Getting back int omodeling with my son after more than a decade off. Looking to buy an airbrush and compressor. I’ve settled on a Badger 105 Patriot but have the following compressor questions:
Does a single piston with an air tank give the same performance as a twin piston unit? Pulsation shouldn’t be a problem with either one so the only difference I see would be greater pressure range on the twin unit am I right?
Trying to decide between TC Global’s offerings. There’s single piston and a twin piston both with air tanks. I did notice that the operating ranges are slightly different and the single piston goes lower to around 15 PSI. Isn’t that better for modeling uses?
Any advice and or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Been reviewing the posts here in these forums and you guys are an invaluable help!
The performance with a tank with be very similar. Tanks act as a “stilling” device to eliminate any pulses, though modern compressors aren’t a bad as the older ones were.
Are you comparing the TC-20T to the TC-196T? According the full specs the 196 goes to 10 psi.
For the $20 money difference I would get the twin piston. I look at it this way, to keep up the pressure the single piston will have to work twice as hard to maintain pressure, which will result in a short life span.
Yes those are the two models I was looking at! Good catch on the PSI ranges I missed that on the TC-196T. Great point on the twin piston, I was leaning that way since it was only $20 difference. Anyone own these models and have opinions? Are they reliable compared to other more expensive units? I thought the prices were very reasonable but I’ve been through the “you get what you pay for” experiences and am willing to spend more for reliability.
I use a “garage” style compressor myself, so I don’t have a personal experience to share, but I have heard nothing but good things about the TCP Global compressors. If I was to buy a new compressor I would consider the twin piston version for myself.
The Airbrush Depot TC-700 is the TC-196T with a metal case. You will find some review of the TC-700 searching for “TC 700”. Remember to change your “sort and filter” date to All Date before you search. Otherwise, the forum default to a 2-months window and you will find NOTHING.
There are more buyers of the TC-20T compressor. Search for “TC 20T”. I believe that most feedback on these two compressors had been positive. The case of their durability is yet to be established. However, if a compressor runs quiet and cool, it is a good indication that it will run well for a long time. Poorly made compressor tends to run hot and noisy, or with little power.
Tank does far more than smooth pulsations. It allows compressor to shut off for awhile now and then. It allows the regulator to work better, with less effect on the compressor. The tank itself settles out some water (tank should be drained periodically to prevent rusting.
A big tank allows pressure to build up, the compressor shuts off, and you can airbrush for quite awhile before compressor comes back on.
Now, even though the tank and its pressure switch control the pressure a bit, there is a range, with a high and low limit. The compressor is shut off at the high limit, and stays off until the tank drops to the low limit. This range is too much for good airbrushing, so having a tank doesn’t eliminate the need for a regulator. However, many tank-equipped units already come with a regulator (in addition to the pressure switch).
Another positive thing about a tank on a compressor is that it extends the compressor motor’s life!
Most compressors have a 50% duty cycle which means if the compressor motor runs for 30 seconds then it should be off for 30 seconds. Anything higher than a 50% duty cycle is going to cause excess heat which will shorten the life of the compressor as heat is the enemy of a compressor. [;)]