After searching the web I am unable to find anywhere that has a list of the better quiet compressors ($500-$600) and some of their characteristics such as noise level and durability. I am considering Medea Hammerhead and others sold at Dixie Art who has a comparison list with tank size and recommended applications. I have seen people in these forums mention hours of life expectancy and duty cycle as well as noise levels, but I am unable to find a comparison buying guide that covers durability and noise levels. Thanks for any opinions or links to info.
Greg,
Most of the better compressors like the Medea you mentioned have a Hours of Service rating of at least 5,000 hrs.
What models and comparisons do you need?
I have all of the Airbrush Action magazines here from the last 10 years and they have a “Compressor Buyers Guide” each year.
The “Buyers Guide” lists weight, size, max pressure, airflow @ 20 psi, horsepower, noise level, vibration level, tank capacity, hours of service, warranty, and a few others. [:D]
Mike
I just bought a Campbell- Hausfield model 2404 Quiet Air compressor that has a 2 gallon tank pressurized to 100 psi. It is remarkably quiet and cost me 100.00 at a local Harbor Freight store. I am not sure how it compares to the higher end stuff you are looking for , but if you are interested , go to WWW. CHPOWER.com for their online compressor catalog.
Regards, Dan
Welcome to the FSM forums Greg. I have the testor mini-blue compressor and it is pretty quite.
mark956
Mike,
Here are the models:
Badger: TRILLION-AIR model #480-3
Createx Stealth TC 5000
Medea: Hammerhead Shark
Medea: Mako Shark
Paasche: D6000
Silentaire: Super Silent DR-500
Silentaire: Super Silent 50-TC
Silentaire: 50-6 Compressor
I would want to compare weight, size, max pressure, airflow, horsepower, noise level, vibration level, tank capacity, hours of service, warranty and anything else that you feel is important.
I am looking for something that can do an occasional T-Shirt but is overkill for typical model work. Some of the above models seem wimpy and I am trying to figure out what their advantages are. Also, is oil-less a negative for life expectancy?
I bought the same one and am very pleased.
I have a theory that compressor manufacturers would like people to think a compressor noise is secondary and do not want to publish the noise levels for fear that you will not like the loud levels and the companies might have to spend more money to build quieter compressors. A comparison of noise levels might start a noise quieting war among compressor makers and that would require more engineering cost and money to manufacture the compressor. You would not buy the compressor if you knew that it was louder than a freight train going by you from twenty feet away. It hasn’t dawned on the compressor manufacturers that in the long run a better/quieter designed compressor would garner more sales.
When it comes to compressors it is that you get what you pay for. Silence and longevity cost more.
I use a Silent Aire Super Silent 20A with a decibel rating of 20 to 30 db. It is no louder than a refrigerator motor. As a reference to how quiet it is, a whisper is 30 db. I’ve put my cell phone in the compressor casing with my friend on the other end of the phone and he couldn’t here the compressor running.
Oil-less compressor have the disadvantages of a shorter life. The oil filled compressor last longer because of the oil is an obvious lubricant, the oil quiets noise by absorbing the mechanical sounds and the oil keeps heat away from the mechanical parts. Oil-less compressors lead a short and hot life.
But a oil compressor is heavier and does need an oil change in about 150 hours of running time. 150 hours is really a lot of running time.
I voted for the silent compressor with my money.
OK here goes:
Note: Unless noted all are rated at “low” for vibration level.
Badger: TRILLION-AIR model #480-3 - 63 lbs, 18" x 8.5" x 18", 100 psi max, 1.88cfm @ 20 psi, 1/2 hp, 40 dB, 1.06 gal tank, hours of service: N/A, 1 year warranty.
Createx Stealth TC 5000 (oilless) - 19 lbs, 12" x 12" x 10", 70 psi max, 1.15 cfm @ 20 psi, 1/6 hp, 55 dB, .9 gal tank, 5,000 hours, 2 year warranty.
Medea: Hammerhead Shark - 55 lbs, 19" x 14" x 13", 114 psi max, 2.15 cfm @ 20 psi, 1/2 hp, 47 dB, 1.5 gal tank, 5,000 hours, 1 year warranty
Medea: Mako Shark - 40 lbs, 18" x 12" x 13", 85 psi max, .7cfm @ 20 psi, 1/5 hp, 47 dB, .9 gal tank, 5,000 hours, 1 year warranty.
Paasche: D6000 - No data available on any Paasche compressors.
Silentaire: Super Silent DR-500 - 52 lbs, 9" x 18" x 19", 114 psi max, 2.0 cfm @ 20 psi, 1/2 hp, 30 dB, 1 gal tank, 5,000 hours, 1 year warranty.
Silentaire: Super Silent 50-TC - 44 lbs, 12" x 11" x 11", 115 psi max, 2.0 cfm @ 20 psi, 1/2 hp, 30 dB, .9 gal tank, 5,000 hours, 1 year warranty
Silentaire: 50-6 Compressor - weight not listed, 14"x 14" x 16", 114 psi max, 1.8 cfm @ 20 psi, 1/2 hp, 40 dB, 1.5 gal tank, 5,000 hours, 1 year warranty.
Whew! 
What I found interesting was that only the Jun-Air compressors were rated as a vibration level of “very low.” I’m glad I have one. [:D]
A few of those listed could do “an occastional T-shirt” but you have to remember that we paint T-shirts at anywhere from 60-100 psi. I use 60 psi myself. If you push these little compressors that hard for more than a few minutes they are going to get hot. All of these type of compressors normally have a 50% duty cycle, which means that if the compressor runs for a minute to fill the tank then it needs to rest for one minute between cycles. If you work them harder than this they will get hot and may shut down until they cool and the circuit resets.
Also remember that oil for these babies is expensive too although they don’t use a whole lot. A 22 oz bottle of Silentaire oil is $18.50 from Dixie Art. [:0]
There are so many choices in compressors that it is hard to recommend one unless someone specifically wants a certain brand and type. My buddy Scooter is another airbrush guru who really knows his stuff and he tries to persuade people to not buy a silent compressor because he feels the good old industrial compressors like Sears sells are the best workhorse of all, and he has a good point there. They are cheaper, don’t get hot because they have big holding tanks, and they are cheap to repair or replace.
[(-D]
Their number is (715) 635-5557 and their web site is: [url]http://coastairbrush.com/If you are dead set on buying a new silent compressor then my advice to you would be to call Coast Airbrush in Anaheim, CA (right near Disneyland too [8D]) and talk to Dave Monnig or one of his staff about your needs. Dave is, as I have mentioned before, one of the most knowledgable people in the country on airbrushes and compressors. When I talk to him I feel like Wayne and Garth in Wayne’s World when they meet Alice Cooper…“We’re not worthy”
I hope this helps.
Mike
Mike,
Thanks for the wealth of information in your previous reply. I am going to digest it but at this time it looks like I might be wise to have two compressors that are more specifically suited to each task rather than one that can do it all. Thanks again, and I am sure that others that read the comparison and your opinions will find it very helpful.
Greg
Greg,
I used a Sears 1.5 hp 12 gallon tank compressor for several years without any problems and they are great. I did however have it in a shed in the backyard with an airhose running to the garage where I paint which is about 30’ away. It was real quiet that way. [(-D]
I bought a used Jun-Air 1/2 hp compressor from a guy that had it on Ebay for $200 and built my own compressor with it.
I bought a 5 gallon air tank from a 4x4 store on the internet and connected it to the Jun-Air motor and put it all on a wheeled cart.
It came out pretty good and I got a good compressor that will last me many years if taken care of. You might want to look into a used one also as they have a fairly long lifetime if in good shape.
You could also build one if you are mechanically inclined as many people do with refrigerator compressors which are really the same thing as a silent compressor motor and pump.
This Jun-Air that sold on Ebay recently would have been a good unit to have as it is the same motor as mine except mine is a 220v motor so I had to buy a step-up voltage transformer to run mine.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2582686160&category=11768
Mike