Seven "Quiet" Airbrush Compressors Compared - $85 - $1,226?! - Noise and Performance Testing 

Imagine if RU-vid was more chill explanations like this, rather than flashy 'in your face' DOs and DON'Ts

Great video going over the breath of options out there. One little thing I’d like to add is that no matter how small a compressor you get, you can buy a 5 gallon air tank for around $37 and that will get you quiet painting for around 10 minutes before having the compressor kick back on. Often much longer if you’re doing detailed work.

My backup is one of the no-names with no tank, but my main compressor is a 2 gallon tank with a refrigerator compressor grafted onto the top. I couldn't say any official specs, but it's more quiet than a normal conversation. Thanks for the comparison! 👍

Easily one of the best explanations and run-downs of air compressors for art/hobby use that I've ever seen. Makes me a lot more confident about dropping a couple hundred dollars on one of these things without otherwise knowing whether or not I'm going to hate it. I especially appreciated the sound comparisons. I was really impressed with the NoName Tooty and the Fortress, which both, despite not being strictly the quietest options, had, to my ears, fairly agreeable tone that I could actually stand to listen to. (The Fortress especially hums in a way I find almost soothing; that thing is looking a lot like it might be the oneII end up buying.) I was really interested in the Mr. Linear when you were describing it, but then it went and made a sound that reminds me of a dental drill, or really loud florescent track lighting, which would drive me crazy at any volume; I'm glad to have an excuse to not even consider it, given the price point. Anyway, fantastic video. Showed up randomly in my feed, but answers a bunch of questions I've had for years.

This is exactly what I was looking for, best compressor vid! Also a 'degen sleep schedule' here and my generic air compressor with just below 70 db must be annoying for people around me.

Great analysis, thanks for sharing!

cool seeing the innards of these compressors! my compressor history of being 4ish yrs into the Gunpla hobby is the timbertech as186 (too weak for my use case), borrowed a 4ish gallon makita compressor, then I bought my CAT 8010A 8 gall alu tank. My problem is no matter what I do my CAT slow leaks, rip. Also 1hp (lots of wattage through wall outlet) is LOUD and I got tired of hearing it after awhile. I'm looking for silence/tank space as much as possible. My abs range from GSI 289, Iwata Eclipse, 2 Gaahleri's, 1 pistol griped type AB. I figured I jump from .2-.5 needles (primer, lacquer/enamels, model clears, urethane). I was looking at a Silentaire, another YTer (art workshop) made the jump, I dunno if I have the patience to work with a finicky machine vs just buying a new compressor 2 yrs down the road once all the cycles add up and its being loud(er) than spec. I have a waterfall spray booth that's loud enough and I live in a place with wooden floors, so been trying to use a bunch of old mats to temper the sound from my 8010a. What do you recommend? I spay mainly MG (tho some RG/HG thrown in there) sized Gunpla on sticks (so nearly every piece which can range from 200ish to 600ish). I guess in a perfect would I'd have a 10 gallon alu tank with a tooty type engine, even though the PSI stuffed in teh tank would be less and would take longer to refill, at least it'll be quiet. Informative vid, thanks.

i have been watching compressor / airbrush videos with intent of getting a PS-290 and a compressor that can handle it, this video is godsend

I've been wanting to get the Harbor Freight Fortress 2 gallon for a while. Besides being quiet, it is enough to run some lower power air tools and top off the car tires.

Great video and la lot of information. Thanks for sharing tour amazing tíos and experience.

Love my little Ovaga battery powered tankless compressor. It has 3 different psi settings. Super quiet in my little apartment. There is also a larger (and quieter) ac powered version with 7 different psi settings. Great vid 👍

Interesting review. Could you post your results in the description so we don't have to go through the video again? I bought a California 20 gallon compressor because it was the quietest in the price range. Haven't had any problems with it in the last five years. I have an air brush hose with a quick release on it to hook up to the compressor.

The Cool Tooty also works well with my PS-290 for doing 1/25 auto bodies.

So useful

Have you had a chance to check out the new harbor freight black widow? Thoughts?

My first compresor was a Super Silent 20-A.. The only compresor I bought years ago and lasted 20 years, Last year the motor of the 20-A stop working!! But I love it so much that I bought a brand new one form Silentaire!! I got the Super Silent DR 150 with a bigger tank, Is been a year since the new one, I can't never buy a regular compresor making that noise of ''74 - 80db'' lol...If that would be the case I will spray with tamiya sprays cans!! 🤣btw one of the best videos compering compressors models!!👍✌

I'm making one right now with a compressor from an old dehumidifier and an old air tank. The Silentaire are also made this way, with refrigerator/air conditioner/dehumidifier compressors. Very quiet. The one I'm making will cost me less than $100. It's a bit of a project however.

Still useful as always, very serious luv it. one thing i am willing to ask you though is that when I'm using my airbrush (no name 20 Bucks) and compressor (tankless no name) if i am spraying small amounts of paint there's no problem. but as soon as i pull back the trigger fully to have a glossy layer there are many imperfections (i think it's called splattering) so small paint drops are sticking on my model. i've tried lowering/increasing pressure, thinning less/more my paint, with/without moisture trap but nothing changed. do you think it comes from the airbrush being bad (highly possible) or maybe the compressor ? Lastly i saw you loved your GSI creos ps290 but i can't afford such an airbrush at the moment. do you have any "go to" budget airbrush ? thanks again for you very instructive videos

I have the Cool Tooty and it works well for me. I also have a 30 year old silent oil compressor but I started getting oil when I was draining it so I went with the Tooty. The compressor noise isn't as bad as my spray booth.

I just hung my AS186 (like a tooty) under my desk, so much quieter. Much of the noise is from the surface it sands on.. I see you have the PS-275 pistol trigger from Creos. IF you don't have a review (will check now) could you do. a little comparison to the PS-289?

Its very interesting, after many videos I initially went with a Fortress 1gal and got closer to 70+ dbs and crazy amounts of vibration. Ordered 1060sp, significantly way less vibration, and sub 60db, i never understood how anyone was getting such low noise/vibrations with their Fortress, and anytime they pop-up it makes me think something was wrong with mine in the beginning.

I’m the co2 is less safe than the compressor lol. Enclosed space you’re really gambling with asphyxiation there. I work with those very cylinders and airbrushing is the last thing I’d use them for. There’s also the frosting from constant use.