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Recommendation for a quiet airbrush compressor


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#1 Gary Pershall

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Posted 14 December 2017 - 07:11 PM

Getting cold here in OK. Looking to move my airbrushing indoors from the garage. Currently using my big auto air compressor.

 

Looking for first hand recommendations on a good but quiet compressor. Quietness more important than price.






#2 Shooter7mustang

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Posted 14 December 2017 - 08:14 PM

This is an excellent compressor and quite , you can barely hear it at all and you cant beat the price. I paid 109.00 at Home Depot

California Air model # 1P1060S


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#3 Ramcatlarry

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Posted 15 December 2017 - 12:22 AM

Good use for retired grill propane tanks.  Add a fitting and gauge/valve to have a tank to fill and use elsewhere.  Handy for filling a tire or running the airbrush for an hour.


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#4 airhead

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Posted 15 December 2017 - 06:56 AM

Leave the compressor outside and run an air hose in to the house for painting.


Billy Watson

#5 swodem

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Posted 17 December 2017 - 11:27 AM

I know of a guy who used to take an old tractor tyre tube, fill that with air at a gas station, and then take that home and use it to paint.

 

Quiet as!!!

 

Not sure how long it would last and I guess it would drop in pressure but I kinda like the idea!!


Steve Meadows


#6 Rob Voska

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Posted 17 December 2017 - 11:36 AM

Harbor Freight has a 25% off sale on a 3 gallon compressor.  $44



#7 Ramcatlarry

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Posted 17 December 2017 - 11:35 PM

I think they might have the regulator/valve kit as well. Last one I bought was from JC Whitney many years ago, but it is still in my trunk on a tank.


Larry D. Kelley, MA
retired raceway owner... Raceworld/Ramcat Raceways
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#8 Noose

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Posted 18 December 2017 - 09:03 AM

This a great one and I have used it for years.

 

51PiLjO7hlL.jpg

 

$100 on Amazon

 

NEW Quiet 1/6 hp MASTER AIRBRUSH TANK COMPRESSOR-(FREE) AIR HOSE and Now a (FREE) How to Airbrush Training Book to Get You Started, Published Exclusively By TCP Global.
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Joe "Noose" Neumeister
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#9 Gary Pershall

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Posted 18 December 2017 - 09:17 AM

 

This a great one and I have used it for years.

 

51PiLjO7hlL.jpg

 

$100 on Amazon

 

NEW Quiet 1/6 hp MASTER AIRBRUSH TANK COMPRESSOR-(FREE) AIR HOSE and Now a (FREE) How to Airbrush Training Book to Get You Started, Published Exclusively By TCP Global.

 

Thank you for the recommendation. I will take a closer look at it. I have seen it online but was unsure of the quality and how quiet it was. 



#10 Noose

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Posted 18 December 2017 - 09:27 AM

Very quiet.  Only kicks in when tank gets low.  Even then very quiet.


Joe "Noose" Neumeister
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#11 gc4895

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Posted 18 December 2017 - 09:35 AM

Its very quiet. I use it in the kitchen with the wife sleeping in the other room. She has never been disturbed by it. Just make sure you get the correct adapters to fit their hose to your air brush since its likely your hose will not fit the compressor fitting. Since Im using Fastkolor acrylics I find the compressor is running a lot since my experience is these paints require lots of pressure. I was going to go with a high pressure pancake but Im glad I went this way. Im learning to adapt to it and with its rubber cup feet it just purrrrrrs while running. As always, your mileage may vary.
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#12 Noose

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Posted 18 December 2017 - 09:45 AM

The supplied hose went right on my Iwata airbrush. I only use acrylics now too and it has been fine especially at the volume I pump out.


Joe "Noose" Neumeister
Sometimes known as a serial despoiler of the clear purity of virgin Lexan bodies. Lexan is my canvas!
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The only thing bad about Retro is admitting that you remember doing it originally.


#13 Nate Graham

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Posted 18 December 2017 - 09:56 AM

I was in the same situation a few years ago. I had been using an airbrush in other hobbies for a number of years with a big compressor and pipes through the wall in my shop. Wanted to have a quieter model for in the house for slot car bodies any time of year. gets cold in PA in winter. did my research and ended up with the same conclusion. the TCP Global  WITH the tank is quiet enough that I can use it in the family room and spouse does not mind - very tolerant spouse - thanks Honey. Anyway, works well at a reasonable price TC-20T is now up to $100 direct so choose your vendor. Good luck.

And, surprise, Noose knows a thing or three about painting. !!!



#14 Gary Pershall

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Posted 18 December 2017 - 10:13 AM

Well... with these great recommendations looks like I might be picking this up after the holidays.. You guys saved me some money... Was just about ready to pull the trigger on an Iwata Smart Jet Plus tubular compressor due to some Youtube videos of it that seemed to show it was pretty quiet. Will be using it in my office/hobby room just off the main living area.. Was working in the garage but , same as Nate, it's getting cold here in OK.



#15 gc4895

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Posted 18 December 2017 - 01:39 PM

My airbrush is an old Paasche.  I needed the Master adapters for Paache, Badger or Aztec hoses/fittings.  This compressor is 1/8" fitting which is the correct Iwata size.  I didn't realize this when I ordered it for myself for Christmas last year.  When I opened the box it was only then I realized that I couldn't connect to anything.  My plans for Christmas vacation slot car body painting were dashed.  For some reason, my wife wasn't nearly as disappointed as I was...

 

So, be aware!  Know what airbrush you plan to connect and get the correct adapters if necessary.  They are cheap and readily available from Master. 


Mark Bauer

#16 John Streisguth

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Posted 18 December 2017 - 02:04 PM

I've been using one of the compressors Noose recommended for about a year now.  Works well, but it is limited in volume...I've found sometimes I have to let the compressor catch up to my usage (although to be honest, I probably use more air cleaning in between colors than actually spraying paint...).  It is super quiet and the price is good.


"Whatever..."

#17 Junkynotch

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Posted 20 December 2017 - 08:20 AM

I like the silentaire series compressors. I have a super silent 20-a. They are kind of expensive, but they are pretty much unbreakable. If you look around you can get them at a decent price on eBay. I got mine 2 years ago on eBay for about 80.00. Had to put about twenty dollars in parts in it to get it to run. Also they are oil cooled. But they run quieter than a fridge, I have mine mounted on an old tv cart(free) and the only way I know it's running is because the cart shakes.
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#18 elvis44102

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Posted 21 December 2017 - 07:04 PM

I know of a guy who used to take an old tractor tyre tube, fill that with air at a gas station, and then take that home and use it to paint.

 

Quiet as!!!

 

Not sure how long it would last and I guess it would drop in pressure but I kinda like the idea!!

in an emergency i had to use a spare tire and stand on it ...did one body all i needed for the race 


John Wisneski

#19 Nate Graham

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Posted 31 December 2017 - 03:20 PM

the above mentioned compressor is on sale for $65 for next 2 days on ebay



#20 Racer36

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Posted 31 December 2017 - 04:30 PM

Can you put up a link to that Nate?

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#21 Nate Graham

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Posted 31 December 2017 - 09:28 PM

let's try:

 

https://www.ebay.com...1?ul_noapp=true


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#22 Dennis David

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Posted 31 December 2017 - 09:36 PM

The Silent Air 20-A is sweet but you have to do a lot of painting to justify that machine.

Dennis David
    
 


#23 Gary Adams

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Posted 01 January 2018 - 12:35 AM

This is the dual piston compressor that I use that is ultra quiet with a 1 gallon tank. Great constant pressure, no sputtering or spitting, great compressor for the money.

https://www.elmbay.c...th-tank-1-5-hp/
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#24 Samiam

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Posted 01 January 2018 - 08:34 AM

The Silent Air 20-A is sweet but you have to do a lot of painting to justify that machine.

Aren't you buying a CNC mill? :)


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#25 Nate Graham

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Posted 01 January 2018 - 10:16 AM

This is the dual piston compressor that I use that is ultra quiet with a 1 gallon tank. Great constant pressure, no sputtering or spitting, great compressor for the money.

https://www.elmbay.c...th-tank-1-5-hp/

sure looks like the dual piston version of what I use. different name but would bet is made in same factory. actually, a good thing. If I were upgrading, this is what I would get and, if memory serves looks like what Steve Koepp used this last year at the R4 painting clinic.  Theoretically, this configuration is smoother , quieter, and works longer before overheating. 

 

Personal observation: I batch paint - mask up 6-12 bodies in the evenings then spend an afternoon painting - The compressor reached thermal shutdown on a few occasions. The small fan used to pull solder fumes away from my bench when aimed at the piston took care of that. Compressor  runs cool even with marathon sessions. Fan is a $7ish item that is very quiet. It is made for pulling fumes away from the hands at nail salons. 

 

Also, the TCP global hoses are very flexible and don't "get in the way" at a good price to boot.







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