New airbrush compressor

[Guest]

Advice needed gents my old cheap compressor has been struggling for a while and its time to bite the bullit and get a new one , should I go for another £50-£60 cheap one and I mean that with the greatest respect as my one has done me for the last 4-5 yrs or go for a similar twin tank version or go for the Iwata single tank compressor , the wife has told me its a £200 max budget and I`m on a 3 month lock down buying anything to do with modelling.

my first instinct is the Iwata compressor but only because I have two Iwata ab`s and know the quality but I`ve also heard the twin compressors are ok

Any advice or opinions would be very much appreciated

Cheers

Richy C

[Ian M]

Do that maths Richard. 2 or 3 @ £60 a pop which if you are lucky last for a year or two.

One Good one for £150 -£200 that should last at least ten times as long. The big bite is how much do you have in the stash. Will it last three months...

I would say buy a good one and be safe in the knowledge that should it go tits up one day, the chances of getting spares for it are considerably higher than for a £60 knock off.

Ian M

[Guest]

Richard I have a AB-AS196 Twin Cylinder Mini Piston type "0n-demand" compressor with receiver and Dual Switch for Airbrushing Ref: AB-AS-196

This has so far been OK. One thing which I noticed when looking at compressors is that there is a dearth of makes & that those makers marketing compressors seem to have very very similar components. I suspect that they are the same & just branded. When looking I saw one compressor maked up at just belwo the £200 mark & it looked similar to the one above except for a bit of paint work alteration. Also for £200 you can get 2 of the AB-AS196 types.

Make sure what ever you do the comprssor is specifically for model making. Also get one as the one above with a tank they produce a much better finish as I found by expreince. I started with a tankless compressor. The one above is approx £110.

Laurie

[Ian M]

Why specifically for model making Laurie? I use some Italian Industrial thing. As quite as a mouse, 24ltr tank (and the best bit I got it for free).

Ian M

[John]

I used to have a AS189 it worked well and now Al has it afaik he's not had any problems either, but now I have a smart jet pro which is a totally different beast, much quiter and seems to be smoother spraying absolutely no pulsing what so ever, if you can stretch your budget another £30 it will be money well spent, if your budget is set in stone look at the sprint jet, another good compressor

[Guest]

Ian just that a number have both on this Forum & others gone for compressors which are not suitable for model making.

Last one I remember had a compressors which was made for pumping up tyres. I think it was a piston type but not an oil free type. The result was he was getting spits of oil when airbrushing.So I recommend that who ever buys a compressor should ensure they are suitable for model making or perhaps to widen, but it still has the same warning, the use of a an airbrush. I would also recommend that when buying the buyer stipulates it is for airbrushing in model making. There is then recourse if you get the wrong model as per specification.

Laurie

Just add that these were not from John's shop.

[Guest]

I recently bought a Sparmax TC-610 so I could airbrush in the comfort of the house instead of having to go down to the shed. I've found it excellent and at between £170~£200 I consider it a bit of a bargin. I believe "Little Cars" sell this compressor under their own name,which I guess is some recommendation.Not wanting to tell my gran how to suck eggs, but what every you buy make sure it has a tank of a couple of litre capacity.

Malcolm

[geegad]

go with the iwata i brought one from john £225 big pay out but well worth it.it will probably out last me "pay for quality and pay once" you will no regret it buddy

sorry just read john's post that smart jet pro is the one i had off him go for it

[John]

Just add that these were not from John's shop.

I don't want to think that I point people down the lines of things I stock, I'm more likely to do so as I've usually used them and have some experience of them, I know the support I get from my supplier of Iwata and am confident in the same sort of support I can pass on.

[Guest]

Not sure why I have been quoted here.

John that short statement was to re-assure that you would not sell items for specific uses which were not suitable. Apologies if that was not clear. Tis now.

Laurie.

[John]

Not sure why I have been quoted here.John that short statement was to re-assure that you would not sell items for specific uses which were not suitable. Apologies if that was not clear. Tis now.

Laurie.

Laurie, No apologies needed, just wanted people to know that I try not to promote products I stock, sometimes I do feel like I'm an advert for the shop if I reply to a thread, which I am but I'm not as well

[john i am]

I to had a Iwata smart jet pro from from johns shop and it works 1st time every time and gives great results money well spent in my opinion I previously had a cheap one from the web which came as a package with two airbrushes and although some people might have been able use this I found it to be frustrating and a waste of money Iwata gets my vote every time

[Guest]

Laurie, No apologies needed, just wanted people to know that I try not to promote products I stock, sometimes I do feel like I'm an advert for the shop if I reply to a thread, which I am but I'm not as well

Yes a definite plus John. Never praise or denegrate unless you are in charge of the facts.

Laurie

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies gents , decided its got to be a Iwata and spending a few hours on the web last night it came down to the jet sprint and the smart pro , the smart pro won because the air regulator with the jet sprint the air pressure is adjusted by a valve ,

I`ve just put an order in with John for the Iwata smart jet pro , the wife is going to go mad I had strict instructions not to go over a couple of hundred quid , never mind , He who dares wins .

time to lock myself away and keep a low profile for a while , a few beers and then a few more beers and 7 hours of the British touring car championship from Thruxton on ITV4 should do the trick - or I could have a peaceful bank holiday and not tell her until the credit card bill comes in ?

No modelling goodies for me for about 3 months .

Cheers

Richy

[Ian M]

It might go down a little better if you dropped the beers and the motorsports :shocking: and give some time to the good lady and you might get a way with it.

Good luck

Ian M