Best Compressor you Have Owned

[CompressorPros.com]

What is the best air compressor you have personally owned and how long have you had it?

 

[PAToyota]

Quincy QT-5 for over 15 years now.

 

[sublimate]

Quincy QT-7.5 for about 10 years.
Even survived a flood (who knew a compressor that heavy would float?).

 

[sberry]

Monkey Wards Champ in 1972, been on since.

 

[rlitman]

My current 80 gallon CH "Professional".
USA made pump. USA made real 7.5 HP Marathon motor. USA made ASME tank. Square D USA made pressure switch, and Square D magnetic starter.

I bought it used in 2009.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

My current 80 gallon CH "Professional".
USA made pump. USA made real 7.5 HP Marathon motor. USA made ASME tank. Square D USA made pressure switch, and Square D magnetic starter.

I bought it used in 2009.

I have that basically same compressor, a 7½ hp Husky made by CH. It has an Emerson Mexico motor, otherwise the same. Bought new in '03. Hard to define a "best" compressor. I have a 12 gal, iron two cylinder Craftsman that I bought new in '70 or '71. 1 hp, 6.4 cfm at 40 psi, peak press is 100 psi. I load it in the back of the truck to use away from the shop.

Charles

 

[rlitman]

Hard to define a "best" compressor.

I guess, if you have a menagerie. I've got two. One is portable and cheap, the one above, not so much.

I know for sure I don't have the best compressor available, or by far the best here, but that one's easy to pick as MY best. I bought it from a body shop who had a second shop running in a barn out back with single phase power (in this size, three phase is easy and cheap to find, but single phase, not nearly as much). He had it for a few years and burned out the pump, and replaced it with an upgraded pump. Then a burst line burned out the motor, which was replaced with the USA motor I have (and a really nice vibration dampener from an AC was brazed into a replacement line so it wouldn't break again). Then he closed the second shop, and sold the compressor to me, so I got the fruit of the upgrades.

 

[rcktsled]

I have a Sears Craftsman 2hp compressor with a 20 gallon tank. I remember driving to the Sears store in Harrisburg, PA with my Dad to buy it when I was 11 years old. I am now 56 years old and it still runs great. I change the oil every few years.

Yes, I will say it: They don't make 'em like they used to!

 

[PAToyota]

I have a Sears Craftsman 2hp compressor with a 20 gallon tank. I remember driving to the Sears store in Harrisburg, PA with my Dad to buy it when I was 11 years old.

Yep. I remember having to drive “across the river” to go to Sears.

 

[rcktsled]

Ah yes, the scenic Susquehanna River! We lived in Camp Hill. Where are you from, PAToyota?

 

[grump]

I would say my old 3 horse 20 gallon Sears. I used it for about 25 years then gave it to my dad. I used it hard, ran a D.A. for hours and had to cool it with a fan. Great compressor.

 

[tarmy]

Speedaire...3 horse ....use the hell outa it for 20 years...never a problem...

 

[PT Doc]

Quincy Qt5 with Baldor motor.

 

[jvitez]

The one I hope to buy once the interior of my garage is finished. For now, a 25 gal Porter Cable direct drive is my best, because it allowed me to start using "real" air tools. And it was better using that than my 6 gal pancake compressor and a 1/2" impact gun.

 

[jsaw]

I would say my old 3 horse 20 gallon Sears. I used it for about 25 years then gave it to my dad. I used it hard, ran a D.A. for hours and had to cool it with a fan. Great compressor.

That sounds just like mine. I have had it 27 years. I abused that machine . I can remember some nights while sanding it would run for hours at a time without shutting off. The tank would get so hot that you would burn your hand if you touched it.

It still runs good and serves me well.

 

[coljar]

Both of my main compressors are great, but the Kellogg-American has never been rebuilt and has been in somewhat everyday use since 1946, so I think it would qualify as best, or at least, pretty damn good for an almost 70 year old compressor.

 

[Todd1803]

I've got a 3HP Sears 220v "Paint Sprayer" compressor. 20 or 30 gallon, not sure which. Picked it up on CL for $60 from on older guy who had bought it new. While it won't do what the big 60 gallon uprights can do, it surprises me how much it CAN do. I run an impact and die grinders primarily and it's paid for itself for sure.

 

[crab]

I've got a 60 gal. 6 hp. craftsman that I've had for probably 10 years, never had a problem with it. It's way loud but other than that no complaints. I'll buy an I.R. to replace it if and when it thros craps but I can't complain.

 

[txvwnut]

I've got a 3hp Black Max that I bought new in 87 or 88 and its still going strong today, although its relagated to the front garage and just does tire inflation and the occasional nail gun duty. It has ran its share of pneumatic sanders, die grinders and impacts.

I also have/had a 6hp Campbell Hausfeld that I bought from HomeDepot in 95, the only thing I have left of it is the tank as it now has a Schulze two stage compressor on it and new Dayton 5hp motor. That Schulze pump is quite impressive as it will fill the tank and shut off while I'm using the media blast cabinet.

 

[akdiesel]

My first air compressor was a 20 gallon CH with a package kit of tools included. I had this compressor since 1999 and used it to its limits but it still keeps running. Only checked the oil twice and drained the tank a handfull of times.
I just recently purchased an 80 7.5 Curtis FS and I am very happy with its power and air capacity.
So, in short both the CH and Curtis are my favorites.

 

[Will S.]

Sears 3hp 20 gallon belt-drive compressor has been in service since I bought it new, in 1986. Still going strong, and in fact, I just changed the oil (synthetic Amsoil compressor oi), and installed a Motor-Guard filter-drier behind the water sep, for a spray painting project, later this week.

The OLD Sears tools were actually pretty decent. Still have my Sears stick welder that I bought, to weld all the steel on an office building project, back in 1980.

 

[PAToyota]

Ah yes, the scenic Susquehanna River! We lived in Camp Hill. Where are you from, PAToyota?

Grew up outside of Mechanicsburg.

 

[rcktsled]

I remember going to Rakestraw's ice cream in Mechanicsburg during the summer. I Googled them; still there! Back then they only had walk up windows though. Now they are all fancy with a front door and inside service.

 

[G McKay]

Delta. But it's a small one.

 

[bobmulry]

Hi Guys,

In 1968 they tore down an OLD Mohawk Gas Station in my area and I bought the air compressor......

It was manufactured back in the 30's by Ingersoll-Rand and it's a 3 HP 2 cylinder 2 stage 175psi compressor with an upright 80 gallon tank.....

The only repairs I have made are replacing the air outlet cooper line to the check valve because it work hardened and cracked, the other repair was to rebuild the pressure cut-off switch because the contacts over time had burned away....

They still make parts for this compressor pump (I-R 234)....

I also had the tank hydro tested about 10 years ago......

I figure that this compressor will out live me.....

Bob

 

[JACDes]

I have a 3 HP 240V 33 gallon horizontal. An old Craftsman model maybe from the late '70s' or early '80s.

I had to replace the motor pulley because the hole was out of round a couple thousanths so it wobbled and threw the belt. new pulley solved that.

It works fantastic and pretty darn quiet too. runs all my air tools without a problem.

the only reason I would replace it would be for a unit with larger tank, but I am not using it 7 days a weeks 8+ hours a day so for me this second hand survivor works great and meets all my needs

 

[PAToyota]

I remember going to Rakestraw's ice cream in Mechanicsburg during the summer. I Googled them; still there! Back then they only had walk up windows though. Now they are all fancy with a front door and inside service.

They’re still in the same location, but they no longer make their own ice cream or offer it wholesale. You can get a number of the “old fashioned” flavors there, such as teaberry, butter pecan, black walnut, and pistachio.

The old building was set on fire by a disgruntled employee in the early 90s. I think even by then they weren’t making their own. They rebuilt, but it is the “fancy” place you mention and doesn’t have the charm of the old building.

Matheson’s (sp?) out toward Boiling Springs was the other good place to go.

 

[Zrexxer]

The BEST I've ever had is a Champion, and now I ended up owning two of them. One two-stage, 5HP on an 80 gallon vertical tank, and another with the same R15 pump on it, but a 12HP Kohler gasoline engine and 30 gallon horizontal tank.

Had both, what... 4 years maybe?

 

[38Chevy454]

Sears 3hp 20 gallon belt-drive compressor has been in service since I bought it new, in 1986. Still going strong, and in fact, I just changed the oil (synthetic Amsoil compressor oi), and installed a Motor-Guard filter-drier behind the water sep, for a spray painting project, later this week.

The OLD Sears tools were actually pretty decent. Still have my Sears stick welder that I bought, to weld all the steel on an office building project, back in 1980.

Have a similar Sears 20 gal belt drive compressor from the 70's. 120v maybe 3 hp? and single stage. Still works good and is actually very quiet in operation. Inherited from my father about 5 years ago. I use my large 60 gal 220v compressor most of the time now, but the old Craftsman is used when I need to bring the air somewhere outside the detached shop garage.

 

[b-body-bob]

I worked the guts out of this old thing and with it being a 1957 model, I'm sure I wasn't the first.



It still runs but based on a small rust spot found on the floor dead center under the tank, it leaks now. I replaced it with a Champion that will get more done but I still can't bear to part with the antique.

 

[IndyGarage]

The Champion in my shop is by far the best.

5 hp 80 gallon tank, R15 two stage pump. It was old when I bought it 4 years ago, I think I saw a tag on it says it was made in 1971. Guy I bought it from didn't know if it would run. I hooked it up and turned it on, since then it has been pressurized continuously.

Runs quiet, pumps up to 150 psi fast, no air leaks, but does seem a tiny bit of oil. - if I were buying new, they would have to be on my list.

I've got a similar 5hp 80 gallon Snap on in my home garage, It's fairly new and just about as quiet, but I don't think there's any way it will be running as good in 35 years as that Champion does.

 

[Steevo]

My I.R. T30
2745 pump with 5HP Baldor motor.
30 gallon horizontal tank, mounted up on my pallet racking.
Rock solid and provides enough CFM to keep my blast cabinet running non-stop.

 

[mindheavy]

Hi Guys,

In 1968 they tore down an OLD Mohawk Gas Station in my area and I bought the air compressor......

It was manufactured back in the 30's by Ingersoll-Rand and it's a 3 HP 2 cylinder 2 stage 175psi compressor with an upright 80 gallon tank.....

The only repairs I have made are replacing the air outlet cooper line to the check valve because it work hardened and cracked, the other repair was to rebuild the pressure cut-off switch because the contacts over time had burned away....

They still make parts for this compressor pump (I-R 234)....

I also had the tank hydro tested about 10 years ago......

I figure that this compressor will out live me.....

Bob

Let's see some pictures, sounds bitchin'!

 

[Joe69]

Mine is a 60 gal, 5hp, 2 stage Ingersoll Rand. I bought it new in '96. It's been flawless!

Joe

 

[30cal]

1944 Erie Meter Systems. My Dad bought this in 1969 from his friend, who bought it new, and ran a Standard gas station after returning from WW2. Dad gave it to me in 1983, I use it almost daily..

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I found this on Ebay, a perfect condition 1944 sales brochure for the Erie line..

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In the preface of the brochure, they apologize for having "few" models to choose from, but there is a war on..the models they do offer are called the "victory" line, to "keep shops building to win the war".

The brochure came with a 1944 price sheet, my 1.5 horse 60 gal.model 15 was $235....translates to $3171.00 today..

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I personally have an oiless Craftsman 33 gal horizontal. Not my first choice but it was a gift, so... I have had all kinds of Quincy's at work and other than one that was allowed to run without oil, I have never had an trouble with them.

Tommy

 

[quincyqt]

Quincy QT 5 with Baldor motor.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I actually had a crappy little oilless Campbell Hausfeld 20 gallon that was noisy as hell but it served me for probably 30 years before dying.

In hindsight, though I hated it being noisy it wasn't crappy, it was as reliable as all get out!

 

[Northerndave]

I have a couple of C-Aire 5 hp units with 60 gal tanks, the pump speed is 755. I like those 2 units, one of them is around 10 yrs old, the other is about 5 yrs old.

I think I'm going to move them both into our new building and get a castair 7.5 hp unit, 80 gal tank, pump runs at 585 rpm. That's a nice Unit.

 

[driftpin]

I have several, like many on-here.

A 120V Porter-Cable pancake compressor, very handy for site work. Kinda-loud, but good for a tire/wheel change/airing-up tires, brief use as a blowgun, etc. Seems to top-out at 120 -130 psi if the OEM gauge is to be believed. Bought new for a kitchen tear-out/re-model, where it worked well.

A 1980's 30 gallon 240 V horizontal Campbell Hausfeld, portable on wheels, I bought from a friend, the original owner. Works much-better for things, and I can use a blast cabinet for a bit using it. 8 CFM @90 psi. Recently I did the only maintenance other than oil changes, I replaced the switch & unloader, new head gasket, a two-piston de-carbon, because it wouldn't build pressure as it used-to, now it works fine, again.

A Campbell-Hausfeld 60 gallon vertical-upright, 240 V, 10 CFM @ 90 psi, looks crusty because it's under a carport, but has worked well since I got it off a scrapyard 'just-been-delivered' pile. It needed a new pump, still has its original motor. Supposedly a return to Home Depot, dunno if they ran it w/o oil, a conn rod was broken. The guy from whose business I got the Saylor-Beall (below) sold me a rebuilt 2-piston compressor, and some other stuff to make it work, for a very reasonable price. I forget exactly how-old it is, I think it's about 16 y.o. with me. Other than the broken pump when I bought it from the scrapyard, it appeared almost-new.

Recently acquired a Saylor-Beall, made in St. Johns MI, north of Lansing, in 1995, it's all-American. I got it from an acquaintance who owns a new and used compressor shop in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale FL area. He switched-out a body shop for a new one, took this in on-trade, put a new 5 HP Baldor 23 amp 240 V motor on it, a new magnetic starter switch, oil change, and a check-out. Should be about 17 CFM @ 175 psi. A new one is 4X what I paid for this. This is "my best-owned."