"Looking for a good airbrush compressor." Topic

Hi All

I am looking for a good airbrush compressor, i could probably go out and find one but i thought i would come to a place that has been the source of so much ggod information in the past … TMP message boards! You all have been great, so if you airbrush a lot (and i wll be cross posting this a bunch) please let me know what i should be looking for, who makes the best compressors and who has the best deals.

Thanks,
Fozzybear

Go to your local hardware store and buy a "regular" air compressor with a reservoir tank. Don't buy a "hobby" compressor--they deliver far less for just as much if not more money (than the regular ones). You'll also need a moisture trap.

Having a reservoir tank is important, as it'll let you avoid the "pulsing" air flow and also shut down the compressor as long as the pressure inside is above a certain level. Important if you don't enjoy the rat-tat-tat-tat of the compressor piston in your ear…

I got my compressor at Home Depot and it is used for more then just then my airbrush.

chris
Rockvale TN

Hyun

Thank you, important advise and was actually curious about that. Do I need a special regulator or fittings of any kind? Or just whatever air fittings I need to adapt to the size of my airbrush hose? That ratta-tat-tat-tat might bring back fond memoreis of my fathers HUGE compressor that he used for airbrushing back in ….. oh …1975!

Home Depot! I will check there!

You shouldn't need a special adapter; if I recall correctly, most compressors (at least the Home Depot variety) have 1/4" threaded fitting, and most airbrushes come with that as standard. Double-check the manual for your airbrush, of course.

You shouldn't need a special adapter; if I recall correctly, most compressors (at least the Home Depot variety) have 1/4" threaded fitting, and most airbrushes come with that as standard. Double-check the manual for your airbrush, of course.

Hmmm, that wasn't my post; bitten by the bug again.

Basically, I echoed what the others have said. Avoid hobby compressors, get a compressor with an attached tank. My tank is 12 gallons, which can get me through an entire airbrushing session, including clean-up, before the compressor kicks in again. Mine cost something like $125 USD from Sears more than 20 years ago; something similar today should run around $200 USD at the big stores, or significantly less during a sale or from a cheap online store.

Get some quick-connect fittings for the tank and your hoses. Makes changing from your airbrush to a bike tire inflator to some other tool much quicker and easier.

Get a moisture trap. It captures the moisture from humidity in the air, keeping it off your model where it can ruin your paint job.

If the tank doesn't come with a separate pressure gauge/regulator, buy one. It's the only way to keep the pressure to your airbrush constant.

Each of the above suggestions is relatively cheap, but they make your compressor and tank much more usable.

Ditto what everybody else said, with the added note that Harbor Freight has nice cheap compressors and air tools. Get an air nailer – you'll wonder how you ever built anything without it. :-)

Doug

Any input on what size tank and what HP rating is best?

I have a brand called 'scorpion'(not sure if that's the right spelling, sorry; I'm 'studying' at college right now, so, I can't check!) that I use with a Pasche VL airbrush… not cheap, but I've had it multiple years, and never had a problem.

Horsepower isn't really a factor in a hobby airbrush compressor. Mine is 1.5 HP, and my tank is 12 gallons. I wouldn't buy less than a 6 gallon tank, but that's just my preference.

Oh, and my tank is rated for up to 150 psi.

I agree completely with weetoysoldiers, get a real compressor not a hobby one.

The good thing about Hobby compressors, thy make less noise :)