Air compressor advise

Jester67 · Aug 23, 2005

I have a lot of hand tools but not an air compressor. Up until this point I never have seen the use in one I don’t use powers tools much preferring instead to use hand tools. But in the past couple of months I have been seeing lots of pneumatic tools for what looks to be very good prices and have decided to take the plunge into the 21st century. So I guess my question is what is a good brand and what should I be looking for in a good unit that is not too large and expensive for the occasional use. What is a good tank size, oil vs. oil less what is a good flow rate etc. Any input would be appreciated.

brianj5600 · Aug 23, 2005

I have air tools and a dry compressor. The tank is about 14" in diameter and 30" tall, give or take. I'm at work so I can't give a gallon size. I only use it for heavy work like changing leafs or other stubborn things. If I could put it outside and not listen to it so much, I'd use it more. It will not keep up with constant use of an air ratchet or impact, so for the noise it makes is more than I want to listen to, unless it is for something that is very hard to do.
I don't think it is a waste of money, and not trying to talk you out of one, when you need it, it is priceless. One that will keep up with constant use is a waste of money, IMO, for occasional use though. Mine was ~$300 and about right for me.

dans70stang · Aug 23, 2005

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/sear...y=0&gobutton=find&displayTarget=searchresults

^^^ theres a list of good quality craftsman air compressors from a wide range in price and gallon size, oil free or non.

Capt Dan · Aug 23, 2005

Best to work backwards. Look at the tools you might like to run and see what the scfm and pressure requirements are. I have a 5hp 33 gal and it seems to keep up with most tools without running too much. Nothing smaller than a 20 gal. if you want to run continuous air tools like ratchets, paint guns, etc.

my $.02

ForceFed70 · Aug 23, 2005

I have a coleman 5hp 13gal compressor. 7.2cfm at 60PSI 6.7cfm at 90PSI.

This compressor works well for me. I recently painted my deck using the paint gun and while the compressor ran almost non-stop for about 3 hours it did manage to keep up.

It can't keep up with my die-grinder, but it does the job. I can get in a good 10minutes of solid grinding before I have to stop for 2 or 3 minutes to let it catch up. Usually I'm not grinding for 10min straight and so I rarely have to wait for the compressor. Same thing goes for the impact gun.

Only tool it doesn't keep up with well is my sandblaster. When using the sandblaster I spend about 50/50 time between blasting and waiting for the compressor to build pressure.

Tim65GT · Aug 23, 2005

I had a Craftsman oil-less 25 gal compressor for about 7 years and worked good for most wrenching needs. I got a small blasting cabinet and that pretty much ended it's life. Four years ago I bought a 60 gal vertical Campbell Hausfeld and wired it up to 240V. It's a lot quieter and handles all my needs. It was $400, but it will probably last longer than me. Get the oil type with cast iron compressor if you can afford it.

krash kendall · Aug 23, 2005

I have had a Speedaire 20 gallon for many years now and the more compressors I see at friends houses or jobsites, the more I like my Speedaire. Cheap, direct drive oiless compressors are loud and cycle much longer than mine. You can have a conversation next to mine and it was more than adequate to provide air for three bays at work when our 80 gallon burned its five horse motor. Here's a little tip to reduce cycles - use 1/2" air line to increase volume. It makes a big difference when you have 50 or 100 feet of line. You also get less pressure drop when tools are in use.

Timmy · Aug 23, 2005

It all depends on what you plan to do with it. I bought a craftsman 33gal 5hp three years ago on sale for $279. The only things it has trouble running are cutoff wheels, sanders, routers and such. Those things use lots of air at 90psi. The 33gal tank can’t keep up. I mean you can use them but you have to stop and let the tank catch up. They’re also LOUD, very LOUD.

For the price, you can’t beat the 33gal compressor combos sold at Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Sears but if you plan to use it on a daily basis, I would suggest a 60 or ever 80gal tank size. The real downside to the bigger units is portability. You can’t load it in the back of a truck and take it with you like you can the smaller ones.

Tim

krash kendall · Aug 23, 2005

It doesn't matter what the volume of the tank is if they put the cheapest compressor head on it to keep the price down. If the pump volume is low it will draw less amps, but will run loud and long. Having a larger tank will just make it run longer, although the cycles will be slightly further apart.

Jester67 · Aug 23, 2005

I was looking at this one http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...es&vertical=TOOL&pid=00916732000&tab=des#tabs
IT comes with a 1/2in air wrench 3/8 ratchet and air hammer.

krash kendall · Aug 23, 2005

My friend has that one. It's unbelievably loud. You have to wear deci-damps if its in the garage with you.

I used to have a loud compressor at work that we put a sound deadening enclosure from an industrial printer around. It had a hatch on top (originally for paper loading) that was good for maintenance. You could easily make a cabinet with insulation if you can't stand the noise.

Edbert · Aug 23, 2005

I have a 6hp 25gal unit and only the grinder will run it too low. I have to wait a minute or two every 4 or 5 to let it keep up.

Make sure you have a pressure rgulator, an overheat cutoff, and a blowoff valve. Also get a water trap unless you live in Arizona, and a whole bunch of the quick connect thingies (technical term ya know).

67efivert · Aug 23, 2005

another thing to think about is that better quality tool use laess air to do the job like my old 19$ cut off wheel made my 60 gallon comp run constally under long use and my new mac tools grinder has more power does the job better and uses alot less air

jbuening · Aug 24, 2005

I have a two stage, 220V, 20 gal compressor and it doesn't have a problem keeping up. From all the advice i had been given, a 220V dual stage compressor is the only way to go. The 110 single stage compressors need a much larger tank as compared to the two stage 220V compressors. They also are a little more $$ but you get what you pay for. My $0.02

Air compressor advise

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