Air Compressor CFM

[ramox15]

Hello everyone,

I am setting up a tire sales and oil change company. This will include balance and alignment. I have doubts about the type of compressor that I should acquire so that the processes are not interrupted and not force the compressor more than 80%.

I did a research of all the equipments and their respective CFM:

- Tire changer: 14 - 15 CFM. It's not electric and works with air in its entirety.
- Balancer: 4 CFM.
- Rolling Jack: 10 - 20 CFM.
- Oil dispensers, Pump Master (3): 4 CFM each.

The rest would be outlets for tire filling (4), Impact Wrenches (2), Die Grinder (1).

My supplier offered me two options, which one do you think can meet my needs without having a low capacity or a compressor with a lot of unused capacity?

Option 1:

FergusonHome Well Pumps

Shop our selection of Well Pumps at Ferguson Home. Large selection of Well Pumps from top manufacturers

www.aircompressorsdirect.com

3.5 HP, 60 Gal.

CFM
12.4 CFM Rated @
100 PSI

CFM @ 40 PSI
14.6

Pump Material
Solid Cast Iron

Max PSI
135 PSI

Option 2:

BelAire Compressors 418V 5 HP 80 Gal 175 Max PSI Iron Series Two-Stage Stationary Electric (208, 230 Volt 1 Phase) Reciprocating Air Compressor with Vertical Tank | Ferguson Home

Save on the BelAire Compressors 418V from Ferguson Home. Low Prices + Fast & Free Shipping on Most Orders. Find reviews, expert advice, manuals, specs & more.

www.aircompressorsdirect.com

5.0 HP, 80 Gal.

CFM
18
CFM Rated @
100 PSI

16
CFM Rated @
175 PSI

Pump Material
Solid Cast Iron

Max PSI
175 PSI

Thanking you in advance for your responses.

 

[vwpieces]

the 80 will run quieter and should be enough for the shop, perhaps with 1-2 employees.
But the compressor is also the life blood of a tire shop. May want to consider 2 compressors, one to act as a backup.

 

[ramox15]

Thanks for your answer.

I was analyzing this part and I forgot to put it above.

I had planned to buy two 3.5 HP ones and keep one as a backup, but another supplier told me that it would not work very well according to the air demand of the entire workshop. Is this true?

Buying one of 5 HP and another of 3.5 HP would be out of the budget.

 

[vwpieces]

5HP has 2yr commercial warranty 2yr consumer also.
3hp is 2yr consumer Only.
That alone would eliminate the 3hp from my list.

 

[mike93lx]

Something like that 5hp unit would be as small as I would consider for a business like that and I completely agree about a backup.

If you can't afford a backup now, work towards that goal before you find yourself running around to local stores scrambling for a temp solution down the road

 

[vwpieces]

While I did not see any RPM ratings on those 2 compressors I guarantee the 5hp will run slower to produce more CFM.
Slower is quieter and will last longer at slower speed.
For example the 3hp most likely has a 3450rpm motor and the 5hp 1750rpm. Pulley size still factor in, but just part of the explanation.

 

[jubilee]

18 cfm sounds low to me.
I had two 25 cfm tied together when I had my truck shop.
My service truck has a 27 cfm gas compressor and I never thought it was enough.

 

[joe_padavano]

18 cfm sounds low to me.
I had two 25 cfm tied together when I had my truck shop.
My service truck has a 27 cfm gas compressor and I never thought it was enough.

^^^ THIS. 18 SCFM will be marginal. 23 - 25 SCFM is the minimum. Keep in mind that the rating is at the compressor outlet. Piping and hoses will reduce the flow at the tool.

 

[Spareparts]

My compressor is a 5hp 80gal tank 1750rpm motor and the compressor head only turns 560 rpm and puts out 18 CFM@ 90psi
got it in 1996 and the only time it has been turned off is when we have a power failure or annual maint. $1050 delivered to my shop.
The other option was a 7 1/2 hp unit with the same size tank and rpm rating, 24 CFM both were 220V single phase.
I do a lot of sand blasting with a 100lb pressure pot blaster set at 100psi and always have plenty of air pressure if that helps.
I didn't see a location on your post but mine was bought from North Centeral Air in Downs Kansas, probly 150 miles from me and they delivered it to my shop, put it in my shop and helped me hook it up to see it run. A previous poster mentioned about RPM on the motors
and he right, some Co. run the higher rpm's faster to up the CFM of their units, it just wears the compressor's out sooner. The prices at NCA are fantistic compared to co's located close to bigger cities and their service is fantastic, They do have a WEB site with a lot of useful info.
I did purchase 2 more units in 2007 1--5 hp and 1--71/2 hp unit for other shops and the price for the 5 hp unit had onle risen by $125. I forgot the price on the 7--1/2 hp unit but it had to be reasonable. Good Luck with your endevor.

 

[Wrench97]

Does your shop have 3 phase power or single phase?
5 HP minimum is what I would want, Quincy, Champion and Saylor Beall are top names you find in bigger shops take care of them and they run 25+ years.

 

[durk_2007]

I'll go to the other side of this how often do these tools run? Oil dispenser 3min twice an hour, rolling jack 15 sec, balancer 1min intermittent. The tire machine will be the biggest hog or impacts but I usually see techs switching to electric impacts for standard duty vehicle (1ton or less)

 

[metalmagpie]

I bought my current compressor from an automotive shop with similar air requirements as you have. It has a 5hp 2-stage air pump. Puts out about 18 cfm. Champion RV-15A. If it was big enough to run their shop it'd be about right for yours. BTW they sold it to put in a more robust system with 2 compressors which could back each other up.

metalmagpie

 

[stonesfan68]

I'd go with the 5HP machine and get a 3PH motor if you can.

 

[nadogail]

More horses and 3 phase will be better.

 

[matt_i]

For your shop I would buy a 7.5hp x 80 gallon unit, single or 3 phase. Then you can spend time worrying about other things.

 

[ramox15]

Hello everyone,

I thank all those who commented and advised me on the compressor that I should choose. In the end, taking everything you said, I have inquired about the representatives of two brands, Quincy and Ingersoll Rand, and they have recommended 7.5hp 22-24 CFM compressors (as many commented). Below I leave the recommendations and always grateful.

Quincy: List in 5hp and 7.5hp. Today they visited me and in the end they decided on the 7.5 hp.

Quincy 271CS80VCB QT Pro 7.5-HP 80-Gallon Two-Stage Air Compressor 230V 1-Phase

Buy Quincy 271CS80VCB Direct. Free Shipping. Check the Quincy QT Pro 7.5-HP 80-Gallon Two-Stage Air Compressor (230V 1-Phase) ratings before checking out.

www.aircompressorsdirect.com

Ingersoll Rand: tomorrow they will be visiting me but they quoted me the following according to what I could tell them via email.

7.5HP:

Ingersoll Rand 2475N7.5 Type 30 7.5-HP 80-Gallon Two-Stage Air Compressor 230V 1-Phase

Buy Ingersoll Rand 2475N7.5 Direct. Free Shipping. Check the Ingersoll Rand Type 30 7.5-HP 80-Gallon Two-Stage Air Compressor (230V 1-Phase) ratings before checking out.

www.aircompressorsdirect.com

5HP:

Ingersoll Rand 2340L5.230-1 Type 30 5-HP 60-Gallon Two-Stage Air Compressor 230V 1-Phase

Buy Ingersoll Rand 2340L5.230-1 Direct. Free Shipping. Check the Ingersoll Rand Type 30 5-HP 60-Gallon Two-Stage Air Compressor (230V 1-Phase) ratings before checking out.

www.aircompressorsdirect.com

 

[Wrench97]

Quincy gets my vote.

 

[fsae0607]

the 80 will run quieter and should be enough for the shop, perhaps with 1-2 employees.
But the compressor is also the life blood of a tire shop. May want to consider 2 compressors, one to act as a backup.

Reminds me of my Costco tire shop days.

One hot summer Saturday, the power went out on a busy day with all bays full, every car getting at least two new tires. Power went out for a few hours and we did what we could with the air we had left. Once the air [quickly] ran out, it was an extended break time for us! The people whose cars were stranded on the lifts were livid and demanded to complain to someone. We all told them to please forward your complaints to SoCal Edison

 

[mogandave]

I'm a Gardner-Denver guy, but I would go with Quincy over IR.

 

[oldmachinenut]

Another vote for Quincy, I have 2. A 1947 310 and a 1984 325, they will outlive me.

 

[metlmunchr]

I'd go with the Quincy as well, but I'd add $700 to the price and buy the QP rather than the QT they've quoted. The QP has pressure lubrication rather than splash and a spin on oil filter. Good investment for longer life on a compressor that will see all day every day use.