MikeV Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Why did you buy that compressor for modeling? That compressor was designed for T-shirt airbrush artists. I have the Iwata Great White Shark Compressor: ^_^ http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/iwgrwhshco.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jose Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Why did you buy that compressor for modeling? That compressor was designed for T-shirt airbrush artists. Maybe he has a T-shirt business asides from modeling. ^_^ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mickevh Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 I have a Silent Aire 15-A (same as 20-A I think with slightly smaller air tank.) Anyway, it's basically a fridge motor c/w auto on/off switch attached to a small tank, regulator and moisture trap and consequently makes about the same amount of noise as a domestic fridge. Noise levels have been compared to a cat purring. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Impatient Pete Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Why did you buy that compressor for modeling? That compressor was designed for T-shirt airbrush artists. Almost all silent compressors are made for professional artists, mostly for nail salons, automotive airbrushing, and yes...t-shirts. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MikeV Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 (edited) Almost all silent compressors are made for professional artists, mostly for nail salons, automotive airbrushing, and yes...t-shirts.Pete Actually very few can handle T-shirt airbrushing as the high pressures make the smaller ones overheat and burn up. Only the Great White Shark , the bigger Jun-Air's and a couple of the Silentaire 50-24's can handle much spraying since T-shirt artists normally spray at 50-80 psi. BTW I used to airbrush T-shirts. Edited May 16, 2008 by MikeV Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jose Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Actually very few can handle T-shirt airbrushing as the high pressures make the smaller ones overheat and burn up. Only the Great White Shark , the bigger Jun-Air's and a couple of the Silentaire 50-24's can handle much spraying since T-shirt artists normally spray at 50-80 psi. BTW I used to airbrush T-shirts. Absolutely impressive!! José Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Impatient Pete Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Hmmm..interesting- When I was shopping for my Silentaire 50TC, almost all of the silent compressors I found (maybe because I wasn't looking through hobby suppliers) said they were designed for Nail salons, automotive, and t-shirts and most of them put out at least 50 PSI. Maybe the CFM is the distinguishing feature? I could see where T-shirts might require a higher CFM. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MikeV Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 (edited) Hmmm..interesting-When I was shopping for my Silentaire 50TC, almost all of the silent compressors I found (maybe because I wasn't looking through hobby suppliers) said they were designed for Nail salons, automotive, and t-shirts and most of them put out at least 50 PSI. Maybe the CFM is the distinguishing feature? I could see where T-shirts might require a higher CFM. Pete Pete, Many can put out 50 psi but not for long periods of time so while they will work for an occasionl T-shirt or so, they are not designed to last in a fast paced production setting where these T-shirt artists sometimes run a compressor 10-16 hours straight painting multiple shirts a day. That was what I was referring to. Sorry if I was not clear. Air compressors should only have a 50% duty cycle which means that if the compressor runs 5 minutes then it should be off 5 minutes. Many of the smaller compressors have small tanks and cannot run a 50% duty cycle unless they are being used at 20-30 psi or so maximum. To have a compressor last and require that much running time out of it, it needs an air tank of larger volume such as a 5 gallon tank which is what the Silentaire 50TC and others are and even then under a production setting it may not last long as heat is what kills air compressors. Many top T-shirt artists use industrial compressors in a back room or inside of an insulated, ventilated box to quiet them and help them stay cool so as to prolong their life. Us modelers only need a compressor that will put out 10-25 psi for short periods of time unless we scratch build a 1/48 scale C-5 Galaxy. Then we will need an automotive spray gun and an 80 gallon tank industrial compressor. While I have posted this here before, this is my Badger Million Air that I added a large computer type biscuit fan to the back of to help keep it cool. It runs whenever the compressor is plugged in. The cooler you can keep a compressor the longer it will last. I have a friend in the business who designed a silent compressor once that recirculated the compressor oil as a car engine does. He had it recirculate and cool through a radiator system and he said you could not kill it and it would probably last a lifetime easily. Too bad these silent compressor companies don't do that. Edited May 16, 2008 by MikeV Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Impatient Pete Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Ahhh yes, the 50% cycle time thing- Now it makes sense! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MikeV Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 Ahhh yes, the 50% cycle time thing-Now it makes sense! Yes sir! ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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