Compressor with or without a tank?

CrunchyDaddy said:

idk if i'm that knowledgeable..:glasses: but i guess it's only the MAC Valve sets the difference. they both have same cup, same needle size(0.3mm)..

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I've just been checking Iwata's website and if I've looked correctly the CH has a bigger cup and the mac valve, I have one brush with a mac valve which I hate, I mean I hate the valve, I've ruined a few paintings by accidentally nudging the valve open when I was working up close, I now have an external mac with quick connect which really means I only need one for all my brushes.

Both the C and CH look very nice indeed

CrunchyDaddy said:

I have been using this kind of tank now for months and it is awesome. Runs quite and smooth. Fits on my budget.

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I own a similar compressor, just mine sports two motors instead of only one, and this is better for compressor lifespan since two motors share the same work and thus are less subject to consumption. In order to enhance its funcionality, I've just added a second larger air tank (about 10 liters), this way I reduced the amount of motors activations, and this further extends compressor life

This kind of cheap compressors are very good for basic usage and absolute beginners (like me), they're not too much noisy, are quite reliable, and take very little space.

Like they said, the main disadvantage is the overheating and the fact that you may change your mind in the future. I bought a tankless compressor a couple of years ago because I only wanted to paint scale models, and it works great for that, but later on I decided I wanted to paint other things, illustration, murals, etc... and here I am, I can't use it more than 40 min in a row (which is very little time for painting anything), it's noisy because it never shuts down (so it's 40 min of constant noise), and it pumps water like crazy whenever it wants. So looking back I think I should've go for something else. My advice? Go for a tank. It'll serve your purpose and more in case you move onto other things


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I had an Iwata Smart Jet Pro which is tank less and did not pulse It hasn't given me any issues for the last several years, I have just upgraded to an Iwata Power Jet Pro as it has 2 outlets and a tank, so I would go for a compressor with a tank unless you get a really expensive tank less one.

Lee

OMGisKitKat said:

So I am looking to buy a compressor and I have yet to get into it. I was looking around and people recommended compressors with tank and some says tankless compressors are excrement. Is there any difference with a tank and without one? And do I need a water filter?

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YOU NEED A TANK TANK TANK TANK TANK !!. It is an absolute must. It keeps the pulsation from the motor from entering the hose and making your Airbrush spray like cockadoodle. Seriously. It is that important ! yes you need a water trap .

I tend to disagree about the pulsing that is caused by a moving diaphragm/piston being a significant problem, on account that the hose itself acts like a tiny buffer/tank. A hose 6 feet or longer will usually prevent most pulsing of this kind (though short hoses might not prevent this problem). That said, I still think a tank is absolutely necessary.

Without a tank, when you press the trigger on an airbrush, the pressure in the hose suddenly drops, which signals the compressor to turn on, but then it takes a second for the compressor to re-build pressure into the hose, meaning your air tends to drop suddenly when you first press the trigger, then builds back up, sometimes too high depending on the regulator, then it finally stabilizes and provides a fairly consistent output so long as you hold the trigger down. However, it will also run continuously like this meaning it will get hot faster. This, in turn, means you will need to take more frequent, or longer, breaks to keep the compressor cool. A tankless compressor is ok, so long as you take frequent breaks, and realize that you should never start spraying paint immediately, you have to wait for the air to stabilize before spraying paint; Every single time you press the trigger.

With a tank, all of this fluctuation in pressure happens well above the pressure you are working at. This could be 40-60psi for small compressors, or as much as 90-120+ for larger compressors. So if your air regulator is set at 25psi, you never have to wait for the air to stabilize as there is always a minimum of 41psi in the tank, which allows air from the tank to instantly begin replacing the air in the hose, preventing that sudden drop in pressure when you first press the airbrush trigger. Its a consistent spray the moment you press the trigger.

So long as your compressor can output more cfm than your airbrush uses, you never have to wait for air, or wait for it to stabilize. And, as others have mentioned, a tank gives the added benefit of allowing the compressor to rest between refills , which keeps it cooler longer, which means you can airbrush with less interruptions for longer periods of time, though breaks every hour or so for ten minutes is usually still a good idea (not just for the compressor ).

TL;DR: Get one with a tank, definitely.