Air Compressors

[pontiac]

I'm looking at getting an Air Compressor so I thought I'd see what models people like..

I'm looking for something that can handle sand blasting, run a DA, impact gun, air grinder, HLVP gun, plasma cutter (someday) and generaly make noise and heat inside the garage

The budget is $500 or less.
Home Depot, Costco, Sears and Harbor Freight are all within driving distance.
Northren offers Free shipping on Ingersol Rand models but how would I get it off the truck??

I'm thinking an upright model would work.. 60 gal.. 10cfm @ 90 or better. No oilless compressots.. I like the old iron pumps that chug along forever.
I'll have 220v avaliable as soon as I add the circuit to the box.

While I'm at it I'll be looking for a Chop saw..
I'll be starting my biggest project to date.. A body rotisserie to hang my 73 T/A on.

[cope]

Scott, I would see if you could get a 2-stage compressor in your price range, which is going to be tough. They usually have 80 gallon tanks, shut off @175 psi, and run slower and cooler than the single stage units. You will have enoug air on the single stage units but they seem to get a lot wetter than the 2-stage. You can get the thing off the truck with the help of the driver or a friend. I used to sell tools, and I wrestled a couple off of my truck alone. For chop saws, I think Makita is hard to beat, but the new Milwaukees seem pretty nice.

[boilerman]

i got a 1953 i.r. compressor single stage ...she does the job but i think a 2 stage is more for a shop .... i like my single cuz when she starts lagging it is beer break time to let it catch up and i like the chugging sound ......wish you posted this 2 weeks ago i just gave away a 2 stage worthington horiz. that needed a valve replaced and it had a 60 gal. tank and the motor need to bechanged to a single phase motor ...gave it away cuz i got sick of looking at it and it was way more compressor i would ever need......as far as unloading a compressor ..lay it on it's side and put up a couple of planks and slide it off....spring is here ...watch the yard sales you never know what will show up ...i got both of them compressors for nothing from a hospital when they was remodeling

[Sberry]

You wanna run that stuff you will need more than a 500$ air comp. you cant have too much air. About a thou and you get close,, you want 2 stage. Old iron pump??? ha

[Chuck U&R]

Air Compressors

If you're not in a big hurry there are some great deals on Ebay.
I bought a 90 gal Champion for $75.
I had to drive 4 hours to get it and replace the 3ph motor.
I've got a $1500. compressor for a days lost wages and $375.

[Sberry]

I have a 3 and a 5 (real hp) both 2 stage. I got the 5 free and found parts. The 3 is a top of the line machine. It was just shy of continious use for DA and wire wheeling. The 5 comes on now some when you are really working. I want one more so I can sandblast continious from electric. I hook my truck air on for bigger jobs. You get about 4 cfm per hp, An air tool takes 3 times the avg cfm rating. Air is not efficiend but very handy.

[Franz]

I've said it so many times, but I'll say it again, you either buy a real machine, or you pay for a real machine in energy use and still have junk.
The site with the most honest air compressor information is www.devair-compressors.com/index.html

Box store compressors are sucker bait and eye candy for the guy who just has to have a cool toy to show his friends. There is NO reason for a compressor to shut off at 175psi, when tools are made to run on 90psi.
The horsepower ratings on box store compressors are phoney as **** too. Those machines aren't good for anything other than collecting dust. The efficiency of watts to cfm is a total joke.

[cope]

Originally posted by Franz
I've said it so many times, but I'll say it again, you either buy a real machine, or you pay for a real machine in energy use and still have junk.
The site with the most honest air compressor information is www.devair-compressors.com/index.html

Box store compressors are sucker bait and eye candy for the guy who just has to have a cool toy to show his friends. There is NO reason for a compressor to shut off at 175psi, when tools are made to run on 90psi.
The horsepower ratings on box store compressors are phoney as **** too. Those machines aren't good for anything other than collecting dust. The efficiency of watts to cfm is a total joke.

Franz, I have to disagree regarding 175 psi. Gives you more air at the 90 psi range than if the compressor shuts off at 125. Therefore the compressor runs less which translates into lower cost, longer life and drier air.

[Franz]

Cope, while it may seem that way, it AIN'T so.
The amount of energy input required to get from 100psi to 175psi in the tank is equal to or greater than the amount of energy required to get to 100psi. The differential between equal to and greater than is strictly a function of compressor efficiency.
Yes, I have done the testing, cause I didn't believe it myself.
All that is required to prove it ia an ammeter, a stopwatch, and a calculator.

175psi machines arrived on the market when manufacturers of box store crap got tired of complaints cuased by people who bought those "machines" and insisted on running too much compressed air thru too small of a hose for too great of a distance.
Line friction loss in compressed air systems is phenominal. The pipe welders can all probably tell storys of replacing undersized lines because of friction loss economys.
Compressed air systems requyire a lot of thought to save a lot of money. You either do it right to begin with, or you give $$$$$ to the utility every day.

[Scott V]

I think you should probally set your compressor down some from the 175 psi.You can't just set it for 90 lbs cut in ether,because unless you have a monster compressor it will fall below that in use.somewhere between the two is nice.

[cope]

Originally posted by Scott V
I think you should probally set your compressor down some from the 175 psi.You can't just set it for 90 lbs cut in ether,because unless you have a monster compressor it will fall below that in use.somewhere between the two is nice.

Scott, what I mean is a compressor that will shut off at 175 rather than 125. I set my regulator around 100psi to allow for the loss in the air line (50-75 ').

[Scott V]

Cope,I have mine shut off at about 150,just because it's a little easier on everything.My regulator is set close to 100 lbs unless I am beed blasting,and then I set it about 60 lbs for longer beed life.I also have a decent air drier that uses some type of paper by product from the paper mills.It works much better than the motorgard type,although the motorgard ones work pretty well for more portable things.

[cope]

I made the recommendation for the 2 stage out of personal experience. I was too impatient to wait for a good deal on a 2 stage and bought a single stage. It shuts off at 125 max and that's fine for most things, but try to air up a couple of tires that call for 100-115 psi! Also, I witnessed the difference between the two types in a body shop I sold tools to. I agree with setting the cut-off lower; makes sense if you are only running tools that require 90-100 psi.

[Scott V]

Cope here is the one I pick,and it's been great for a one man show.The place I bought from had all sorts of IR ones traded in for ones like this one or the model above it.It's the ca series,and is the 5 hp,two stage E50 pump,vertical 80 gal tank.I got a great deal on it,and I recommend a real shop,and not home depot.Just like going to the welding store.

http://www.curtistoledo.com/

[DaveD]

I have a 35 year old Craftsman, 2 stage, 20 Gallon, 2 HP, 150 PSI max air compressor that barely does the job for me in my home garage. It can's sustain 9CFM at 90 PSI. I have some basic 1/2 air drills and a few high speed 1/4" grinders taht lack for air after a few minutes of use. Its a real pain to stop and wait for a minute every few minutes.

You have to be careful with the ratings on the CFM too. There is CFM and SCFM(standard CFM). If I remember right the SCFM is a bogus number that doesn't mean much in real life.

I believe the more air the better and the more pressure the compressor can put in the tank the better. Save up and get a 60 gallon (or 80 if you have the room)vertical tank, 2 stage, 5HP (real HP not some BS rating), oil bath compressor, 175 PSI cutoff. One where the motor belt drives the 2 stage compressor. As soon as my compressor finally dies out that is what I'm going to pick up (probably close to $1000)

I look at it this way, 60 gallons at 175 PSI = 120 gallons at half that PSI. The sandblaster will really suck the air, as will any decent continuous air tools. I have a el cheapo craftsman sand blaster that will suck my compressor dry in a few minutes. The combination is worthless.

You are going to need a LOT of air for the HVLP gun. Don't they go at least 7 PSI at 90 CFM? Think about that. You will have a 5HP, 220V motor running constantly to supply it (if it can even do it). If you really want HVLP spraying I'd buy the standalone HVLP setup and not use the air compressor. the standalone units are light and portable.

I'd recommend you stay away from the oilless compressors . They are noisey and I heard they won't last under constant use.

Whatever you decide, try to have fun with it.