Hey guys, hope this is the right place to post this?
So, long story short, decided to swap my terrible leaking compressor with a normal one. After some research and seeing people recommending an oil-less compressor with a tank, with some recommendations for the Timbertech AS186, I got it.
It arrived, and immediately burnt out upon turning it on for the first time.
Turns out I didn’t do my homework.
It operates in the American 120~ volt range, whilst where I live we use 240~
So, that probably burnt it out
I returned it and got refunded, but, after looking it up some more online, people are saying that it’s a bad cheap mass produced product anyway?
Basically, what I want to ask, should I just get another one, this time with a 240v to 120v adapter, or should I get a completely different compressor? Something more highly recommended by veterans and experts of scale modelling hobbyists?
The part that kills most compressors (unless frying them with too high voltage)
is rust in the tank. We don’t use the compressor often enough to cause the
motor and air pump to wear out.
A little bit of moisture (dry air has moisture in it when it gets compressed)
will keep on rusting the tank even if the compressor is not plugged in.
If noise isn’t a problem you can look at compressors in DIY stores or shops
that sell tools
One of my friends got it. We mounted it on a wood base with silicon wheels and used vibration dumpers instead of the provided rubber feet so as to reduce vibration and noise.
Great tips!! I have noticed that some of the big DIY/Tool companies now offer “quieter” units. That could be a 240V option. By quiet… 50-70 decibels. Many less than $/€200.
Quiet is a relative thing.
I nearly dropped my airbrush when my really really quiet compressor suddenly started right next me when the apartment was very quiet.
If it had been noisy around me I wouldn’t have noticed.
I wanted a really quiet compressor to avoid noise complaints from the neighbours.
If the compressor has a large enough tank it can be “charged” and turned off before the airbrushing session and thus be totally sound free when painting.
If the neighbours or family is not an issue than the 70 dB sounds like a perfect cheap option.
Let it do its “death metal concert” in a closed room, shut it off and paint in silence.
Well honestly I don’t really care about the noise, like, at all
A compressor being quiet is not a feature that’s in high priority for me
I’m mostly just looking for a good compressor that does the job, operates in the PSI ranges needed for us only, and won’t break the bank!
Also, ideally, operate in the 240v range…
”We would also like it to be invisible” XD
Lots of options then, start looking around for small compressors
used to power air tools.
The PSI-ranges we use are provided by the pressure regulator
at the exit side of the compressor.
The pressure controlled on/off switch operates the compressor
so that the tank holds pressures between 85 and 110 PSI.
The air pressure regulator between the tank and the hose
to the airbrush allows fine control of the pressure from maybe
5 PSI and upwards to the full pressure from the tank.
A full tank (full pressure) contains a lot of air when released
at maybe 10 -15 PSI.
You should be looking for a compressor with a tank,
an air pressure ccontrolled on/off switch, an air pressure
regulator (actually a reducer) and prefereably also an
oil&water trap (catches liquid from the compressed air) .
The pressure reducer is often built as a combined unit with
the oil/water filter. Many different types but they look something
like this:
I use a Flowze compressor which is exactly the same as a Timbertech but being in the UK it is a 240v model. It’s lasted 10 or so years without an issue. I realise you get what you pay for, however it has more than met my needs.
If noise and space are not a problem, the easiest way is to get a compressor from a hardware store, not only you can use it for the airbrush but you can also inflate tires, use pneumatic tools, etc. and the cost is similar to a many modelling compressors.
If you still prefer an specific one, here you have several models:
Alright I had a look around both physical and online local places….
All the prices are completely absurd (upwards of 400USD~), and most options don’t even have a tank!
So I think local isn’t really an option
And all the other ones suggested here either don’t ship to me or cost an obscene amount of money
I’m starting to consider just getting the AS186 with an adapter for like 100$…
This looks like a suitable compressor unless the item they are selling is only an accessory part.
The price is reasonable compared to similar products in Sweden.
My own set-up doesn’t have a tank. The compressor is fairly quiet (it lives under the desk) and has two 10ft stretches of hose (one from compressor to pressure valve, the other from valve to brush) that seem to act as a micro-tank. Sure, it kicks in a lot during a session, but not much noise to disturb, and the hose acts to even out the flow to avoid pulsing. I could of course squeeze in a separate airr tank if I felt so motivated. The point is, don’t let the lack of tank be a limit when choosing a compressor!
