| Author | Message | ||
     Maxbuell |
Looking to upgrade my shop compressor. Got a 30 gal 5 hp now, will not keep up with many air tools(cut off, drill etc) am looking to step up. will be for personnel use in my 25X25 shop. Any body know a good deal or what I should be looking for? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Best way is to check the air usage on your tools and purchase a compressor accordingly. Figure out what the highest demand tool you have is (or multiple tools if you use more than one at a time), then purchase a compressor to suit. If you can get a hold of a Grainger catalog, they have a pretty good section on sizing and selecting air compressors. | ||
| Slaughter |
You really DO have to look at the demand and the actual output of the compressor in cubic feet per minute. 5HP doesn't say a lot. a GOOD 2-stage piston pump, 5HP compressor (60 gal receiver) is good for a 1-person shop, a Harbor Freight 5HP, 1-stage, oilless pump will BARELY keep up with a single air tool. I've seen some Campbell-Hausfield compressors that looked pretty good for about $900 - but a name-brand compressor is going to be close to $2000 | ||
| Cataract2 |
Well, I would half expect a good name brand will last you many years of use. Though, nowadays who knows. | ||
| Gregtonn |
Do yourself a favor and go with a piston compressor. The oilless compressors are NOISY. G | ||
| 46champ |
Find out what the air requirements are for your cutoff tool or die grinder and buy a compressor for that. I've been using them for 30 years and die grinders use just about as much air as a blow gun. Pay attention to the 90 psi rating IMO it is the only one that means anything. | ||
| Etennuly |
I would recommend looking around for a used professional model. With as many businesses that have gone out the past couple of years they should be plentiful. I use a 7.5 hp 240v 80gal tank vertical unit that will put out as much air as you would ever need. The other thing to look at is the large tank and 240V motor will run way less than any 110 units with a 30-60 gallon tank. It will end up using a lot less electricity. If you have all of your plumbing tight you could probably use it for a lot of small projects, like pumping up about twenty tires over a month's time, without even having to start it. The larger units usually have cooling fins on the compression tubes that help immensely with water reduction. As a matter of having a larger tank volume to work with, keeping it drained regularly, you will normally have less water in the air lines compared to a smaller unit. A good one is around $3000 to $4000 new. If you find one in decent shape used, you should be able to get it for under a grand. If you can find one that is decent, it will last you in a home shop for ever. | ||
| Swampy |
Craigslist can be your best friend. I just sold a 5HP 60 gallon upright 220v for $120. It was a great compressor, but I ddin't need it anymore as I downsized my "operation" Somebody got a great deal. Look for one with a replacable airfilter, and can be plumbed so that the intake air can be drawn from outside the garage. | ||
| Blake |
To run a cutoff saw or die grinder you'll need a compressor rated for 10+CFM @ 90 PSI. This is going to be a two cylinder 60 gallon class compressor with at least a 3 HP (continuous) motor. Some compressors are honest about their motors and advertise the actual rated continuous motor HP, but many are not and advertise what they call "peak" motor HP. It's bogus. All reputable compressor manufacturers do provide the CFM rating at 90 PSI and sometimes for other pressures as well. Excellent air compressor facts and guide... http://www.truetex.com/aircompressors.htm | ||
| Blake |
Max, I'm also shopping for a compressor to fill about the same class of service as you. I've found the following to be the best deals considering reputation, quality and price. An Ingersol Rand 10 CFM class compressor for $600 and free shipping if you can accept 300 LB crated compressor delivery via truck (you're responsible for offloading to ground level). http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_158 284_158284 The next step up gets you to 18 CFM... http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_211 720_211720 Locally the Atwoods store in Kilgore sells Puma, which appear to be well-built units. I like the V-Twin and W-triple configuration for their better cooling efficiency. As I have an Atwoods gift card burning a hole in my pocket, I'm planning to purchase the compressor there, the Puma PK6060V (13 CFM) or Puma PK6560V (18 CFM). Not sure which yet. | ||
| Jramsey |
When it comes to air compressors you can't hardly get to big if you can afford the extra price. Waiting for a compressor to recover is almost as irritating as the noise. | ||
| Road_thing |
You can never have too much compressed air; however, you can have too much noise. I've been getting by since 1985 with a little Craftsman 1.5 HP 220V 30 gal compressor. I've painted 3 cars, I've forgotten how many motorcycles, run air tools, etc. etc. and it's been OK. But it's a noisy bugger when it's running, and if I'm sanding or painting or running a die grinder it cycles on and off a lot. If I had it to do over again, I'd buy the quietest compressor with the biggest vertical tank that I could afford. If you've got a spot to put the compressor outside of your main work area, that'd cut down a lot of noise. rt | ||
| Road_thing |
yeah, what Jramsey said... rt | ||
| Jramsey |
>>> outside your main work area.. +1000 Mine is in the bathroom, so I can shut the door on it. | ||
| Pwnzor |
You could also just get a second tank and link it up. Cheap solution, higher volume of air available... but when the compressor kicks on, it runs twice as long. | ||
| Jramsey |
I have a second 80 gal. receiver at the opposite end of the shop to run the power drawbar on the milling machine, air hoist and a vortec air cooler. | ||
| Road_thing |
Wait, your shop has a power drawbar on the milling machine, air hoist, a vortec air cooler, AND a BATHROOM?? Jeez, I'm developing a serious case of garage envy here... The good news for me is, I'm far enough out in the country that I can just step outside if I need to pee! rt | ||
| Etennuly |
Outside is a good thing. Got to keep it from freezing in the winter though. I have mine in a shed separate from my shop with a heat source on it. If you get a chance to get an automatic water bleed valve, by all means do it. They are adjustable, so if you are not going to be using the compressor often it can be dialed right down or you can just turn it off if not needed for a while. You will still need a water separator of some sort, but this cuts down the water you get by 50% allowing the water separator to do it's job more efficiently. If you want an idea about crap noisy ones vs better ones, do not get one with an aluminum pump housing. I had one from Sam's club years ago, industrial 5hp 60 gal tank. When worked too hard it would blow a head gasket. Aluminum head, housing, top plate. That thing was so loud there was no peace in the shop when it was running, if you happened to be on the phone.....just yell out I'll have to call you back! This thing was in a 3000 square foot shop with a 20 foot ceiling. I would not keep up with two guys. The last time it blew a head gasket I was more than pleased to give it to another shop tenant in the industrial park, I just had to make sure that he put it somewhere that I could not hear it anymore! Most compressor manufacturers make a good industrial application compressor and a cheap piece of crap in their brand name. Ingersol Rand is one of them, De Vilbiss is another. So don't just lean on a brand name thinking it will be good. | ||
| Jramsey |
rt I'm nine miles out but my house bathroom is quite small and isn't worth fighting the better half in the mornings so the shop bathroom also has a full size laundry sink,shower,water heater. It is rather nice to wash the bikes indoors with warm water.  | ||
| Road_thing |
wash the bikes OK, you're losing me here... rt | ||
| Oldog |
RT having seen pix of said shop, it will inspire G.E. in most sane males, I should get some pix up of the trinkets that have wandered here, from there Hey JR call me Friday PM if your In and have a few... | ||
| Firemanjim |
Darn, was going to suggest Garrett GT 2871 ball bearing turbo but you guys are off on some weird tangent.  | ||
| Blake |
Ohhh, "turbo", ohohohoh! | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
If you want quiet, go for a Hydrovane. | ||
| Woody1911a1 |
if you need a decent compressor for a budget price , both the Husky's sold by home depot and the ones sold by Lowes are Campbell-Hausfield 's . for $399 you get 3.2 hp 60 gal that will run anything you could want in a small shop . the only thing that taxes mine at all is sandblasting and i run sanders , die grinders impact wrenches with no problem at all . Woody | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
I know for bead blasting they recommend a cfm of about 11 minimum. I have a pancake compressor I tried to use for some blasting - FAIL | ||
| Blake |
In general, all else being equal, the lower the rpm the quieter the compressor. The big long stroking speed-reduced belt-driven iron units are not too loud. The direct drive aluminum types are horrendously loud. |
