The end-all-be-all compressor?

[TAftw]

I am trying to clean out my garage so I can start setting up shop. The first thing I want is a decent compressor. I've seen some decent units for sale on craigslist, but I don't know how big I should get. Eventually I want to be able to run a 1/2" impact, spray paint, and run a rotary buffer. I also want around a 75' line so I can blow off my driveway. What size/cfm compressor should I be looking at? Would I need anything special if I want to be spraying paint? Any help would be great. Thanks a lot guys .

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Question number 1: How much money do you want to spend?

Question number 2: Do you want a new or used compressor?

Question number 3: Do you require an all American or mostly American unit?

Question number 4: Are you planning on running a blaster cabinet later?

 

[rwhite692]

Question number 5: Do you have any interest in building your own?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42474&highlight=compressor+project

 

[Falcon67]

34 SCFM, 250 PSIG

Actually, I'd think any nice two stage 80 gallon would do all you ask.

 

[MotoDave]

I've been researching compressors as well, and have similar requirements as you, with the addition of wanting a small blast cabinet at some point. This CH 60 gallon unit seems like a pretty solid value:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tools/...eg-60-gallon-cast-iron-air-compressor-3310006

 

[buening]

Go as big as your budget and space will allow. With that said, I'd recommend an 80gal 7.5hp unit (5hp min) of any well-known quality brands. Sure as you get a smaller compressor your needs will change and the smaller unit won't keep up. I bought an IMC Bel-Aire used 80gal 7.5hp for $800 on ebay that was gently used.

 

[wineslob]

Figure out what the highest CFM tool you will be using is and get a compressor that will run it.............within reason.

A 5hp unit running on 220V should get you in the 18 cfm @ approx 100-125 psi range (for an example) and will run anywhere from (cheap) $500 to (expensive) $2000. Your pocketbook will decide.

Oh, don't go by the tank size...............it's relatively meaningless. The tank is a cushion (pulsation for the piston pump) and a small reservoir to give the pump a little "breathing room". But that's about it.

 

[buening]

CFM and tank size kind of go hand-in-hand. If you plan on using high cfm tools like sandblasting, a large tank will allow you to work longer before the pump kicks on. Assuming your pump puts out more cfm than the tool you are using, it will get the tank back up to full pressure and kick off. A smaller tank with the same size pump will just mean the pump will work harder and cycle more often, adding wear on the pump and running up your electric bill. A large tank and small cfm pump would be more meaningless.

This could go along the lines of comparing someone who keeps their tank pressure set at 80psi when it can go to a max of 175psi. You are losing half your tank capacity doing this and will just be working your pump longer during high cfm usage.

 

[rwhite692]

.....Oh, don't go by the tank size...............it's relatively meaningless....

Almost hosed my keyboard down with a mouthful of soda, reading that.

Buening has it right, saved me the trouble of typing a response

 

[Gary S]

Cycling the pump isn't a bad thing. It gives it time to cool between runs. A pump will run the same duty cycle no matter if it has a 60 gallon tank or a 120 gallon tank. It will just run more often and shorter runs with the smaller tank.

 

[buening]

I would think the larger tank would allow the motor more time to cool between cycles. Sure the motor will run a bit longer to fill up the larger tank but I would think the more frequent starting and stopping of both the electric motor and pump would do more damage. I could be wrong though.

 

[Kev442]

If tanks are meaningless and running the pump all the time is good, then you must really be enjoying hot moist air coming out of all your tools.

 

[e-tek]

The be all - end all $799 on sale!!!

 

[TAftw]

Thanks a lot guys. I should have specified:

I want this not to be the greatest new-fangled Rolls-Royce of compressors, but I don't want it to be Chinese junk. I would like USA if possible, but it's not really required.

I am completely open to new, used, pre-owned, whatever. I would be open to building my own as well, and I was at Tractor Supply today looking at pumps.

I would like to stay on the less-expensive side- That CH looks decent, and I think $400 is about right. But if I could get a nicer compressor for that same price USED, I would do that.

I'm not a professional, so it wouldn't be under heavy use, what I am more concerned with is the VERSATILITY of the unit. I want to be able to blow off rusted 1 1/4" bolts but also be able to lay down paint when I get there.

 

[TAftw]

A blasting cabinet was not on my list, so I don't quite think I'd be going there.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

TAftw,

New, look for a 3 to 5 HP 60 gallon unit. There are a lot of choices but most of them are made by CH. I would also look at the units from Harbor Freight. The CH ones will be sold under Kobalt, Husky and other names. The 5 HP units will be a little more expensive than your $400 unless you catch a fantastic sale.

Used, you might be able to score a good IR, Bel Aire or similar local off of CL but it might take a 3 or 4 months to find a good deal.

 

[Falcon67]

I've been researching compressors as well, and have similar requirements as you, with the addition of wanting a small blast cabinet at some point. This CH 60 gallon unit seems like a pretty solid value:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tools/...eg-60-gallon-cast-iron-air-compressor-3310006

That's the one I have - it's a good unit. Got it for that price too - the same compressor at Lowes is $439. I wanted to get Lowes to price match +10% and when the manager looked it up he said their COST was $397. He thought TSC was lying or closing out, I showed him a iPhone picture of the label, serial number and price. The TSC stores usually have 2 or 3 in stock. Don't buy from Lowes, they will hassle you about it - not worth it since their "price guarantee" fine print won't let them go below the store cost. That's fair, you can't last long in business giving stuff away.

 

[saabman]

Also keep in mind the their are "real" 5 HP models (they draw about 23 amps at 230 volts) and "fake" ones (they draw 15-18 amps at 230 volts). The latter are more like 3.5 HP motors.

Chris

P.S. Years ago I got a Quincy QT-5 from Harbor Frieght. It is a great compressor with impressive specs.

 

[TAftw]

Are there any "old iron" brands I should look for? Ones that are no longer sold but still kicking around?

What would I need to spray paint?

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd buy a vertical tank as opposed to a horizontal tank, the vertical will take up less valuable floor space.

 

[G-force]

P.S. Years ago I got a Quincy QT-5 from Harbor Frieght. It is a great compressor with impressive specs.

Quincy at HF? I don't believe it.

 

[TAftw]

^^^Aren't they on par with IR?

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

^^^ Most consider Quincy a step up from IR

 

[TAftw]

They must be expensive then.?

 

[e-tek]

Are there any "old iron" brands I should look for? Ones that are no longer sold but still kicking around?

What would I need to spray paint?

For HVLP spray guns you don't need much pressure, but you need CFM. I'd say 12-15CFM's for sure. The new guns run at low pressure (like 10psi at the tip, vs 50 for conventional guns).

The old guns spray with less cfm, but spray the paint all over the place too.

 

[Falcon67]

Mine hides in the corner.

I have shot paint from an HVLP gun using the 25 gallon 8.6 SCFM @ 40 Port Cable compressor. I also painted two cars with a oilless CH and a conventional gun. Don't go there. If you plan to shoot a lot of cars, get a good two stage. If you plan to fix your hot rod and paint one car once in a great while and fix hoods, fenders, etc the 60 gallon 10 SCFM units will work. Your main issue will be a bit of patience and water control.

This was three coats of single stage Fulthane shot with a HVLP gun and the Porter Cable:

 

[vectorw8015]

Specifications

Kaiser Compressors
Models: SX, SM, SK, and AS Series
Simplex and Duplex Systems
Integral or Standalone Dryer Configurations
Variable Speed Drive on Select Units
Horsepower: 5 to 60 hp
Capacities: 12 to 248 scfm
Standard pressures: 80 to 205 psig

 

[G-force]

They must be expensive then.?

Well they're not "cheap". They're also not inexpensive.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

I'd second the 7.5 Hp 80gal. HF unit

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90836

 

[Falcon67]

Clip you a 20% coupon and that's a deal there. Still over $1K, but lots of compressor.

 

[Vinko]

Specifications

Kaiser Compressors
Models: SX, SM, SK, and AS Series
Simplex and Duplex Systems
Integral or Standalone Dryer Configurations
Variable Speed Drive on Select Units
Horsepower: 5 to 60 hp
Capacities: 12 to 248 scfm
Standard pressures: 80 to 205 psig

I saw that one at a trade show. It looked nice.

 

[rburke65]

I'd vote for a 5 hp, 2 stage, 60 to 80 gal. tank.

 

[Zrexxer]

The be all - end all $799 on sale!!!

No offense intended to you personally, but good GOD that compressor's ugly!

 

[buening]

not sure where you are located, but something like this used: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Inge...QitemZ260496758461QQptZBIQ5fAirQ5fCompressors

or http://cgi.ebay.com/INGERSOLL-RAND-...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca6d76570

 

[saabman]

Harbor Frieght did and may still have their "club". Used to consist of a monthly catalog of club specials. I beleive the Quincy Compressor was a club deal. The clincher was it had free shipping. So that beat the price of any other competitor by a couple of hundred dollars. It was still over a $1000, 12 years ago. But at 17.2 CFM at 175 PSI it is a monster.

Chris

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

No offense intended to you personally, but good GOD that compressor's ugly!

Yeh, but he still has the gorgeous wife. I am right the opposite.....
My compressor looks beautiful.........

 

[wineslob]

small reservoir to give the pump a little "breathing room".

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ahem.

A smaller tank with the same size pump will just mean the pump will work harder and cycle more often,

What I should say is considering the rather small size of the systems I see here, don't expect too much from these small compressors.
We use a 500 gallon tank on our system and while that's fairly large, you'd be surprised at how much it does not "help".

 

[rickairmedic]

The US General units at Harbor freight by the way are made in the US just incase you were thinking I dont want a Chinese HF compressor. I have had my 5HP 60 Gallon unit for at least 5 years and have never had an issue with it and even woke up one morning to find a burst hose and the unit running ( for who knows how long ) . That was at least 2 years ago and she is still running great today . I did add 1/4 turn shut offs to my system after that though .


Rick

 

[pcmeiners]

"I've seen some decent units for sale on craigslist"

I looked for a year on craigslist and Ebay for a decent Quincy or Curtis, 90% of the time the units are ready for a complete rebuild or were over priced (considering shipping cost), Rwhite692's Curtis pump find is extremely unusual. The only great finds I had were from IRSauctions.com, but I am hundreds of miles from any of the auction pickup points. Really nice/cheap shop equipment if you can pick up the stuff. Many auctions in NC, Virginia area, check it out

http://www.irsauctions.com/?flash=9

MaxAir unit... is the pathetic advertisement on the back of the tank also?

 

[saabman]

Like I said before, I have had my Quincy for over 12 years in a personal rather than commerical setting, nary a problem nonetheless. Buy QUALITY and it will not disappoint today or tomorrow. Before the Quincy I had a two stage quasi 5 HP Sanborn. Just could not keep up with my growing use of air tools. I drive a pressure blaster, bead blaster, and numerous air tools with the Quincy (not all at the same time). Bead blaster takes a lot of air.

Chris