cheap air compressor

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Hi Everyone,

I’ve just started airbrushing, using a cheap single action airbrush and canned air. I’d like to get an aircompressor, but I’m not wanting to spend $100+. Is there an air compressor for like $20-$50 that I can use? I’m afraid that for the most part I don’t know what it is that I need to look for (as far as PSI and such).

Thanks, Joshua

2

I have not seen any in 20-50 dollar area, but someone else might be able to help you out. Good Luck!

3

ebay

4

You can make your own if you want to for next to nothing. Find an old broken refrigerator. Usually you can get one for free if your town has a large item pick up day. The compressors in refrigerators are great for airbrushing, and really quiet. Of course you woul nee to buy a regulator and a moisture trap if needed.

wetmonkey

5

You get what you pay for. A $20 to $50 compressor puts you down into the very inespesive range and is generallly not going to be as reliable as a good compressor. Your best bet, as 1337 pointed out, will be to find a used one in that price range or to rig up a tank. If you go up to around $100 you can find a good compressor, but for $20 to $50 you will be hard pressed to find anything but headaches.

6

Thanks guys!

7

I got an inudstrial air compressor for 100 USD. It works very well, but since it has such a high air flow, the air regulator gets a little innaccurate down to the 10-20 PSI range. Good luck with your air compressor!

wetmonkey

8

I paid $65 for mine at Lowes and it seems to work just fine… it has a 2 gal tank on it so it eliminates any pulsing from the compressor, and the reservoir also eliminates some of the flow problems.

I took the regulator off and replaced it with a Testors hobby regulator (it is marked in 1 PSI increments instead of 2.5) and have had no probs with it! The regulator it comes with works but it is more a “seat of the pants” feel as to what air pressure you are at…