Air Compressor Talk

66 BLAKE 96 · Mar 12, 2004

Ok, I think I might bite the bullet and buy a compressor and air tools. I have 3 projects on the horizon (my GT had a clutch melt down yesterday, my wife's 96 needs new struts and brakes, and of course the on-going bodywork on the 66) so I might as well go through with it and get the tools to make it easier.

What does everybody think about:

• Brand?

• Capacity and Power minimum?

• Should I go ahead and get a brand-spankin'-new one, or go to a pawn shop?

• What specific tools are an absolute must have? (ratchet, impact wrench, etc.)

Just for a little perspective here's what I'm leaning toward, though if I could go cheaper, it would be nice. I don't need overkill, just whatever it takes to do the jobs that happen in my little garage.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00916555000

68rustang · Mar 12, 2004

A few things to keep in mind,
"oil free" compressors like the one you linked to are a bit noisier and less durable than their slash lubricated counterparts. Tools like die grinders, DAs, paint sprayers, angle grinders, etc. use ALOT of air. the compressor you showed would probably work ok for air ratchets, impacts and the like but may run short on air when using the others.

I like to 60 gallon huskies (made by campbel hausfeld) they have at Home Depot.

vobraman · Mar 12, 2004

I have a sears one, about the same size. Works great for all my needs. I would by a new one. Consider it an investment on working on your car. The sears craftmans club has one in the flyer good until 3-14-04. It is a 30 gal, 5 HP . The model number is #16557/8. You have to join the club to get the price. You can join at the store if I remember correctly.
Good Luck

66 BLAKE 96 · Mar 12, 2004

68rustang said:
A few things to keep in mind,
"oil free" compressors like the one you linked to are a bit noisier and less durable than their slash lubricated counterparts. Tools like die grinders, DAs, paint sprayers, angle grinders, etc. use ALOT of air. the compressor you showed would probably work ok for air ratchets, impacts and the like but may run short on air when using the others.

I like to 60 gallon huskies (made by campbel hausfeld) they have at Home Depot.

Holy hell! I can see why you might like the 60 gallon, but that is over twice as much $ as I'm (grudgingly) willing to spend. Yikes.

Any reccomendations on something slash lubricated that is closer to my budget?

68rustang · Mar 12, 2004

66 BLAKE 96 said:
Holy hell! I can see why you might like the 60 gallon, but that is over twice as much $ as I'm (grudgingly) willing to spend. Yikes.

Any reccomendations on something slash lubricated that is closer to my budget?

Yes, they (Husky, Campbell Hausfeld, Porter Cable, whoever just about all of them are made by Campbell Hausfeld) make a 25-30 gallon unit with either a horizontal or vertical tank that is around $300.00. My buddy has one of those that was pretty nice as long as you didn't mind waiting for the tank to recharge during heavy use.

If your budget allows go for splash lubed, if not oil free will probably be OK for moderate use as long as you do not mind the nosie.

Hope it helps

jae902 · Mar 12, 2004

Single stage compressors are alot louder than the dual stage. Make sure you get a dual stage, or i think u will regret it.

GaPonyFarm · Mar 12, 2004

I have the Craftsman 30 Gal. Professional upright...2 Stage, 175 psi. Its good for impact wrenches, chisels, air saws, and die grinders, but if you want to grind, drill, sand or paint, you need something that will provide a higher CFM @ higher pressures.

If you're looking at just some shade tree mechanic type work, check into www.harborfreight.com. They have some great prices on compressors. The less expensive ones are not good for professional use, but excellant for those of us who work at home, on our cars, boats, etc. They have some 60 gal, 6.5 hp, 13 cfm@ 90 psi compressors for less than $500... Also really good prices on decent quality air tools, hand tools, etc. Check 'em out!

68rustang · Mar 12, 2004

jae902 said:
Single stage compressors are alot louder than the dual stage. Make sure you get a dual stage, or i think u will regret it.

I have never heard this before however I do know that two stage are generally more expensive.

1320stang · Mar 12, 2004

Don't get an oil free compressor. You end up working on them if you use them at all. And they are VERY noisy. I had a 60 gallon 5hp Sears, I bought it used, but it had just been gone thru, a good buddy had it. I ended up selling it because it needed new reed valves and cylinders. I sold it for the same or more than I paid for it. You should be able to get an oil bath for under $400, but I doubt it will come with tools.

66 BLAKE 96 · Mar 12, 2004

Aw man...

This possibility seems to have gotten more complicated and alot more expensive than I thought. Sounds like any one worth getting is way out of my price range. Maybe I should go back to hand tools and rattle can.

foghorn67 · Mar 12, 2004

I need at least 7cfm for what I want to do. Sears had some I was happy with for less then 500.
Don't worry about noise, all of them are loud.

gp001 · Mar 12, 2004

What the heck are you guys talkin about. We're talkin about a 1 man operation not a shop.

Blake, the one you linked will be FINE. My compressor gets plenty of usage by plenty of people. I've had it for about 6 years and mine was a blem when I bought it. Mine gets used with impact guns, ratchets, drills, grinders, body saw, blowers, hvlp paint gun, etc. Here are the specs on the 2MFF Fab Shop compressor:
5.5 hp
25 gal
125 psi max
oil free
8.3 cfm @ 40 psi
5.8 cfm @ 90 psi
My buddy has almost the exact same one you are looking at and has had it more than 7 years.

With heavy grinding you will run out of air, but the good news is the compressor makes more For a 1 man operation working on the family fleet the one you linked will be more than adequate.

steelhorse · Mar 12, 2004

a buddy of mine bought a cambell hausfeld about two years or so ago. it is a 30gallon single stage and is oil free it has worked just fine with no problems and it gets alot of use. It came with a bunch of smaller shop tools ratchets, small impact, etc... It works well for the general air tools but as stated before if you plan to paint and sand i would go bigger. it was about 300 from wal-mart

I know this is shady but Home depot has an awesome return policy. If you find one in your price range there you can buy it, take it home and try it out for a week or so, if it's not what you want take it back with the reciept and either exchange it for another or get a refund. They will take anything back and length of time has little to no effect on the process.

68rustang · Mar 12, 2004

my dad can beat up your dad... j/k

get what you can afford. any air compressor is better than no air compressor.

66 BLAKE 96 · Mar 12, 2004

Atta boy!

That's what I needed to hear gp! I was beginning to think that companys were churning out thousands of worthless, cheap compressors simply because there was a market for them. I know if one of these can survive the 2 M. F. F. Fab Shop, it can surely make it in mine.

Thanks!

Timmy · Mar 12, 2004

This is what I have:
Craftsman 30 gal. 150 max psi air compressor, 6 hp, vertical tank with kit

SCFM delivery at 40 psi 8.6 SCFM
SCFM delivery at 90 psi 6.4 SCFM
Accessory Kit included air hammer, air hose w/chuck, ratchet, 3/8 in. wrench impact wrench.

It runs most anything you need however, as stated above, sanders, drills, grinders, paint sprayers and cut-off tools use tons of air. That means you have to stop and let the tank fill back up. That’s not to say you can’t use them. I use my 5 in one cut-off tool all the time. It just take longer to get the job done with a 30 gal tank.

The tool kit is junk for the most part. They are NOT heavy duty tools. It’s oil free and loud as hell but then I think all compressors are loud. I know I paid between $279 and $300 for it last year. No problems out of it thus far.

68rustang · Mar 12, 2004

66 BLAKE 96 said:
I was beginning to think that companys were churning out thousands of worthless, cheap compressors simply because there was a market for them.

Oh the horror!!! I don't anybody would do that just to make a buck I would still advise you look into a lubed compressor if you can find one in your price range.

gp001 · Mar 12, 2004

66 BLAKE 96 said:
Atta boy!

That's what I needed to hear gp! I was beginning to think that companys were churning out thousands of worthless, cheap compressors simply because there was a market for them. I know if one of these can survive the 2 M. F. F. Fab Shop, it can surely make it in mine.

Thanks!

Are you trying to say the 2 M. F. F. Fab shop is hard on things?

If so, you'd be right

351LX · Mar 12, 2004

I was just reading about a class action lawsuit brought against the manufacturers of a lot of common air compressors.It seems as though they have been over rating the horsepower of the motors.The manufacturers have to pay a settlement now to whoever bought certain makes of air compressors so you might want to check on the link to see if you qualify. http://www.aircompressorsettlement.com/

TurboDoctor · Mar 12, 2004

If you go with like a small compressor like 30 gallons or so and get tired of running out of air like I did, before I went bigger, I just went to the flea market and found a another older 30 gallon tank that was in good shape and hooked it in line with my compressor. Both tanks would go up to about 120 psi. Compressor came on half as much and I had twice the amount of air at my dissposal for under 400 bucks.

Air Compressor Talk

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