I need to start looking around for a replacement airbrush compressor and wanted to see what everyone is using, and where they bought them. 

Prior to late 2010, I had never used an airbrush, so I don't have any long term experience with the equipment.

I bought a Canadian Tire cheapie on sale back then because I wasn't sure I was going to stay with the hobby.  It is an oil-less unit.   I got my money's worth out of it, but I know it is on borrowed time.

Because of buying tanks, and other expensive hobbies, I am interested in the best price/quality compromise I can get.  I understand the benefits of the $300.00+ units but want to balance that against the reality that I don't actually run one all that often.

A quiet unit would be nice, but not a necessity.

Does anyone have any experience with the units in the $100 to $200 range, here;  http://hobbyhobby.com/store/category/56/275/Compressors/

Glen,
I have the badger single piston, and I have a 7 hp industrial. the best of the 2 is the industrial but that is because I have it fitted with dessicant filters, 2 pressure gauge ( one for air brushing and one for my tools etc ) etc. The little guy I find is quiet but it gets hot and the airflow is hard to adjust because the pressure needle is always reading the peaks and valleys of the piston cycle

Those units are good but I would recommend getting a tank with it and then having your pressure gauge and filter set up between the tank and the airbrush, At  least 12" from the tank. That will give you the best most consistant and driest air possible.
The tank is just a reservoir so you can use any brand or size to fill it and keep the pressure up.

Thanks, Curtis

The selection will be a bit of a "process", I have some time to gather info and make an informer decision.........................unless the present one decides to crater, suddenly 

Hi Glen,

I run Iwata and picked it up off Kijiji for $100.00 (was about $300 new) It also came with a no name airbrush that I sold for $25.00! You can find all sorts of these small units from, believe it or not, idiot girls who think they can make a living doing fingernails!  
This unit has a proper regulator/water trap so I don't have too many problems with moisture. Also the compressor is really quiet. I can run it in my basement and you can't even hear it upstairs. I have mine adjusted for 14 psi and it is the most consistant pressure system I have ever seen on a small unit for sure. It does run hot but they are designed that way. I don't know how long it will last but I am going on 3 years now and it hasn't blown up yet! When it does I will probably do the same thing again. I use my airbrush at least once a week.....

Curtis's set up is an ideal one but if you just want to get cracking cheap take a look on kijijij for sure.

dgsselkirk wrote:

Hi Glen,

I run Iwata and picked it up off Kijiji for $100.00 (was about $300 new) It also came with a no name airbrush that I sold for $25.00! You can find all sorts of these small units from, believe it or not, idiot girls who think they can make a living doing fingernails!

I like the sound of that  

Bless those youngsters with unrealistic expectations:lol:

I just use my shop system its a 80 gallon 3 cyl Ingersoll rand I had a hard time regulating it down and to be stable with out pressure creep swing the shop runs at 150 psi and my airbrush and my gravity guns rairly see over 15 psi multiple regulators are used to enshur a steady manageable flow of dry air is supplied . And my air dryer cane from Ontario power generation its a raycor my step father used to work there now retired . Got it for me when they changed out for binks dryers all in all not a bad shop system and not realy expensive .

i bought a Mastercraft  aircompressor with 2 Gallon tank attached.  it can run 0-100 PSI without any issue.  it is loud as hell but I run the recoil hose form my back storage room under the closed door to my desk and then have the adapter on that.  that cuts down on noise quite a bit.

i got the Mastercraft Compressor on sale for $69.95 at, surprise surprise,  Canadian tire.