I’d like to get a decent CHEAP compressor and was wondering if you have to get a big one with 150psi or different considerations (regulators ect.). I got a sears gift card for X-mas and was wondering if this would work alright for small airbrushing jobs and possibly be used with a pneumatic grinder for the laps… http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00915235000 thanks
OOPS! Here is the link in blue writing- click it to see the small one I am considering. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00915235000
I dont think that machine would work. You need one with a tank. Check this one out - it is only $20 more than the one you have listed. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00915210000 I bought one just like it at Lowes - its is definately a cheapo, but it will do the job for spraying a board with paint or a finish ‘speed spray’. However, I doubt that it would have enough power for tools besides a small nail gun. You need a pretty powerful compressor with a decent sized tank to run tools effectively, and you can get a much better one for an extra $50 to $100. But I bought it because I just wanted to try out the spraying deal and it was the cheapest and it came with all the attachments, hose, fitting, etc. All the pros say that a water filter is impertative, but I dont use one on mine. I bought one but never put it on, because I tried it without one and it did fine - i had no problems with moistoire in the air…maybe because it is such a weenie compressor. Check out this spray gun ( http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00915002000 ) you can get it off Foam-EZ or Harbor-Freight for less than half the Sears price. Works well enough. http://groups.msn.com/thegrasshoppersurfboard/shoebox.msnw 
Hi Brett, While that might have the oomph for an airbrush, it’s definitely not gonna have enough zip for any kind of air tool or even a full sized spray gun. The little guy is probably fine for blowing up a tire now and then or something like that, but not much else. About the absolute minimum compressor, and I’ll stress minimum, as it wouldn’t run an air sander for more than a few seconds before running out of zip, is the item in the link at the bottom of this posting. See http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=90288 for the air consumption specs of a small air sander - they use a lot of air. You need a tank to store air under pressure ( so the compressor’s not running constantly and then burning up ) and the bigger the tank the better. I should also note that their Sears horsepower ratings are a sad joke. A 2 HP electric motor uses a lot more than 10 amps. One horsepower, electric, is 1.34 kW, or 1340 watts , or about 11.2 amps at 120 volts, and that’s one horsepower. The motor they claim is developing two horsepower at 10 amps? Try 0.9 horsepower. So, ignore claimed horsepower and instead go with SCFM at 90 PSI, which is more of a ‘real’ measurement of what the thing can do. I’d suggest that if you’re serious about air sanding that you go with something at least 4-6 SCFM @ 90PSI with at the very least a 5 gallon tank and ideally a good deal more. Unless you like stopping every 30 seconds to let the air build up and then stopping for an hour after 15 minutes sanding so the compressor doesn’t fry itself.Guess how I found that out… For just airbrush work, you can get import diaphragm/oilless compressors for well under $100 US that deliver the 2CFM @ 30 PSI your airbrush needs - and Sears doesn’t carry one. To use an airbrush with a standard oil-lubricated compressor, you should have filters and regulators and such too. So- why not buy a nice set of wrenches with your Sears gift certificate and look elsewhere for your compressor and sanding needs. hope that’s of use doc… http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00915210000&tab=description#tablink
I might try a water trap to keep the gun from dripping on my rice paper graphics.
For airbrushing you only need or want about 40 psi (not sure for spray guns). Small diaphram compressors don’t give a very steady flow of air without a tank of some sort in between. You can get by without a water filter but it’s worth it to avoid lots of frustration.