| Author | Message | ||
     Odd |
Just wondering which one is better the maintenance free ones or the ones with oil? It will be run on 110 | ||
| Slaughter |
What tools - how much air do they need and at what pressure. 1 tool or a bunch. A nail gun or a spray gun? Air impact? This is kind of a "what car do I need?" question. | ||
| Odd |
Small impact tools,just looking for some input on compressors.I haven't looked at any in 20 plus years. | ||
| Jcjohnson33 |
Most air tools require about 90psi to operate efficiently. So look for a compressor that can sustain that and you would be good. So something along the lines with a max psi of 125 will keep up. How long it keeps up depends on the size of the tank. I have a 125 gallon air compressor from harbor freight that I use when working on my car or truck. It runs my 1/2” and 3/8” impacts no problem now my air grinder I can’t run it continuously for 20 minutes but for quick jobs at say 5 minutes at a time it’s fine. As far as oil or oil less compressors I would stick with oil, they usually last longer and fill the tank faster than oil less but they also are louder. | ||
| Ducbsa |
I got one of the 21 gallon HF ones, but it is loud! I'm thinking of getting one of these: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-QUIET-TECH-26-Gall on-Portable-Electric-Vertical-Air-Compressor/10010 14062 One thing I recommend on any compressor is to extend the piping to the drain valve so that it is very accessible and gets used. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Noise is always a concern. I have a multi-unit rental property and I always tried to put the compressor in the attic while working on the upstairs unit, so as not to make a racket for the downstairs tenant. It also makes for an annoying workspace - that thrumming, constantly switching on and off depending on usage style... I've had equally good luck with a Hitachi 'pancake' compressor that came with an air nailer from Lowe's...and an old, no-name portable sausage-shaped thing that was probably built in the 70s. Old stuff - as always - lasts longer and if you can find a decent, working one somewhere like Craigslist for cheap...go for it. I honestly trust the old one more for jobsites than I do the Hitachi - so I mounted the Hitachi in the garage to top off tires and blow dust off parts. | ||
| Sifo |
"Better" depends on the use. When I worked in a auto paint shop, (just a 2 man shop) we had a large 2 stage oil compressor with a holding tank that was about 8 foot long and 2.5 feet in diameter. With 2 guys running various air tools, it ran a lot, but never ran low. For home use, I find the oil-less ones to be great. No oil in the lines if I need to paint something (big plus IMO). I'm limited to small paint projects though. Motorcycle parts, no problem. Front clip of a car is going to be a problem. That's more to do with the compressor size than type though. Tire rotations are no problem with the impact. If you need to hammer away at a rusted nuts for a while, you may need to let the compressor catch up once in a while. It runs my trim nailers no problem. If I'm running my die grinder, it's got to be a small project, and you have to take short breaks. It's real nice never having to worry about oil levels or changes. The oil less compressors use a flexible diaphragm instead of a piston though. Eventually, they will fail. I haven't had that happen yet, but I would think it would be an easy repair if you can get the parts. I've had a pancake compressor for about 20 years now, with no issues other than limited capacity. A couple of years ago, I got my father-in-law's old compressor with twin hot dog tanks. That one is over 30 years old, still runs great and has more capacity. For occasional home use, I would go maintenance free. | ||
| Hootowl |
I have an oilless. It’s loud and annoying. If it ever dies, I’ll replace it with an oil model. The only thing I need to paint is my house. I have a Wagner for that. | ||
| Torquehd |
It's not just PSI and gallons. For something like an impact gun, you need CFM. It's to air compressors what CCA is to batteries or what torque is to motorcycles. I'll be in the market for an air compressor here soon, I think 8 CFM will be my bare minimum requirement, but shooting for 10+ CFM. In the words of Tim the Toolman Taylor, "More Power!" (Message edited by torquehd on August 28, 2019) | ||
| Hootowl |
Truth. Nailers use almost no air. Die grinders, drills, shears, nibblers, ratchets - these are air hogs. | ||
| Etennuly |
Air drying is very important. Aluminum compressor heads are very noisy. Two stage compressor with after cooler fins on the compression pipe + Auto pop off tank bottom drains work well. If you are going to use it frequently look into a 220 V unit. It can plug right into your dryer outlet. | ||
| Griffmeister |
Dryer outlet? You mean they work on natural gas too? | ||
| Crusty |
Only if you pull its finger. | ||
| Hootowl |
Don’t pull its finger until you’re through using it for the day. | ||
| Odd |
Thank you, good info | ||
| Sifo |
I guess I've never heard a "quite" compressor. Most of my air tools aren't exactly quite either. If you want quite, air tools just don't fit the bill. Not saying an oil less compressor isn't louder. It just never occurred to me to even consider it. | ||
| Zac4mac |
QUIET Sorry Tom, had to be the vocabulary police... Never seen/heard a quiet compressor that actually moves some air. I have a bead blaster that needs at least 9cfm at 80psi to function right. It really likes more volume/pressure than that tho. Z (Message edited by zac4mac on August 28, 2019) | ||
| Screamer |
Has anyone tried the “California Air Tools” compressors? They claim to very quiet. Thinking of trying one but wondering if they were as quiet as they claim. | ||
| Ducbsa |
I worked on the design of a 500MW coal plant that had 350 psi 3500 hp sootblowing air compressors. They were inside sound booths to protect the operators' ears. | ||
| Sifo |
No problem Zac. Brain fart on my part. Managed it twice I see. | ||
| Etennuly |
My compressor is the quietest I've had for my shop. 80 gal tank, 7.5 hp, 18.5 cfm, 240V, 2 stage pump with after cooling, electric tank drain, water separator, that supplied up to four workers. I'm thinking the only reason it is quieter is its location in a separate shed 20 away from the shop. On 220-240V it can run all day using less electric than a 110V 3 hp water pump, er ah air compressor. | ||
| Gregtonn |
Oilless compressors are stupid loud. My brother was buying an air compressor and I told him he should go with oil type because it was quieter. He went for an oilless because it was cheaper. Less than a year later he gave it away and bought an oil type. G | ||
| Zac4mac |
At home I have a 60 gallon lay-down, 110vac. I have an 80 gallon 2-stage 220vac unit but can't get it to the 220 outlet until I clean the garage. Both oil type, the lay-down is the quietest I've heard. Campbell Hausfeld Z | ||
| Ratbuell |
So, if my budget gets back in line and I clear some other stuff off "The List"...a new compressor for the garage workshop is in line. I already have a 220v outlet. Question is, what do folks recommend for plumbing? I hear mixed reviews on PVC (Sch. 80)...should I plan on iron? I'm guessing copper isn't a good choice either...? | ||
| Ducbsa |
What is wrong with copper, other than the cost? | ||
| Ratbuell |
Soft metal, thin-walled, splits easily from frozen water...cost-wise it isn't much different than iron around here I don't think. I could be wrong though - it was just a guess, and a supposition based on all the freeze-split copper I've replaced over the years in rentals, and all the cast iron I've never replaced... | ||
| Zac4mac |
My shop air is PVC plumbed. We run 125psi, Ron has a gigantic 2 stage lay-down that has no trouble feeding 2 bead blasters. They are the worst air-eaters in the shop. Z |
