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Air compressor conundrum. 120 vs 240v, vertical vs horizontal. Bead blaster wants 12cfm

Z

zimm17

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Joined
Jul 23, 2010
Messages
168
Location
Virginia
I need to upgrade from my little "stacked hot dog" baby compressor. I run some air tools, an HVLP spray gun, and I have a "barrel blaster" budget bead blaster that the specs call for 12 CFM @80psi.

I loaned away my IR garage mate vertical compressor. It was only good for 5cfm and I had to wait a lot for the air to catch up for the bead blaster. Now I rarely have projects, but when I do, like the pair of tractor rims I need to strip, it'll be a lot faster if I'm not waiting around.

After reading here, I'm very interested the made in the USA Quincy compressors.

In their single stage line- there's a nice 120v horizontal (portable) model that will fit right under my work bench and be out of the way. Rated at 7cfm, so I'll still be waiting, but that's a sizable upgrade over my old 5cfm.

Then there's the beast- the 230v 60 gallon vertical. I do have a 240v plug behind my work bench. The issue is it's going to a very tight squeeze and I'll loose 2 feet of my 8 foot work bench.

I'm worried the 230v will be much louder- it runs at 1250 vs 805rpm for the littler one.

See my photos- I can put the portable right under the bench, or put the 60 gallon against the wall where cords are hanging.

The models I'm looking at are:
Q13160VQ for the portable and the
Q13160VQ for the vertical 60
 

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M

mikedodge

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Jun 27, 2017
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You're going to want the 230v 60 gallon type one. Anything 120v won't be much better then you already have.
 
OP
Z

zimm17

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Joined
Jul 23, 2010
Messages
168
Location
Virginia
Does anyone make a quality horizontal 240v unit that'll fit under the bench? I don't want a cheap CH blue one but would solve my space issue. The Quincy manual says I need 18" from the wall to the belt guard, so I can't tuck it into that corner.
 
OP
Z

zimm17

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Joined
Jul 23, 2010
Messages
168
Location
Virginia
Yes that one is awesome. I was eyeing that model a few months ago. But it's $2100 vs $1300 for the single piston one. I just don't know if I can handle having a 60 gallon tank in my tiny garage. It's only 19' wide and we park 2 cars and a Harley in there. Part of me just wants to get the horizontal Quincy and live with 7cfm for my tractor wheel project. After that I might not having any bead blasting to do for a while.
 
M

mikedodge

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Jun 27, 2017
Messages
2,862
You might be better off getting whatever you want done sandblasted somewhere. It's probably worth it in the end when you consider the cost of a bigger compressor you'll rarely need and the space it'll take up.
 
P

pbon

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May 14, 2017
Messages
3,498
is there a basement or attic you could put the 60 gallon in? Or could you build a shed and put it outside? Mine is upstairs.
 
G

GeoBruin

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May 5, 2018
Messages
3,754
zimm17 said:
I need to upgrade from my little "stacked hot dog" baby compressor. I run some air tools, an HVLP spray gun, and I have a "barrel blaster" budget bead blaster that the specs call for 12 CFM @80psi.

I loaned away my IR garage mate vertical compressor. It was only good for 5cfm and I had to wait a lot for the air to catch up for the bead blaster. Now I rarely have projects, but when I do, like the pair of tractor rims I need to strip, it'll be a lot faster if I'm not waiting around.

After reading here, I'm very interested the made in the USA Quincy compressors.

In their single stage line- there's a nice 120v horizontal (portable) model that will fit right under my work bench and be out of the way. Rated at 7cfm, so I'll still be waiting, but that's a sizable upgrade over my old 5cfm.

Then there's the beast- the 230v 60 gallon vertical. I do have a 240v plug behind my work bench. The issue is it's going to a very tight squeeze and I'll loose 2 feet of my 8 foot work bench.

I'm worried the 230v will be much louder- it runs at 1250 vs 805rpm for the littler one.

See my photos- I can put the portable right under the bench, or put the 60 gallon against the wall where cords are hanging.

The models I'm looking at are:
Q13160VQ for the portable and the
Q13160VQ for the vertical 60
Click to expand...
FYI, none of the Quincys in your picture are made in USA. The tanks perhaps, but not the pumps or the motors.

I owned the 26 gallon vertical model (Q12124VPQ), 2 of them in fact. They're made by ABAC/Atlas Copco and there are versions sold under the Belair, Chicago Pneumatic, and other names. The best deal for a while was a version sold by Napa with the Napa name on them. Then I think they rebranded them under their "air boss" line.

They're good for what they are, and there is no more air you can squeeze out of a 120 volt circuit, but they use every bit of a 20 amp breaker and they take up almost as much space as a vertical 60 gallon.

You will hear around here that you should always go bigger when it comes to blasting, and that's generally true. I have spent a lot of time testing and "mathing" the various scenarios involving blasting with smaller compressors (lots of posts in my history) but that was mostly just to prove that it can be done (although with significant limitations) by folks who have electrical, space, or financial restrictions.

I did blast with my 26 gallon "Quincy" and my benchtop blast cabinet for quite a while. But, once I kicked my compressor out of the shop all together (into a purpose built shed), I upgraded to a 240 volt, 5HP 60 gallon compressor.
 
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Lucid Moments

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Gainesville, Ga
If you can build an enclosure for the compressor it really helps with noise issues. I built a closet for mine and you can carry on a conversation right outside it fairly easy. Not a normal volume conversation, but not anywhere close to shouting either.
 
C

Citation

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Jan 20, 2016
Messages
3,228
Location
Indy
OP, I think your best best is to get a 240V compressor. However, if you have two 120V circuits you might be able to get away with tying your existing 120V compressor into a second 120V compressor. When tied together you should get approximately the sum of each pump. However, there are limitations to this setup. First, of course, you need to plumb the compressors together. Second, for safety reasons, the operating and peak pressures need to be compatible. That is the blow off valves of each compressor are lower than the lowest of the rated tank pressures. You also want the blow off valves to be higher than either compressor's max working pressure. So two compressors that have a max working pressure of say 125 or 135 psi will likely pair nicely. Pairing two compressors, one rated at 125 max and the other at 200 max isn't likely to work.

The above is the sort of thing I would only suggest if for some reason a 240V setup just doesn't work. It's more Rube Goldberg than I would want fork frequent use.
 
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Imatk

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I

imagineer

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Dec 13, 2015
Messages
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Location
Ohio
My Husky 60gal, 5hp, vert, can't keep up with my medial blast cabinet. For quick, intermittent projects it's ok, but for continuous use it doesn't keep up.
 
A

American Locomotive

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Jan 8, 2017
Messages
11,026
Location
Rhode Island
You might want to look at Jenny compressors. They make a variety of low profile, but high flow 240v compressors.

Jenny Two Stage Wheeled Portable Air Compressors

Established in 1927, Jenny Products, Inc. is a manufacturer of cold pressure washers, hot pressure washers, steam cleaners, combination units, cleaning chemicals, ventilation equipment, portable air compressors and stationary compressors. Jenny Products, Inc is a major influence in the paint...
www.jennyproductsinc.com

...but they are pricey.
compressorsnow.com

Jenny Two-Stage Electric Wheeled Portable Air Compressors - Compressor Now

Built to meet the rigorous demands of the construction and rental industries, the Jenny Two-Stage Electric Wheeled Portable Air Compressors deliver
compressorsnow.com compressorsnow.com
 
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