I use a campbell Hausfeld 2 gallon air compressor that I purchased at Wal-Mart for 80 bucks. It has a bulit on Reg and it is light, quite and will build up to 100 psi which gives you plenty of other uses for this little compressor. Such as airing up tires or using brad nailers. All I had to do is add a water trap to the compressor which you can get at lowe's, Harbor freight or dixieart. I paint at my kitchen table and the compressors is so quite it doesn't bother anyone else in the house, plus its small and can be placed under the sink. I shoot only acrlic because i do paint in the house. I mainly shoot createx or Apple Barrel craft paint and thin it from a recipe that Blackjack posted a few weeks back (THANKS a bunch Blackjack it really has helped alot). I am not sure about laquer or enamel brands i will let more knowledgeable people comment on that. Happy painting and good luck