artatheart16

[artatheart16]

I am very new in this business and need advice please!!! What kind, brand, size, price air compressor should I buy? It will be using it for clearing any debris from glass before assembly. How do you find a relatively quiet one?

 

[Verdaccio]

Hihi and welcome to the Grumble!

I have just purchased a silent compressor via M&M Distributors. It actually came from a company called AMS. They offer two sizes. I am not in the shop yet and that is where my catalogs and invoices are. When I get in, if no one has posted info on how to contact M&M or AMS, I will post phone numbers.

 

[Mike Labbe]

We have that smaller one from AMS, and LOVE it. It is so quiet that you can't tell it is running. It could literally sit right ON the design counter while talking with a customer, and they wouldn't hear it.

Ours feeds the CMC and underpinner, but we don't use an air nozzle anywhere near the customer's art or glass.

If you do this, a couple moisture and oil traps are probably a good idea. Compressors love to collect condensation and oil, and pass it through to the storage tank.

 

[Dave]

A silent compressor is nice, but any small airbrush compressor will work fine. In this genre a piston compressor with an auto shutoff valve is a must. Diaphragm compressors are not as durable.

An Air Star T909 Thayer & Chandler compressor lists at $ 321.00 and provides 40 PSI which is more than adequate for dust blowing. It has a built in moisture filter, adj. air pressure regulator, auto shot-off valve and is small and relatively quiet. Should be able to buy for about $ 225.00 250.00.

Silent compressors list at about $ 750.00 and up. I actually prefer to hear the compressor run and like the smaller size of a good piston compressor. Also if you are using a compressor anywhere near artwork, as Mike said, I would go oil less. Most if not all silent compressors use oil.

 

[artatheart16]

Thanks so much to all of you! Your info is extremely helpful! Much gratitude!

 

[Verdaccio]

Certainly the points about wanting to condition the air coming out of the hose are good ones to think about! You never want to see a spot of water or oil staining customer artwork...or a mat that you spent cutting.

M&M Distributors are at - 800-526-2302.

If you decide to go with a smaller artists compressor, you can look at Dick Blick - http://www.dickblick.com/categories/compressors/

 

[J Phipps TN]

I would save the money and just buy air in a bottle!