I want to do some airbrushing over the long holiday and want an inexpensive setup. Can I get one at Wal-Mart perhaps?
Dave, I picked up a mini tank model at Sears for 99 bucks. It came with a regulator, coiled hose, a number of quick disconnects, air nozzle and tire stem adapter. It will pump up to 120 psi and works great for pnuematic tools as well which is why I got it originally. It looks like a 3 HP model with horizontal cylindrical tank but scaled down. We just got a similar looking model from Harbor Freight but its no where near as nice and takes forever to just pump up to 90 PSI even though its rated for 120.
Pete
Hi Dave!
I have worked in an industrial supply house for the past five years. I have sold many badger air brushes and compressor setups. (check us our www.toolme.com) The question you have to ask when considering a compressor is what else do you intend to do with it. Badger makes a diagram compressor that I sell for about $130 and it works great for air brushing – but that is it. Consider looking at a small rol-air or Tomas pancake type that can also be used to fill car tires, run a small blow off gun, and even a small nail gun or stapler for layout and scenery construction. I would tend to lean toward the rol-air. They are over built and last a lifetime. Parts are readily available if something where to break, they are simple to work on. One last suggestion, which ever way that you go, get a regulator with a built in moisture trap. Senco makes a nice one that I use in the setups that I sell. They go for about $40. This will allow you to fine tune the air pressure down to about 7 psi if need be. It also removes water in the air so that you do not get fish eye or orange peel on what you are spraying. Hope this helps. If you need any thing else, send me an email from the webpage.
Matt T.
Stay away from those propellant cans- they know when you need them to work, and they stop!. Plain Useless
Pep Boys was selling a nice little unit for $69. Good for tires, etc. Sears also had one recently on sale, but the price was closer to $100.
Regards,
Roy
I just checked the Sears web site and the model I have is #00915210000, on sale now for $89.
Pete
Very useful info, guys, hope the hoses come with it and attach OK
The one at Pep Boys came with a short spiral hose and an air chuck (for tires).
At Sears, Habor Freight, or other discount HW store, purchase some “quick disconnects” that will allow you to separate the hose from the tank and tools by pulling a slip ring. Otherwise you have to wrench everything on and off.
Maybe the best course of action, wrmc, would be to bring the airbrush with me to the store and try to fit it together there.
These are all great suggestions. The only thing I would add is to keep your overall surroundings in mind. I use a small general-purpose compressor that works for everything: airbrushing, filling tires, running my brad nailer for woodworking, etc. It’s got everything I need (except a moisture trap) but there’s one big disadvantage: it’s louder than h-e-double-you-know-what. When airbrushing, the tank will fill and the motor will turn off. Then a little while later after the tank pressure has dropped, the motor will kick in again. If you have any heart conditions, I’d be careful! There you are concentrating on what you’re doing and all the sudden the silence is broken by the loud compressor.
Filling your pants isn’t the only concern… if your family is nearby (i.e. anywhere in the same house), they’re not going to appreciate the noise.
So, while a general purpose compressor has the advantage of being multi-purposed, a smaller, table top compressor has the advantage of being compact and quiet.
Hope I didn’t muddy the situation.
Now, as for Matt and toolme.com… you’re making it hard for me to be a responsible woodworker! I guess I really don’t need a new table saw, but it’s sure tempting. And you’re right up the road. Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me? Christmas is almost here… I shouldn’t be spending money on more tools! [:D]
Bergie
Bergie,
Good advice on sound considerations. The first compressor I had was
the $99 Sears compressor. It was awful! I set it outside and ran the hose through the window when I used it. Even then it was hard to stand. But it did run well and lasted a long time.
m
Bergie,
It’s in my basement and I have headphones.
What’s this about “moisture trap”?
See mattslionel’s post above… he explains it well.
Bergie
For those that are interested…… Tool day is Dec. the 3rd …… factory reps will be on had (rol-air and others) to answer questions in person and demonstrations (nothing from badger, But if anyone is interested I can bring my personal setup to work for some demonstrations.). So why am I posting this? You can get the absolute best price on quality tools (almost every thing you need to build a layout) only on tool day! If any one is interested in a compressor, that would be the day to buy one.
Matt
A proper moisture trap is a catch bottle with a cotton or other dense filter to prevent the water and oil from getting to the airbrush. Not usually required with a diaphram compressor because of the lower pressures generated. So far I have gotten away without one on the Sears compressor but I plan to get one soon. You can also get inline filters, about the size of a golf ball, which will help in short term. Sears may have them but I got mine from an automotive paint store. They are generally used at the spray gun in addition to a moisture trap.
Pete
Why not have a small one for painting and a big one for pressure tools? What you are searching is a car which is small for in town but able to tow a horse-car or big caravan.
If you want a quiet, small compressor it’s for painting and you probably only need one of those filters instead of a big moisturetrap. It’s small, lightweight and relatively cheap.
If you buy a big one which is noisy and you want to paint with it, you must count the $40 for a moisture trap and it’s probably to loud and to havy to haul it to where you want to paint.
If you want a setup for everything I would suggest the compressor apart from your working space, with a pipe and multiple taps along the wall. The moisture trap can be mounted with the compressor in a shed outside, and you have a quiet and regulatable airsupply in your workarea without an enourmous block making noise and blocking your workspace. For myself, I would choose a small one for painting only.
Thanks for all your help. I’m heading to Sears tonight. I’m not doing the moisture trap just yet because I’m painting my backdrop and then my mountains and am not too worried about funky paint patterns, but when I start weathering my freight cars and doing custom jobs, then I’ll look into the moisture trap.
I’ve got my Badger with me in my car so I’ll try to put it together in the store rather than go home and find I’m missing an essential part. That would suck. How many of you ever went to home depot and returned home only to find you had to go back for something. Happened to me all the time when I was plumbed my basement.
But best of all there’s a Hooters across from Sears in Manassas where I can grab a beer, some hot wings, and take in the scenery.
When I miss an essential part I walk out of my gardendoor, cross the street and walk into a huge d.i.y. store. Even with that feature I had a problem when fitting a new gaspipe for my coocking plate… It was saturdayevening, my daughter and girlfriend where hungry and the gaspipe didn’t fit. The shop had closed for the weekend…
Luckily I have a neighbour with the same sort of bits and pieces drawer I have, and I came up with a few couplings wich fit perfectly! But that’s just being lucky…