The noise would have driven me crazy. My compressor shopping experience a few years back. It is personal. But the saving of one or two model kits is not worth the price of living with the noise while modeling.
Heat is the worst enemy of a compressor. It will increase the moisture content in the output air and eventually shorten the life span of the compressor. It is important to keep the compressor in a well ventilated environment.
Got another find for you. When I first bought my airbrush I naturally started looking at airbrush holders. Man, those things are expensive!! Here’s a photo of my solution. I got this at the dollar store for … one dollar! It’s designed to stick to the wall of your shower and hold a razor. The suction cup didn’t fit the edge of my bench so I just put a couple of screws through it and voila! One very convenient place to hang the airbrush during painting sessions. Yeah, I’m a cheapskate but I’ve got a perfectly good airbrush holder for a buck.
The filter regulator I posted the photo of uses 1/4 connectors and I didn’t need to buy any adaptors. It uses the same size as all my other air tools, 1/4 NPT
You will need 2 male-to-male adaptors, 3/8" to 1/4", for the compressor and airhose. The HF product picture shows male-female type adaptors. Check to make sure at the store before taking it home. It may save you an extra trip. I noticed that you have quick disconnect at both end of the filter/regulator in your setup. Icer may need to do the same thing.
For many tools compressor, the air outlet connector is a 1/4" quick disconnect. For airbrush compressor, it usually comes with a 1/4" to 1/4" adaptor. Not sure what the Sears compressor comes with.
I am also not sure if the HF filter/regulator is a good fit for airbrush. It is a high flow volume filter, which means coarse filter grid. Air tools are much more tolerant of debri and, in fact, wants oil mist in the air stream to help lubricate the air tool. I have a Sears 1-HP compressor in my garage for general household works. I usually do not mix the accessories with my airbrush setup.
OK, Keilau, let me clarify because you’re absolutely right, that filter does come with a 3/8 male to 1/4 female adaptor (x2). I probably should have mentioned that when I bought the compressor I also bought a little accesory kit (I think about ten bucks, no more than $20) that came with a 1/4 NPT male to male, the quick disconnect, several male QD fittings, as well as some other stuff, like a blow gun and a nozzle for filling tires and what not. With that kit I didn’t need to buy anything else. Well, except for some teflon tape.
Now, you say that filter is high flow so it could be better. Tell me more. Should I be using a low flow filter? maybe I could add another filter (with a finer grid but without the water trap) down stream from the water trap? I haven’t had any problems so far but I don’t want to start having trouble right in the middle of a paint job. I’m also wondering about the wisdom of using the same filter for both compressors. I attach the filter directly to the compressor on both of them, so I don’t see what the damage could be, but perhaps you know more than I so please share your experience. I know that without the filter on the larger compressor my DA will start bleeding water after a while. The larger compressor is the Sears Powermate 26 gallon 1.6 HP model. Yes, I know, I really shouldn’t be using a DA with that but the flow rate of the compressor is 5 cfm at 90 psi and that’s exactly what the DA says it needs. But for this discussion I’m mainly concerned with the little airbrush compressor so any tips or advice on how to make that set up better and/or trouble free will be most appreciated.
Gary, the proof is in the pudding. I can see that you are doing well modeling. If your setup works fine for you in airbrushing, it is a GOOD setup. No reason to change it in any way.
My comments are meant for new comers to airbrushing like Icer. It just supplemented the details that you leave out, such as the accessory kit of connectors. It may save some frustration to find missing components after getting home.
I presume that you do not have your big Powermate compressor in the modeling workbench area. You must have a good arrangement for minimizing the noise. I have no firsthand experience with either the Powermate or the Evolv compressor. Personally, I have separate setup for airbrushing and household airtools. I like that arrangement better.
You have the spirit of this forum in sharing your experience. They are helpful to all of us.
Thanks for the info. about the reg./trap. I took my compressor back to Sears today. It was just too loud. If I had a house with a basement, it would have been fine, but I just need something quieter. Sound is the major determining factor for me.
Benn looking at the Sparmax AC-500, Sparmax TC-2000 and the Iwata Smart Jet (no tank for this one though :(). Quiet AND comes with a tank. Any suggestions?
One thing I didn’t like about that Craftsman was it triggered the compressor too soon. The compressor would shut off at around 90 PSI in the tank and kick back in around 75. I thought I could at least drain the tank halfway before it would kick back in.
Sorry to hear the Evolv didn’t work out for you. I feel kind of bad that I brought it up. I feel bad that you had to take the time, gas and energy to get something you eventually returned. Sorry about that. [:(]
Otherwise, when I fill mine up for airbrushing purposes, I’ll let it fill up until it shuts off and then I’ll unplug the unit to make sure it doesn’t kick back on. If I’m airbrushing, there’s no need for the compresser to come back on when it gets down to 75 psi. That’s still more than enough pressure to paint a model during an airbrushing session. But you’re exactly right. It will kick in after it drops a few PSI. But for what we’re using it for, we just need to remember to shut the unit off or unplug it after the initial fill-up.
I was hoping the Evolv would fill your needs. My wife was sitting next to me last night as we were reading over the chat thread. She even remarked that when I have the compressor turned on downstairs, she can’t even hear it upstairs.
For Keilau: Thanks for the kind words. No, the big compressor is not near the modeling area. Here’s a photo of my cheap little Harbor Freight compressor ($39.99 with coupon). A lot of guys talk bad about the quality of H.F. stuff, but I just love this little unit. It’s actually really quiet, too. You have to actually be on the basement stairs before you can hear it running. It does everything I want it to do and doesn’t give me any static. As you can see, I have the quick disconnect that came with the compressor attached to the compressor itself so I can just plug in the filter. So far I haven’t had any issues with cross contamination from the big compressor and I’ve never seen even a hint of airtool oil when I use it on the little one. If I ever do detect even a hint of trouble I’ll get a new filter for the little one and move this one to the garage permanently. I also liked how using the Q.D. on the compressor eliminated any clearance problems with the filter hitting the tank.
For Icer: Sorry to hear the craftsman didn’t work out for you. I still think if you’re in Harbor Freight anyway you should given this one a listen. Remember what Keilau said, though, and take into consideration that it would be a little louder once you get it home in a smaller space. At least you should get some idea if it’s louder or quieter than the craftsman. I still recommend a compressor with a tank. If you go with the Iwata maybe you can add a tank. I’ve seen 5 gallon tanks for about $30 and 11 gallons for about $40 but I don’t know how difficult it would be to set them up with a tankless compressor. I saw one guy in this thread that said he added a tank so he would know more than I about that. When I first started out I had a tank made out of an old propane tank (like for your BBQ) and I filled it with a Black & Decker Airstation. Loud as all get out but I didn’t have the noise concerns you do. Good luck with this, and I’ll be looking forward to hearing how it finally comes out for you. And once again, great find on that 22 piece clamp set. It’s at the top of my list for my next trip to H.F.
Since using a tankless compressor for several models, I would not let that be a reason for not buying one. As stated numerous times, the HF1/8hp compressor works flawlessly (for me) to spray a small amount (as required for most models), is quiet and adjustable. Now if I were an AB artist running it all day long… perhaps a different response.
I would say the order of preferance is just as you have it;
AC-500, twin with receiver,
TC-2000, same twin without receiver,
Smart Jet, Single from Sparmax - you will pay for the Iwata name.
Noise output from these will be similar.
No matter what point the compressor is set to recharge, overall the running time will be no different - a 1/2 tank will take twice as long to replenish as a 1/4 tank (more or less).
No worries Eric! It was a great suggestion - and as you said, you had no way of relaying to me how it would sound in my little apartment. When I finally get a bigger working space I will no doubt turn to Craftsman again and look at their other models. I was just paranoid that everyone around me could here it chugging away. Haha And I did exactly as you said - I let it charge to full then shut it off (when I was playing around with it). I then used the attachment as a pretend airbrush to see how fast a full tank would drain using around 20 PSI. Now with the attachment I was using I understand the air was coming out a lot faster than it would from an air brush. I just couldn’t get past the idea that my neighbors were just being too nice to come down and beat on my door and ask me WTF I had running in my room.
Milair: That AC-500 only has a 2.5L tank on it. That’s ALMOST a gallon. I have zero experience with air depletion when using an airbrush, but say I get my Badger 105, how long would it take to deplete a 2.5L tank of air while just holding down the trigger? I’m trying to see if I should get a cheaper tank-less compressor and just buy a bigger tank for it.
P.S. This is by far the most helpful non-arrogant forum I’ve been to in my many years of internet surfing. Maybe the paint fumes affect our brains in such a way…
If I could, I’d buy you all a beer for your help. Guinness of course. Non-negotiable.
Not to thread jack, but for those of you with the Harbor Freight compressor, I have a question.
I saw in an eariler post that it comes with an optional 1/4"male in - 3/8" male out. How do you removed the factory fitting to install the adapter. I want to use my nicer hose but it has the 3/8" female fitting.
With the regulator/trap assemble plastic and the fitting brass, it looks like it is sealed some how. I used a 13 or 14mm wrench and the sucker wouldnt budge. I didn’t want to crack the regulater.
FYI, even though the compressor is only a week old, I would recomend it. I ended up spending my money on a nicer AB (iwata HP-CS) and saved on the compressor. Works great, though I am a newbie to air brushing. If I ever need to replace, then I might go up on a better unit.
If you leave it with me, I can tell you more or less exactly how long it will run for… I’m assuming that the 105 has 0.5mm needle / nozzle & also that you will spend most of your time brushing at an average 20psi?
I can’t comment on your exact model, but regulator fittings are normaly fitted in factory with thread sealant which often dries very hard, like varnish. It should come out with some persuasion, but it might be wise to hold the regulator body firmly in a vice to try & prevent any possible damage - you will also need some thread sealant or PTFE tape when fitting the new part.
Most of the airbrush compressors, all 3 of your candidates included, have an auto-on-off pressure of 15 psi apart. It will not take long for a 1-gallon tank to drop 15 psi in airbrushing. So the compressor motor will kick on every 2-3 minutes. But it is quiet enough that it will not bother the modeler when it does.
I have a Paasche DA400 without an airtank. It is very similar to and came from the same factory as the Sparmax TC-2000. I added a tank to it myself. It was a fun project, but did not make any difference in the compressor performance.
Keilau: Nice thread! That’s what I am leaning more towards. No sense in spending $100 more for a 2.5L tank. I’d rather get the TC-2000 and get used to it first. If I feel I need a tank later on, I can always get some brass tubing.
If I had a house with a basement, it would have been fine, but I just need something quieter. Sound is the major determining factor for me.