Just like the title reads I got my first airbrush specfic compressor just this past weekend.[<:o)] It’s a Badger Model Silent 1 380-1 that I bought from a family friend. He’s the type of guy that will buy almost any tool from a garage sale that’s a good deal even if he won’t ever use it. That’s sorta lucky for me since he had it in the garage collecting dust.
I paid the sum of $25 dollars for it, and yes it works. Now I couldn’t find any reviews of this specific compressor or it’s orginal retail price (if you know of any product reviews or where I can get the instruction manual from it would be of much help, thanks in advance.) Looking at the newest Badger series of “Silent” compressors I see the model 480-1 sells for around $700.00. Now I’m no mathematician but based on the price of similar compressors it looks like I got one heck of a deal and possibly a contender for the deal of the year award.[;)]
Does anyone know if this series of compressors is any good overall? I haven’t had the chance to try the cheap airbrush I have from Harbor Freight so I’m not 100% sure of how it will paint. Hmmm…guess that means I might also have to get a better airbrush and actually start practicing the art of airbrushing.
This used to be the top of the line Badger compressor. Top of the line compressors are generally very very very good whether it’s from Badger or Iwata.
I’ve found that a good regulator is more important than the compressor itself. As long as the compressor puts out 30 psi you’re good to go (At least for my Badger 100G). It’s important to have a regulator that has a fine enough control range for different types of paint. BTW I just bought a used oil-less tank type compressor for 30 bucks at our local pawn shop and it works great, even has a good built-in regulator so it’s like getting a two fer!
In the interest of balance here, and lest that you go worrying now about getting a regulator before you use your compressor or blame your results on the wrong settings, I must state that I use no regulator and never have, and have sprayed all sorts of acrylics, enamels, and even lacquers for car bodies.
. I simply run my compressor wide open and regulate the air pressure from the finger-lever. It can be done, and I have found that monkeying around with a regulator and its setting can actually under-power your airbrush and cause clogging and drying in the tip if you’re not careful. All in all, I’ve found a regulator to be more problem than it was worth.
Your results may differ, however. Just don’t get fixated on that as your source of either miracles or disasters.