Air brush compressors: tank vs tankless

[Jantrix]

Okay I'm looking into a compressor for airbrushing. Something small and quiet-ish because I'd like to set up my booth in the house.

Is a tank that necessary if the compressor is good enough quality, and has a pressure regulator?

Some opinions please.

[crazyjim]

Get a unit with a tank on it! Our IPMS regional coordinator has a compressor that his brother used in the graphics business. He set it up in a library for demonstration and you couldn't even hear the thing. Of course, there's a drawback. The unit today will cost well over $1000.00. I have a Campbell Hausfeld unit with a 5 gallon tank that I bought at Lowe's for less than a $100 - there's no way I'd run the thing in the house. It's noisy!

[Big Daddy]

i've got a makita twin tank comp. when tanks are full i can paint a car without it even coming on, think i paid 320.00 cda for it

[moparmagiclives]

I use my craftsman 30 gallon stand up for the most part, but I have a tankless badger airbrush compressor I also use. If you get a compressor without a tank, get yourself a nice 10 hose. It will help with the compressor pulsation at the airbrush. Just remember that those style compressors are not designed for large cfm, full on 40 psi spray usage. Just light airbrush detail work. Its not the best for big full covarage spray patterens,

[tabsscale1]

I just had to replace my Cmpbell Hausefeild 3 gallon one That I bought over 10 years ago. It was loud but not to bad a room away. I went in and bought a 2 gallon one from Menards for around $70. It isn't that loud and doesn't bother my wife one room away when it is running. I tried one of those aircompressors designed just for airbrushes and I didn't like the pulsing it created even with a regulator on it last six months befroe it shot the craps on me. I think I paid $150 for it. That was over 20 years ago. would rather have one with a tank anyway. Mine came witha regulator and I did buy a moisture trap but never put it on as mine being in the house never gets moisture in it. Alos it only comes on maybe once when I paint the body of a car. I also have a manifold so I can hook up 4 airbrushes at the same time and all are hooked up with regular airhose fittings.

[Longbox55]

I prefer a compresor with a tank. A tankless comprssor runs 100% duty cycle, which leads to high wear and short life. With a tank, the compresor only runs when the tank presure gets below a certain point, and shuts off at a preset max pressure. Thsi makes the compressor much more efficient in addition to lowered wear. I will also note that I prefer oiled type over oilless for similar reasons. right now, I'm using a 22 gallon 2 hp Sanborn that about 30 years old, and other than cleaning the filter, draining moisture from the tank, and changing the oil in the pump, it;s held up just fine. It is a bit noisy when it's running, but it only takes maybe 10-15 minute to pump up, and holds enough air to do 2 coats on a body before kicking back on. I have moved from the basement of the house to the garage, since I now build there, and I do use the compressore for automotive repairs in addition to hobby work. I do have it set up to run on 220 instead of 110.

[LoneWolf15]

A tank is a necessity ! Hobby compressors run constantly , wear and tear as was mentioned ! They also produce more than their fair share of condensate if run continuously for a period of time !

If you become too involved with the airbrushing , you might not notice that the moisture trap has become overwhelmed . Moisture's next stop? Right in the middle of your final gloss coat !

[Mr. Moparman]

I use the airbrush compressor from Harbor Freight with the moisture trap and regulator. The HF compressor has a pressure switch on it so it will only run when the pressure drops below a certain PSI. I may invest in a air tank of some sort later on down the road, but right now with me modeling in my bedroom and having to paint outside, it's not very practical. If I do add a tank later on, I will probably set it up like this:

Credit to Don Wheeler for the picture.

[Longbox55]

Donn brings up another good point, a moisture trap. Regardless of what type of compressor you use, a moisture trap is a must when painting. I have 2 traps in my setup, an industrial trap that is directly off the compressor itself, then a second trap located at my painting area where I hookup to my airbrush. For the ultimate setup, a coelescing filter is best. They combine a moisture trap, filter, plus a dessicant dryer in one unit to remove any moisture, dirt, and oil from the airstream. Tractor Supply has a Campbell-Hausfeild unit that's not too bad on price, about $100.

[crazyjim]

Fatkidd has water traps (maybe Iwata) that plug right into his airbrush(s). They're little canisters.

[Longbox55]

I've seen those. They'e made by several companies, I know Iwata and Paasche both have them. Another option would be an inline dessicant dryer, which can put on the hose inlet. They're similar to the canister style trap, but use a dessicant to remove the misture. Lowe's and Menards have them, they run about $10 for a pair of them.

[Jantrix]

Thanks guys. Maybe just get a tank, fill it with my garage unit and bring it into the house for airbrushing? It's no like I'm going to be spraying for hours?

[sports850]

I have a 2 1/2 hp (I think) direct drive compressor with a 40 litre tank in the very back of the garage , I can't get to it without climbing over things and mini's so it's setup so the house leads to the front of the garage and an extension cord to the powerpoint near the door . Problem is I don't have an airtrap and can't get back to it to vent any condensation out the bottom at present so I am currently using rattle cans more than airbrush . Hopefully will be extending garage before too long and will have it sorted then .