What airbrush compressor should i get

A moisture trap will collect all of the water from a session into a receptacle, ensuring that the water won't mix with the air.

However, keep in mind that you'll need to drain the trap regularly. If your compressor does not have a moisture trap, you can purchase one separately and install it right onto your airbrush. The decision over whether to purchase a compressor with or without a tank comes down to your budget and the specific job you have in mind.

There are currently three different options on the market, each with their pros and cons. A compressor with no tank is the cheapest option and will work continuously while your airbrush is in use. Unfortunately, compressors with no tank are prone to pulsation, which can lead to defects on your project. However, you can decrease the amount of pulsation by using a coiled air hose in conjunction with the tankless compressor.

Like a compressor with no tank, a compressor with a small tank, like Sparmax AC27, will work continuously. The majority of light tanks are roughly 0. For artists who are looking to work on large, time-consuming pieces in peace and quiet, opt for the compressor with the large tank. These tanks are typically two or more liters, have zero pulsation and will turn off when you reach max pressure, even if the airbrush is still in use.

The large tank also has the added benefit of reducing the amount of moisture that the airbrush is outputting. For novices, having a pressure gauge on your compressor is a necessity. While expert artists can judge the amount of pressure just by the variations in color coming out of the airbrush, novices won't have the skills necessary to judge pressure accurately by sight. They can reach 85 or 90 decibels dB , or more. It can be harmful to your hearing if you are exposed to that amount of noise for a long period of time.

Thankfully, compressors for airbrush artists have the advantage to be much quieter than you average hardware shop compressor and some of them are even considered silent. Of course, such an advantage has also a drawback which is in that case, you have guessed right: the price!

The can be quite expensive to buy. Silent airbrush compressors would be the pistons compressor describe below. Are you going to spray for 20 minutes or more? In that case, a compressor with a large tank will be required. Or are you only going to spray for a minute or 2?

You may want to consider those three elements:. Unless you are working on basic projects, or as mention before. The bigger the tank, the more autonomy you will have. You will need to look at the air flow capacity and the duty cycle of the compressor. Those type of compressors would be more suited for application such as nail or body art, or makeup artists. For large jobs that require long continuous work, I would recommend a compressor with more than 30 lpm 1 CFM.

This is the amount of time the compressor is able to run continuously before having to stop to rest the motor. This will also avoid any damage done on the compressor and prolonged their life. The duty cycle is usually expressed in a percentage. They are often considered as beginner compressors and could be a good choice for you if you are just starting airbrushing.

On those model of compressors, it is a pulsating membrane that compresses the air. The air pressure delivered by those compressors can generally reach a maximum of 40 psi. So they are suitable if you connect to them a single airbrush and would be fine if you are spraying on small plastic models for instance. Also, you should refrain using them continuously for too long, as they will overheat and can, therefore, be damaged.

In those compressors, it is one or two pistons that compress the air. A two pistons compressor will compress a larger amount of air than a single piston compressor would. It is probably the type of compressor I would personally recommend you to use if you are planning to use it along with airbrush. Piston compressors are much more powerful than the diaphragm compressors. You could easily attach several airbrushes to a single compressor or run the compressor continuously longer than you would with a diaphragm compressor.

Those air regulators are generally equipped also with a moisture trap that will help to filter fluids and particles from the compressed air line. For me, they are the Royce of the silent compressor. Very quiet compressors as the oil is acting as a lubricant. So they are particularly well suited if noise is an issue for you. Ideal for illustrating or fine art, they will allow you to work and stay concentrated.

You can compare the noise they do to the noise of a fridge. Oil-filled piston needs a bit of maintenance as you need to check or sometimes replace the oil like in a car. Although a little bit less quiet than the oil-filled piston compressors, those are still very quiet if you compare them to diaphragm compressors. Ideal for nail painting, body art or cake decorating as you can be sure no oil will mix with the air. I hope you will find those pieces of information useful for and that with them you will find easier to find the best airbrush compressor.

Now it is time to choose the right airbrush! Best Airbrush Compressor The aim of this airbrush compressor buying guide is to help you understand what you need to know before buying the best airbrush compressor. Table of Contents. Portable: Lightweight, compact and easy to carry with the built in handle. Built-in Fan: Fan keeps the compressor motor cool while in use.

Designed for longer continuous running without overheating and a longer service life. There is no wheezing or coughing as the motor starts and runs. The unit has four legs, with the ones on the same side connected for extra strength. If you have an issue adjusting the pressure regulator for the first time, simply call the customer care.

As we mentioned above, DR is most suitable for beginners. The unit comes in a single piece. Just make sure you check the screws, though.

The moisture trap keeps the airbrush free of moisture. As with every other compressor, this one too heats up during the usage, but you can manage it by turning on the cooling fan. Remember auto-shutoff? Since we checked the best airbrush compressors in the market, we will learn more about how they are used, different types of airbrushes, and factors to consider?

In simple terms, the airbrush compressor provides the required air pressure and flow to use the airbrush in spraying paint, ink, foundation, and dye on different items.

The compressor has pistons to compress air in the storage tank to create the necessary pressure to spray color in the desired method. The high-pressure air turns the medium into tiny droplets, which spread evenly on the surface to create a smooth and perfect look. The methods of using the airbrush depend on the medium used, the item that needs work, and the artist's choice. The compressors are available in both oil and oil-free models.

Generally speaking, we find three types of airbrush compressors in the market. A diaphragm compressor is known as a beginner model. It can run continuously without any air tank. The diaphragm is usually made of plastic and is moved up and down through the motor. The air is sucked through the inlet and released through the outlet. Once the engine heats up due to continuous usage, it will be automatically turned off until it cools down. These compressors are oil-free, easy to use, carry, and maintain.

However, the airflow may not be consistent, and the life of the diaphragm is quite short. As the name says, these compressors use oil to run the motor.

They are powerful and capable of compressing more air than the diaphragm models. Oil is a permanent part of the motor. They hardly make any noise and are a perfect choice for fine art and large canvas illustrations. You will need to place an oil filter between the air filter and air hose. However, these models require good maintenance if you want them to last long. An oil-free piston compressor uses a lubricant instead of oil. This lowers the wear and tear probability of the piston and the compressor.

These are safe to use for body painting and cake decoration. These are known as food-friendly compressors and also have less maintenance. But they tend to be louder than other models. You will invariably need to take care of and be alert when using tools. An airbrush is no exception to the rule. Why not make a note of the things you should do and not do when using airbrush compressors? It would surely make things easier, right? All you need to do is check the factors listed below and compare them with what you are looking for in the compressor.

Unless you work in one place without moving, it is better to choose a lightweight and easy-to-carry model. Heavy compressors might have good capacity and high-pressure, but you can get similar specifications even for lightweight models. What do you notice when you are checking the weight of the compressor? Horsepower or HP decides the efficiency of the airbrush compressor. The higher the horsepower, the quicker will be the results.

The compressors usually have HP ranging from 0. Airbrush compressors have either have one or two pistons. We call them single and dual piston motors. Each has its advantage and disadvantage. If you want the unit to be quiet and not make any sound, you will need the single-piston model.

The air pressure is less in single piston compressors. Can anything get more annoying than a short cable? Not many can top this one; we are sure of it. A short cable makes it so hard to maneuver around without tripping over something or another in the process. And the worse thing would be for us to damage the art piece in the process.

Moreover, it is not possible to set up work beside an electrical outlet just for this purpose. There are so many other factors to consider, right? Are you an environmentalist at heart? You focus on energy saving so that you do your bit for nature and save a few dollars.

If the description fits you, chose a model that consumes less energy, and delivers more power. The tank capacity decides how long the compressor will run without needing a refill. If your main reason to buy the airbrush compressor is to pursue your hobbies or for DIY at home, a smaller tank would be sufficient. If not, you know what to do. If maintenance is an issue, a diaphragm or an oil-free piston model would be convenient.

The duty cycle is the time for which the air compressor will continuously run. The number is mentioned in percentage. The higher the value, the better the duty cycle is, and the results will be better.

Wondering why you need an automatic start and stop feature in our compressor? A simple reason is that you could forget to check the unit when you are busy at work. The motor could overheat and burn important components or even result in a grave injury.

The auto stop also saves energy and keeps the pressure from building more than what is safe for usage. An airbrush compressor usually comes with accessories related to airbrush painting. Connecting pipes, airbrushes, paints, etc. That said, not all brands sell accessories with the compressor. Depending upon your requirements, you can check out the extra accessories.

The availability of spare parts is another point to keep in mind. Before you set up and use the unit, make sure to know everything about it. Practice on spare items before you experiment on the main object.

Give wings to your creativity and create new pieces of art. Let the artist in you have fun. If you are using water-based paints, you should rinse your airbrush with water. Also, you should use a solvent if using solvent-based paint. You should ensure you clean the airbrush between uses, and you should clean all the airbrush channels, paint cups, and bottles.

The idea is to remove all paint residue before using the brush again. You can use any medium with an airbrush. However, you should make sure it is appropriately thinned to ensure you reduce its viscosity.