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So ive read several guides on getting the right equipment and such. I already have an airbrush as well as a mix of some GW paints and a bunch of vallejo paints. The only thing im missing is a compressor.
This is what ive found so far: http://www.tcpglobal.com/airbrushdepot/html/ABD-TC-20T.html good? bad?
Something with a tank i think was a must so that it doesnt run continuously. The price is well within my range too so im not worried about it being expensive. As long as its not really overpriced.
What does dakka think?

Dont see a price on there, but it looks to be exactly the same one i have but with a sticker on it and a warranty, not at all a bad compressor, pretty quiet, and it has a tank, does what you need

oops haha. it was $99.98

TCP is pretty good for inexpensive airbrush items. The brushes are good for beginners and the comps are cheap and quiet.

quiet is what you really really want, with a tank. I use my real shop compressor, so it sits outside with a really long cord. My neighbors don't like it I suspect.

Its fairly quiet. I run it at night with the wife sleeping about 30 feet away and its not a problem. You could compare it to the same volume that a microwave makes when cooking something.

I have the version with the tank but I have had some trouble with it. It will pump up the pressure and fill the tank and then shut off like it should. As I use it, it will come back on to again fill the tank as designed. After this cycle has occurred 3 or 4 times, sometimes the pump/compressor will not re-engage. It wil come on and just hum like it wants to start but can't. At first I though it was a heat issue and it was safety feature designed to stop overheating of the motor as occassionally it gets just above warm but it does occur when the motor is a cooler too. I need to wait about 10 minutes to fire it up again. I have learned to live with it as but as it has a 2 year warranty, I inquired about repair. Instead of repairing it, TCP sent me another compressor for free with no charge for shipping. I am still running the old one just waiting for the inevitable with a new one in box just in case.

I appreciate all the feedback! I was going to order that exact model but im in canada and the shipping fees + any possible customs fees kinda breaks any good value on the price.

The only local shop that carries that kind of thing has a massive markup. Does anyone know of a canadian retailer that might be cheaper on shipping to the east coast? Possibly suggestions on compressors said company sells?

What emmagine said is pretty much how i feel. a tank and quiet.

Where do you live in Canada ?

If all you are looking to do is prime models and for about 10 - 15 mins that's your compressor. you haven't really given allot of information. If you want to get into serious airbrushing your better off getting a more expensive compressor and what have you.

If you just looking for priming and small portions of work, that's a fine compressor for the job. If you want to paint for like 1hour + I'd have a look at the Iwata smart jet pro or something.

hope this helped OP

I live in eastern canada. maritimes. As for duration of painting why does that matter with that compressor? If it turns on every 15 minutes or so to refill the tank i dont mind that at all....unless it gets hot or something and you cant paint longer than an hour.

For now though I just wanted something to get me started so i can dink around and practice. Mostly priming and base coats on minis and more stuff on vehicles since its easier (i think).

Thanks for all the replies!

That model looks decent.

After a lot of research, I chose a paasche D3000R. Its very similar to that model, but even more quiet.

I highly recommend it.

have fun and best of luck!

just go to your hardware store and get yourself one from there half the price and they do the job. get one with a tank and must be oil less

California air tools. Super quit air compressors but on a really big budget. And a second but you should never have to upgrade again.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I am not a tcp global fan. One I am a union worker and buy American. Two they break a lot. Yes they have a warranty but it will be a never ending cycle of replacement parts or models.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
I am not a tcp global fan. One I am a union worker and buy American. Two they break a lot. Yes they have a warranty but it will be a never ending cycle of replacement parts or models.

nanaki658 wrote:
I live in eastern canada. maritimes. As for duration of painting why does that matter with that compressor? If it turns on every 15 minutes or so to refill the tank i dont mind that at all....unless it gets hot or something and you cant paint longer than an hour.

For now though I just wanted something to get me started so i can dink around and practice. Mostly priming and base coats on minis and more stuff on vehicles since its easier (i think).

Thanks for all the replies!

There is noun really. Like I said it matters what type of painter you are. I myself do commission work sometimes.. and I paint for 2 hours at a time. All I was saying is that compressor wont last you if you like painting for long periods of time.