Replace compressor or not?

[gsmornot]

I have read everything I could find on the different compressor options. I know that if I could right now the best option would be at least a 60 gallon. Thing is, I'm going to stay with a smaller unit for now. I currently have a 20 gallon oil less I bought to use with a framing nailer when I built a shed, fence and deck. I have since added a 1/2 and 3/8 impact, ratchet, brad-finish-pin nailers and a few other small things like blow guns.

My question is, would it be worth it to upgrade to a nicer oil lube unit. Am I waisting my time and money buying a better but similar size compressor? The main things I'm looking for right now are faster recovery and less noise. I avoid my current compressor at times because it's so loud. (can't use it unless its the middle of the day). One day I might go bigger but for now being a DIYer the size has been fine. I have been looking at the Ingersoll Garagemate and the Kobalt 30 gallon units. Read the thread comparing the CFMs and noticed the Craftsman did real well but it looks like Sears has stopped selling them. So, what are your thoughts. It's ok if you want to share your thoughts that I would be dumb to change its why I'm asking.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I think it it's always best to get the biggest you can safely spend.... Not to mention fit in the space you have; when it comes to compressors. However the tools you listed don't really **** the air down as much as die grinders or cut off tools. But I know that my 220 60 gal. is far quieter then my old 33 gal craftsmen oilless...

 

[fourjeepin]

Oiled is great. I replaced a non oiled with a similar sized oiled just because of the noise and it was well worth it. Those things are deafening.

 

[tjmonsen5]

I like my 26 gallon craftsman professional oiled, but I need a bigger compressor. I have started using cutoff wheels and die grinders, and they **** the compressor down to nothing in about 45 seconds, maybe less.

I would go 60 gallon if I did it again. 80 would look out of place in my garage, those things are almost as big as a refridgerator!

 

[The Frisco Kid]

If you go oil-lube, I would think you could go 30 gallon for your current use. If relocating your compressor somewhere else (outside, isolated room, whatever...) is not an option, oil lube would get it quieter.

If you want it to recover faster, you're going to need more compressor. Capacity only keeps the air coming for longer. If you added twice the tank to your current setup, it would last longer, but would take about twice as long to run and refill.

 

[Outlawmws]

If you go oil-lube, I would think you could go 30 gallon for your current use. If relocating your compressor somewhere else (outside, isolated room, whatever...) is not an option, oil lube would get it quieter.

If you want it to recover faster, you're going to need more compressor. Capacity only keeps the air coming for longer. If you added twice the tank to your current setup, it would last longer, but would take about twice as long to run and refill.

on this^^^^

A 30 takes no significant space more than a 20 or 25. the jumps past that do get bigger. having said that a Vertical 60 takes about the same floor space but does need space vertically. you do lose portability.

Oiled will be quieter. and you can do things to make it even quieter still generally.

Exactly which comp you want should be dictated mainly by CFM, and your use. a bigger tank give you some "over use" time, and then allow your "downtime" to let it recover. Do yo need an endless supply, or do you have enough breaks between uses to allow the Comp to recover? Generally blaster cabs and painting lead the consumption list, followed by die grinders/air drills and extensive use of impact tools.

 

[Bill R.]

Some of you have the wrong or outdated conceptions on compressors, some of the new oil less are much quieter than oiled. I have one of the quietest oiled compressors a makita mac700 i think and i have a GMC oiless, the GMC is much quieter and supplies enough air to run a 3/8 or 1/2 impact and any nailer i want to use. For Cutoff wheels and other tools that consume a lot more air , i get to wait for it to catch up. It runs my quiet IR2135QTI max just fine for lugnuts and even honda crank bolts. ON amazon its listed as the GMC Syclone compressors

 

[EOC_Jason]

Bill - For the most part though, the "cheap" compressors you see at the big hardware stores are oil-less. Yes, there are quality (and quiet) oil-less compressors out there, but those as with everything, you get what you pay for.

It kind of sound like you do activities where you need portability, if you had a 60gal upright you would be confining yourself to one location.

I have an old Sandborn 3HP / 22 Gal portable oiled unit that is pretty quiet. I believe they still make it under the Craftsman name. It fills up pretty quick and is great for using a nail gun and such.

I eventually got a 60 gallon "6HP" Craftsman from a friend dirt cheap. It's not really 6HP, that's just "peak" I think it's more like 3HP. So yeah while it doesn't cycle as much it takes longer to fill up between cycles.

You can also take a look at quieting down your air compressor a little by getting a better air intake / silencer. Go to the Solberg website to see what model's they have to fit your intake. You can order the Solberg products on Amazon.com and it's shipped direct from Solberg.

 

[pipsters]

Some of you have the wrong or outdated conceptions on compressors, some of the new oil less are much quieter than oiled. I have one of the quietest oiled compressors a makita mac700 i think and i have a GMC oiless, the GMC is much quieter and supplies enough air to run a 3/8 or 1/2 impact and any nailer i want to use. For Cutoff wheels and other tools that consume a lot more air , i get to wait for it to catch up. It runs my quiet IR2135QTI max just fine for lugnuts and even honda crank bolts. ON amazon its listed as the GMC Syclone compressors

Interesting compressor didn't even know it existed!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0038MWDXY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Low CFMs however, really not practical for someone wanting to upgrade their CFM capability.

Video, that thing is insanely quiet!

 

[deter]

What works best for me is having a crappy oil-less portable for random things and side-jobs and a good-quality monster in the garage for "real" work. YMMV...

My advice would be stick with the one you have, and save up for the big guy.

 

[gsmornot]

Thanks for all the good replies. I like dtrer's suggestion of keeping the oil less for portability and waiting to get the bigger compressor. I don't "need" it right now but I have found that as I add tools and upgrade I find a way to use it. The 30 gallon oil lube like the Kobalt would cover my needs but maybe waiting is the best answer. I'm going to check out the GMC after I hit enter here to see what it's about.

My main reason for looking at the smaller units is my dad. He has a nice 60 gallon but seems to pull out the small 20 the majority of the time. He uses the bigger one for painting and blasting but the small one for everything else. In the past when I needed to do those things I just went to his house 25 minutes away. He is better setup for that type of work where I'm working out of the attached garage. To be honest, I don't have a lot of projects, just ones that come up time to time. The reason smaller has been fine.

 

[Bill R.]

Interesting compressor didn't even know it existed!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0038MWDXY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Low CFMs however, really not practical for someone wanting to upgrade their CFM capability.

Video, that thing is insanely quiet!

Actually for increased cfm, right now i use the makita and the GMC ganged to a common 60 gal tank just using hoses to connect to the common tank when needed, I almost never need to do that though since i don't do any glassbeading , sandblasting etc and any serious random orbit i do i use my Mirka Ceros instead.

Two of the gmc's aren't any louder than one, noise being one of my main concerns. Also i can pick one of them up easily and throw it in the back of the truck. They are 120v so they're very convenient.

Dewalt has a much larger capacity CFM as well as operating pressure, but its 10 decibals louder at mininum. I think its around 78DB which is still much quieter than most older compressors.
I try to keep it quiet using the quietest impacts i can find and the quietest compressors. There is still some noise but none of my neighbors has ever complained about noise even using them in the front yard on occasion

 

[EOC_Jason]

Also, you might want to watch Craigslist, just be patient. Every now and then you can find a barely used but selling for 1/2 of the new cost (or better). When you go to check it out, take a quick look at the OIL and the AIR FILTER. Also if possible maybe open the drain valve and see how much water comes out the bottom.

Another option is local auctions. I saw one guy got a shiny near-new full-package Champion 10HP/120Gal Vert compressor with 5,000 hours for ~$600 at a local auction (after buyer premium). Buying that new would be easily around $3,000.

Finally, pawn shops can have smaller sized compressors. Also you can find good quality pneumatic tools sometimes.

 

[Diverbill45]

I replaced my old compressor with this one about 6 years ago and have had nothing but GREAT RESULTS with it since. It handles my blast cabinet well and all of my air consuming tools with ease. It also is very quiet when operating, as I have it in my small shop and am always in the same area as the compressor. Actually my wet/dry shop vac makes more noise than the compressor.

It is a single stage unit, but it has 3 cylinders. From the way it operates it looks like the third cyclinder acts somewhat like a second stage. The amount of time it takes to build up air is just a little bit slower than a 2 stage model (this test was done with a friend of mine who has the same exact make and size of compressor, except that his is a 2 stage model).

Now the big difference is the cost. Mine costs $699.00 and his was $1099.00 brand new.

Oh yea, another nice thing about this compressor, even though it's not made in the USA , it IS MADE in Canada and NOT in China or Tiwan.

I'd highly reccommend this brand of compressor if you're in the market to upgrade your compressor, in the near future.

Hope this helps.

 

[Diverbill45]

Here's a couple of more pics of this compressor.