Air Brushing – Air Brush

Question:

I have already browsed this group and I am still confused, because I have not yet used an airbrush nor a compressor.. I have used various art & craft technique for years as hobby and encouraging my children as well. I was attracted to the possibilities of airbrushes and I am motivated to learn hard to use this tool, and I believe I will enjoy it  a lot. Now I ordered a universal bagder set 360-1, some colors, and decided to shop for a compressor, and found some bargains at e-bay. I would think the Badger 180-11 is ok, and the TC2000 should be even better, but  I do not know about their noise, and none of them have a tank. I am convinced that having a compressor with a tank make much sense, and I have seen that it can be cheap too, if getting a generic brand like Campbell Hasufeld or PUMA instead of the professionnal ones from the airbrushes maker Silentaire. My question then is now about noise. I understood that a tank model will not run all the time, but the big compressors are horribly noisy. I have heard of silent compressor, and had people saying this is no more than a fridge. Is this what makes the difference of price between these and the general use compressor ? Of course, I would like to have the no-pulse flow, capacity to paint in large or textiles if I feel like it, and yet not bother my family while working in house. Is this possible ? Thanks a lot for your help !

Response:

Hi, Yves… Silent compressors are just that- very, very quiet. Mine is loudest when it turns off- I usually can’t hear it running at all. There is a wide variety of silent compressors; some are very large and are capable of putting out more air than most conventional compressors, but they tend to be very large in price, too. Conventional compressors are cheaper but noisier; but if you build a box to fit over a conventional compressor, like a Campbell-Hausfield and put some insulation on the inside of the box, the noise level can be lowered a lot. If you decide to do this, make sure you drill lots of holes in the box so the compressor gets good air circulation and ventilation. If you buy a large compressor, you may be able to run it outside if the noise is too much to stand inside your working space. The tank does make a difference, as you said, but if the tank is too small, the compressor will run much of the time, depending on how much air pressure and delivery you have set on the unit. I have successfully painted lots of textiles with a small silent compressor with a 1/2 gallon tank with my airbrush generally set at about 30 psi. Some airbrushes require more air pressure than others to work well- it will depend on your airbrush to a large extent. My suggestion is to try to see what the lowest pressure your airbrush will work with, then go up from there if you feel you need more. Some airbrushes work fine with as little as 6-10 psi. Generally speaking, the finer you want the brush to spray, the lower the pressure. Higher pressures are used for spraying more paint, as in doing large backgrounds or objects. If you use too much pressure, you will bet a lot of fuzzy overspray and/or "spidering", where the paint looks like a spider or caterpillar. Good luck Stanger

Response:

How’s it going, I’ve owned a Jun-Air since 1994 and have never had any problems with it. Do you still own yours?

No, I sold it in 94′, as it was over 9 years old. I have and do own several different compressors…although I have let almost all the oil baths go as they have worn out over the years….In my opinion they really are not value for the money. I know a compressor company here in Sydney that will set up a complete Dental Office Compressor System, with cooling fans and insulated covers for under three grand Australian…12 CFM…You can’t even get an oil bath rebuilt any more here. I have serviced Airbrush compressors and equipment for most of the major importers and I would say the Jun-Air is the best. I still have an old Hansa Aero-pro TC 20 under my drafting board that just keeps on running, as does my partner from 1995 and mine is used most every day. For mural’s we both have Sparmax’s twins…only weigh about 14 lbs and they are oil-less (no tip over worries in the truck)…we do run twin moisture traps and 20′ Paasche hoses. Often we use CO2 on job sites as it saves in fights with the other tradesman for the only power outlet…ha… Grace Brothers Department Stores used to have the big Jun-Air 50’s to mount plastic security tags and when they re-did their downtown store, someone purchased the whole lot. He was selling them for $350.00. A mate of mine picked one up and I re-set the pressure switches (they were set for 125 psi)for his EFBE and Sata airbrushes. Good deal for sure. Later…still on R&R, Ken

Response:

Hi, Ken… I’ve owned a Jun-Air since 1994 and have never had any problems with it. Do you still own yours? If not, what did you swap it for? I have the Jr. model, which has worked very well for almost everything I’ve done, but once, my boys used it to paint a mural in one of my bathrooms (crashing surf everywhere!), and it started running hotter than a 2 dollar pistol from the demand they put on it. Didn’t seem to affect it’s performance, though, and the cylinder head was never too hot to touch. Since they aren’t as common as they once were, I’d like to hear your Jun-Air war stories… Regards, Stanger

Response:

I have already browsed this group and I am still confused, because I have not yet used an airbrush nor a compressor..

Since you know nothing about compressors, I’d go to the library and get some books on airbrushing. Even an old "On the spot Guides" have some useful information on compressors. You need to look up the CFM at what ever PSI you need for the job and your airbrush. All companies will supply this information if you ask them. Now I ordered a universal bagder set 360-1, some colors, and decided to shop for a compressor, and found some bargains at e-bay. I would think the Badger 180-11 is ok, and the TC2000 should be even better, but  I do not know about their noise, and none of them have a tank.

The "oil Bath" compressors are over priced and underpowered…I doubt that TC2000 or the Badger 180-11 (Too Loud) would operate your 360 when set up with a bottom feed jar very well. Have a look at the Sparmax AT-250-A (sold by both Createx and Iwata under their name). It is a small twin piston compressor, storage tank and Auto shut off. It puts out 1.2 CMF (a VL needs .7 CMF with a #3 needle to do T-shirts) and is very quiet. I’ve own them all from Jun-air (very good) to the new Sparmax. If you get an oil bath…you need to spend big for the TC-50’s…I owned a twin motor Sil-Air one 12 years ago, burnt out one of the motors in 18 months…$700.00 to replace…not happy!!! I am convinced that having a compressor with a tank make much sense, My question then is now about noise. I understood that a tank model will not run all the time, but the big compressors are horribly noisy.

Yes to all. I have heard of silent compressor, and had people saying this is no more than a fridge. Is this what makes the difference of price between these and the general use compressor ?

Yes again. Of course, I would like to have the no-pulse flow, capacity to paint in large or textiles if I feel like it, and yet not bother my family while working in house. Is this possible ?

Like I said..try the Sparmax..in Australia it sells for $450 (AUS) ($230 USA) Hope that helps…do go to the library and brush up on some airbrush knowledge so when you hit the stores…you know what you want. Later, Ken, Australian Airbrush Co.

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