Anyone know of this compressor?

Z

zuggzugg

New member
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200354872_200...

Been on the hunt for a new compressor as the one I have currently is more of an industrial one given to me by my folks. It is not an option for after work use as it is crazy loud
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I already have a nice stock of airbrushes as I used to be into the hobby in my early 20's. Doing shirts and other non-mini related stuff.

I've been researching compressors and there is usually a big price jump once you go from the non-tank to tank style. I stumbled upon this one and I can't beat the price. Noise is the biggest factor for me, second only to finding one w/ a tank to avoid constant use.

Anyone have any experience with this model?

Ive gone from looking at compressors in the 200+ range, to this one!

And yes, I've already done a search on the site and have done my research on compressors. My question is about this exact one. Ive seen it re-labelled with the logo of whoever is selling it so it might be just a good oem/generic model. Which I'm totally ok with!

Thanks!
 
RuneBrush

RuneBrush

New member
It's actually looks identical to the one that me and my brother both have apart from the fact that ours has rubber feet rather than suckers. I have heard (on here) that some people have had awful luck and they had to replace it multiple times.

I don't really have any complaints to be honest. The compressor kicks in every now and again and refills the tank, it's not silent but I happily use it late into the evening without any problems (downstairs on a laminate floor). If you have the telly on in the background you might struggle to hear it when the actual compressor kicks in, but it's more of a loud purr than a growl.

It does get crazy hot though and I personally find that 3 hours is the longest I try to use it for fear of something damaging. That said, I have used it for 6 or 7 hours before :D
 
airhead

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
Northern Tool and Harbor Freight are both known for selling cheap Chinese made junk.

In tools, you tend to get what you pay for.

Less than 1 CFM at 50 psi is marginal for any continuous spraying. This one is rated at 0.8 CFM at 30. About half of what you need. You'll be spending a lot of time waiting on it to fill the tank back up.


Check with Sears, Lowes & Home Depot for a small pancake or hot dog compressor... Ask to see (hear) it run - get them to plug in the shelf model.

Pay attention to close out sections of these companies web-sites. I got a great 1/4 hp hot dog for a steal from Sears because it was last year's model and had been discontinued.
 
Z

zuggzugg

New member
Thanks for the replies. I'm not painting anything huge with my airbrush. The mini's I'm painting are from Dust Tactics, Descent, Castle Ravenloft/Ashardalon. I don't think I will have a need to keep it running for hours on end. Just a good base coat/highlight and maybe some mask work here and there.

Airhead, How loud is that compressor you bought from Sears? Could you run it at night next to where you paint, without worrying about the sound?

Sound is the most important factor for me as I get home from work after 7pm and want to be able to paint into the night w/o waking up my neighbors downstairs. :eek: Almost all of the big industrial types that I have heard are way too loud. I already have a small pancake style one and it is unacceptable for use in the evenings.

When I was doing t-shirts and non model stuff back in the day, I was using a big c02 tank that I rented monthly.

I was also looking at the iwata powerjet series and there is a 100 dollar difference between the tank and non-tank models. =/

Hopefully this one will serve it's purpose.

Any other insight is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!
 
airhead

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
If you want really quiet, use a rotary compressor. (same as in the fridge). But hang onto your wallet. (White shark, etc.)

The one I got from sears was a small piston. Very quiet. Came with a brad nailer.

Some of the diaphragms can be either the noisiest or quietest - depending on the make and model.

Compressed air is compressed air. No matter if it came from a $50 second hand compressor or a $500 sweet machine.

Look into some of the small Badger compressors (1/10th hp to 1/4 hp).
Bearair.com
dixieart.com
ebay

I got burned on a cheap pancake compressor from ebay. Ran for about 3 hours then wouldn't produce any air.
Sad part is it looked just like a name brand one that should have lasted forever.
 
Z

zuggzugg

New member
Would you happen to have a photo or link of the one you have? I was already looking at a few in the 200+ dollar range. But when I saw this one for as cheap as it is and also having a tank with it, figured wth.

This one looks good and it says its as quiet as a whisper. Again, a quiet model is #1 factor.
http://www.bearair.com/Scorpion-II-TT-Compressor/productinfo/120145/

I really got a find one locally somewhere and listen. I went to a few art supply stores but they didn't have floor models and wouldn't open any. :(

Thanks for the info.
 
Z

zuggzugg

New member
Ya, that pancake one is similar to the one I already have. It is unacceptably loud. I'll see how this budget one does for now.

http://buypainted.com/ this guy recommends buying the cheapest stuff available lol. He does really good work and uses a budget compressor and brush. I've got some nice airbrushes already, so I hope my cheap compressor is good enough. :)

Mostly just need to do base coats, some highlights and masks. Nothing too big.
 
airhead

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
cannon_fodder said:
how about this one...
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

I guess my biggest question is how do you connect our airbrushes to a more industrial compressor like this one?
Click to expand...
Don't know that compressor, plug it in and see if you can stand the noise.....

Put a quick connect on the end of your airbrush hose.... Then you can plug into your compressor's quick connect. Simple.
Get more guns, build a manifold (easy with a bunch of brass T fittings...), then plug all your guns in. (I'll post a pic when I get home tonight...)
 
D

DangerousBrian

New member
zuggzugg said:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200354872_200...
................
Click to expand...

I have had one of these, and it broke after 2-3 months, you'd turn it on and it'd sound like the motor was stuck or something, no air would come out and it would make a burning smell.
Obvioulsy i took it back for a refund.

So, if that sounds like what your after, then go for it :p



As Airhead said, you get what you pay for in general, which is why i went for iwata after the above junk.

You mentioned about Iwata and the price for no tank etc, well the Powerjets dont really need a tank, especially if as you say you arnt doing anything large.
The tanks on airbrush compressors are relativly small, so arnt really there to make the machine run loads less, but more to keep the pressure constant, which cheaply made ones have a problem with. Having the pressure at a constant level is pretty important for detailed work.
and as most decent compressors have an auto off when no air is being used that helps with not running it when its dosnt need to.
That being said, the power jet wih tank isnt just the added tank, but 2 outlets and 2 regulators, which can be handy if you want to run 2 brushes.

I know, i know, everyone says you need a tank, and thats true, if you buy a cheaply made compressor. I did a automotive airbrush course for a week a while back, 1/2 the class was on the powerjet with tank, 1/2 powerjet without tank, and noboby noticed a difference till we packed them away after the course. No problems with any of the 12 or so compressors being used virtually all day for a week

I'd offer you a discount on an Iwata ( i have a trade account with them ) but as youre talking in Dollars i expect any saving would be eaten buy shipping to USA from the UK.

DB.
 
airhead

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
couple of solutions:

1. Get a large moisture trap (home depot/lowes). Put it before your regulator. Instant mini tank....

2. Get a small air tank.
View attachment 7112
Add an additional regulator / moisture trap behind it.
Great clean air.
Be sure to drain the tank at the end of the day's use.
 
Einion

Einion

New member
aightmaniscool said:
I actualy have one of those and I have no complaints whatsoever about it :)
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There are maybe dozens of clones of some airbrush compressors and as this is being sold in the US it's highly likely you have something that just looks the same, not the exact same thing.

@zuggzugg - the quality of these is clearly all over the place so it's not a safe bet. You might luck out but you might have a bad experience. Is it worth the risk to you? With a better brand you'll have a much better assurance of it working well and giving you long, trouble-free service.

DangerousBrian said:
The tanks on airbrush compressors are relativly small, so arnt really there to make the machine run loads less, but more to keep the pressure constant, which cheaply made ones have a problem with.
Click to expand...
I think you might want to qualify that - it'll obviously depend on the model. The tank on my compressor for example sure makes the motor run less (a heck of a lot less) than it would otherwise and less use = longer motor life as a rule.

Einion
 
D

DangerousBrian

New member
Einion said:
I think you might want to qualify that - it'll obviously depend on the model. The tank on my compressor for example sure makes the motor run less (a heck of a lot less) than it would otherwise and less use = longer motor life as a rule.

Einion
Click to expand...

sorry, when i said loads less, i meant as in some people think they if they have a small tank on the compressor, they can fill it up, and turn the machin off and airbrush for more than a couple minutes.
 
airhead

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
DangerousBrian said:
sorry, when i said loads less, i meant as in some people think they if they have a small tank on the compressor, they can fill it up, and turn the machin off and airbrush for more than a couple minutes.
Click to expand...

I've got a 5 gallon tank on a large compressor out in the garage - piped into my paint station. When it kicks out, I can paint about 10 minutes when I'm doing t-shirts (40+psi). Much longer if I'm down to detail painting pressures...
 
S

S.A.W.

New member
I use a Sil Air 20A compressor.
Its simply amazing.
The air is louder then the compressor itself.

On the other hand it isn't cheap. Around 350€ for a new one.
 
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