.

Thank you

[Devin]

I have one of the Walmart special CH compressors with a 2 gallon tank. It works great, but is dang noisy. For that reason, I'm saving up to buy a Sparmax TC-2000. Pricey, but we recently had this discussion online in the NJIPMS crowd, and this compressor was highly recommended by someone there and by people I talked with at a Manhattan art supply store.

Of course many will say that you shouldn't use a compressor, get a CO2 tank setup and airbrush in silence with a totally humidity free source. I'd go along with that if I had a car to haul tanks back and forth, and I had more room to work with in my condo (also, I just KNOW I'd run out of CO2 at 2 a.m. when I couldn't get a refill).

-Devin

[Guest]

Hi Devin,


Any idea what size tanks folks use....do they use a moisture trap with that?


Mike

[Devin]

By tanks I assume you mean CO2? I'm not sure, I'd think it would be whatever you would pick up at a soda or beer distributor. They generally rent the tanks and regulators to you, you pay for the initial charge of CO2 and then any refills.

The two big draws of CO2 in a tank are that it is totally silent, and that you will not need a moisture trap. CO2 is totally dry.

If you mean tanks and traps on a compressor, then yes, you do need them. Most compressors come with them, but if not, you can pick them up fairly inexpensively and they will attach in-line with the airhose.

-Devin

[Sean Hert]

I have a CO2 setup that I LOVE. I have two regulators, a fixed one on the tank that brings the pressure down to 140psi, and then a normal regulator/watertrap that I use for dialing in the pressure I need. The watertrap isn't neccesary, but it's what I had lying around. Usually you can get by with one, but getting the correct fittings can be a bit of a hassle. Fortunatly, I have a lathe and was able to just machine the adapter I needed from some solid stock aluminum- but I know the fittings exist elsewhere.

I also have a little backup compressor- a Badger- for those nights when I suddenly run out of CO2 just before I'm due to show something.

My CO2 tank is a 10lb one like you see for Party Kegs and such. I got it for refilling my bottles that go on my R/C combat ships originally (From Harbor Freight); then I stopped participating in combat, but I use the system all the time now for spraying.

Depending on the humidity in your area, the basic little Testors Blue Ice compressor works just fine for relatively short duty cycles.(It's what I use in my airbrush class at the hobby shop) I still recommend some sort of moisture trap though.

[MikefrMd]

Thanks for the great advise guys....I really appreciate it.


Mike