Yesterday in the paper there was a Shuck's Auto Supply add that listed a compressor. I was wondering if it would be good to use for airbrushing. Right now I am using one without a tank that always puts out about as much sound as the blue angels flying low over your house .

Anyway, so I am wondering with the tanks if it would run silent most of the time and if you could take it outside and get the noisy part out of the way and then bring it inside for the quiet airbrushing.

Details on the compressor (as stated in the add):
Contractor Grade 2 HP Twin Tank Air Compressor
- Maximum 115 psi
- 4 gal. twin tank with regulator, coupler and 2 gauges
- 7.75 CFM @ 40 psi
- 6.6 CFM @ 90 psi
- Direct drive pump
- Thermal overload protection
Compare at $250 and up
Sale $89

Thanks for any help. The sound of what I am using now is driving my wife and dog crazy, but I don't want to spend $90 on this and have it be loud all the time too.

Leon

It won't run All the time. the 4 gal tank will take care of that. Not sure exactly howlong it will last though. It'll just run long enought to fill the tanks then turn off.

I have one about like the one you are looking at in the ad. Matt is right. The compressor won't run all of the time. It will get the pressure in the tank up to 115 psi and then kick off. How frequently the compressor kicks on will depend on how much pressure you are using on the outlet side. I guess you could take it outside, run the compressor to fill the tank and then bring it inside to paint, leaving it unplugged so the compressor won't kick on. Mine is really loud as well and never fails to scare the crap out me when it kicks on while I'm painting.
Anyway, is it the Trades Pro brand I found at their website? Says $69.99 online...

http://www.partsamerica.com/PartDetails.asp?SourceArea=&SourcePage=SEARCHRESULTS&MfrCode=ALT&MfrPartNumber=540215&CategoryCode=3483A

HTH,

Shaun

Hi Leon. I have a 2 gal. pancake type air compressor but it's too noisy so I have to opt for the Testor's mini blue compressor which doesn't really produce that much air but it's much better in terms of noise level than the former. I'm currently eyeing something from Home Depot which cost less than $100, lightweight, produces 135 psi max. pressure, comes with a pressure gage & regulator, some accessories & hopefully silent . If you're really serious about buying a compressor check it out. Just my suggestion. Here's a pic.

newtothegame, I do exactlly what you're thinking of doing, filling up the tank outside and then bringing it in to airbrush. I have a Porter Cable that is SO loud I do this just in case it might actully come on while brushing. I haven't had any problem with it but my usual airbrush session is only about half hour to 45 minutes or so.

There are two kinds of compressers and they are Oil Lubricated and None Oil Lubricated.The Difference is one is running by fan and belt .The other is running with a electric motor.The Fan Comp. is less noise but will make some racket depending on the size tank you get.The electric motor is to loud for in home use I know My Pops bought one And it made some loud disturbing noise we took back the same day.Dont you just love Sears.Plus its good to have compressor for your airbrush of course and Air to fill up tires and a blow gun to clean models.

Small ones run electric motor and from what I have seen always are sucking air so it will make noise .
Hope it helps.

Thanks everyone for the input. I went ahead and got it and just spent some time trying it out. For a couple minutes of loud I can get a ton of time in silence - BEAUTIFUL! I even spent time trying some of the airbrush practice that people suggest (drawing straight lines, shading circles, connecting shapes, etc.) something I would never have done with the old setup.

The only thing that seems a little less than I would have wanted is the output pressure regulator. When the tank is high pressure the lowest I can get it to come out is about 20psi and then as the tank empties so does the output (down to about 10psi) Also when you first hit the air it comes out strong and then drops to the amount you "set it at." Luckily with the double action airbrush I just do the air for a minute and then let the paint out, but for the times when I use my old single action I forsee this being a big nuisance.

Any suggestions to fix these little "problems"

Thanks again for the help.
Leon

PS: Shaun, it is that brand, but with 2 tanks. I think listed for $100+ online. In fact in the store the sign with it said $129, so I felt like I was getting a bargain.

another thing to quiet it down. try susprending it from some Bungee chord or make a spring mount to take the vibration out of it.

GO TO AIR brush ci ty .com thats where I GOT MY COMPRESSOR AND AIR BRUSH SO FAR SO GOOD SPENT ABOUT $150

I have a 2HP /150 lit tank AQUILA COMPRESSOR originally for all purpose home work not especially modelling and it serves me good very good.it starts to work one or two times in an entire 1/35 tank painting . i have it in the next room of my modelling nest so less noise and i ve opened a hole that serves the air tube connection . So far i have been ok with it without problems . It cost me some money (400 euro ) but you do all the house works and modelling with no care

I have a compressor with tank, and what I do is put it out on my balcony, then run the air hose through the sliding door into my workspace. The tank means the motor isn't running all the time, and the sliding doors keep most of the noise out when it is...

BTW, that's a pretty good bargain you got, newtothegame!

Ofcourse I do, I work there.

Anyways, back to topic. Regarding the original poster's compressor, a 4 gallon tank running on about 20PSI will last you atleast 5 - 10 minutes of actual spraying time before you have to refill. I have a 5 gallon tank, and it lasts about 15 minutes of spraying time before I have to fill it up again.

One question, while we're on the topic of compressors. There are two types of compressors as stated above: Oil-lube, and Oil-less. I know that the oil-lubed ones in time will leak oil vapours into your air-line, and hence will mess up your painting with an airbrush. My question is, is there any draw-backs to the oil-less compressors? I have both compressors, and my oil-less one is about the size of a football (compaired to my oil-lube compressor which is huge), it runs quieter, and doesn't have the oil vapour problem as stated above. Why isn't everyone using oil-less compressors then?

Only pitfall to my oil-less compressor is that there is no tank, but I just attach it to my 5 gallon air tank, or connect the compressor directly to my airbrush and problem solved.

I have one of the Craftsman 30 gal oil-less models. I love the thing (I don't use it for AB'ing though) I use CO2.