Compressors and Sprayers

You guys have been great, and I have had a much easier time getting back into this hobby than I thought possible, thanks to the great support from this forum.

One last (maybe, maybe not!) question. I have two airbrushes. Which is the most suitable for spraying solid color coats? Setups? Compressors?

First is a Badger 175-7 with three nozzles (M, F, L) and corresponding needles. Which size nozzle / needles for color coats? (I plan on brushing clear and filler).

Second is a Thayer and Chandler 18367C. It is older, but looks to be in good shape.

Are either or both of those units suitable for our purposes?

Long story, but I don't have the compressor I bought with the Badger. Different brand as I recall, and about the size of two Big Macs stacked together. Reccomendations? No, I don't want to use pressurized cans. By the way, I am looking at decent or slightly better "backyard" finishes, not appearance point winning finishes.

I forgot to re-check the other finishing threads before I sent this. I'll check those, and apologize if any answers are in those.

Thanks to all!

On the compressor end of it. Why not go to a full size air compessor? like in the 2 to 4hp range? The uses for 1 are endless. I'll bow out on the painting end because there are really top notch finishers here.

Thanks Steve and Scott --

The big compressor was an option I hadn't thought of! I found a mini 1.5 HP DeVilbus (not as big as you suggested, but this one has a fairly small footprint) on sale for $159 at Lowe's.

An off-line call suggested a touch-up gun (automative quality) instead of the airbrush. I also found a DeVilbus gun at Lowe's for a shy $40. Better controls than the airbrush, and a little more professional perhaps.

Problem is the cheapest small apartment size compressor I could find locally was $265. Heck, I can burn the airbrushes, buy this package, have a more versatile package, and come out cheaper. I think. Anyway, that is the way I am going.

I'm useing a low pressuer, high volume sprayer that I got from Harbor Frieght. $69 AND It works great. Living in an APT you need things like this. SEE everyone at the APRIL contest in portland...... Scott