Air compressor for moderate auto work

[geko29]

I've been meaning to get an air compressor/tools for several years and just haven't. However, I have a 10-year-old E46 BMW that I'm going to be basically replacing the entire suspension on in the coming months, so now may be the time. I'll definitely be getting an impact wrench, ratchet, and hammer right up front, with the impact and ratchet seeing use every time I work on one of the cars (typically every few months). I can envision buying a die grinder or cutoff wheel at some point and using them on extremely rare occasion, but don't think I need to size my compressor based on continuous use of those two. I can't imagine ever running a sander or blast cabinet.

I'm looking for a relatively quiet, high-quality compressor that I can use for decades and will run the above tools for basic auto maintenance without cycling constantly. Portable or stationary is fine, though I don't have room for a large horizontal tank (small one would be ok). 110/220 is not an issue, as it'll be placed about 14" from the breaker panel, and if there isn't already a 220V outlet under the bench, my Father-in-Law is an electrician, so I can get one installed for the price of parts and a hamburger . However, something like the Eaton that requires a 40A/220V breaker is probably out of the question, as I only have 100A service and would hate to pop the main breaker because the compressor and A/C kicked on at the same time.

My wife works for Grainger, so I get a 30% discount on anything from there. But I don't have to buy from there if there are better alternatives.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

 

[jmauld]

I've recently been considering replacing my upright compressor with something that takes up less space and could be stored under a work bench, like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005NMUZ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I don't find myself using the air tools nearly as much as I thought I would, due to the excessive noise and my desire to not piss off my neighbors when I'm working on the car late at night.

 

[kartracer55]

I would say grainger is the place to look then! I am not sure I understood your question 100%. If I am not mistaken, you don't have room for a large Horizontal tank, but can you work with a large vertical tank? Tank size is what is going to dictate cycle time, all else held equal, so go as big as you can swing.

Based on what you said, something in the 10-15cfm range should be good for what you want. An impact won't get used for long enough on end where you need a full 20+ cfm continuously, but an air ratchet can be a bit of a pig. Ratchets usually hover around the 15cfm mark, give or take, but with the volume stored in the tank you should be just fine. Die grinders are mostly in the 15-20 range, but again, if you arnt using them for hours on end, between the stored air and a decent size pump you should be ok.

Budget would Dictate whether you go towards the 10cfm side or the 15 cfm side, or larger.

Campbell Hausfeld, IR and Speedaire would all be great for what you want, the Speedaire being my first choice of that list based on past experiences.

You can check out the usuals elsewhere (think Eaton, Quincy, Jenny, Curtis, Champion, blah blah blah) but the 30% off would be the deal breaker for me. Id stick with Grainger.

 

[geko29]

I am not sure I understood your question 100%. If I am not mistaken, you don't have room for a large Horizontal tank, but can you work with a large vertical tank? Tank size is what is going to dictate cycle time, all else held equal, so go as big as you can swing.

Yeah, I have a small garage, so floor space is at a premium. I can probably accommodate a 25 gallon horizontal or 30 gallon vertical with little to no changes. A larger horizontal would require taking out an entire shelving unit (which I'd rather not do), while a 60 gallon vertical would require shortening some upper wall-hung shelves, but is quite doable. So I'd be ok with a 60gal.

Campbell Hausfeld, IR and Speedaire would all be great for what you want, the Speedaire being my first choice of that list based on past experiences.

My Father-in-law has a 10+ year old Speedaire (think it's a 2hp, 25 gallon, 110V) that's still working great, so I think I'm comfortable with them as well.

I can rock the IR SS3 for about $525, This 60-gal Speedaire for about $710, or IR SS5 for $770. There's also a Speedaire Two-stage for $835, but am I right in thinking that's starting to get excessive?

Any of those stand out? Better choice I may have missed?

 

[r0meyrome]

first problem is you have an e46! Time to downgrade and get an e30 or even e21

 

[geko29]

first problem is you have an e46! Time to downgrade and get an e30 or even e21

BAH! I love my little 323i. It's 10 years old, and this will be its first major service. Everything previous has been the usual fluids, brakes, battery, tires; except for window regulators (warranty) and final stage resistor (non-warranty), it's never needed a repair.

 

[alex71]

I've recently been considering replacing my upright compressor with something that takes up less space and could be stored under a work bench, like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005NMUZ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I don't find myself using the air tools nearly as much as I thought I would, due to the excessive noise and my desire to not piss off my neighbors when I'm working on the car late at night.

That thing is good for running a nail gun. that's about it.

 

[back2class]

That thing is good for running a nail gun. that's about it.

Agree for the most part. It will run an impact for about 10 seconds. That is often enough to get whatever is stuck off though. But for air ratchets and stuff it will go slower than turning by hand waiting for it to refill after 15 seconds of use. I would say at least a 30gal tank and that is still not enough to run die grinders, air sanders and snadblasters for more than a moment here and there.

 

[mcnair06goat]

ss5 is the one that im looking at getting in the future really nice unit and lots of good reviews. 770 is a great deal i would buy it if i were in the market right now. i have a 30 gllaon kobalt that i got a few years ago decent unit for 350 but i would sell it in a heartbeat for a ir or eaton.

 

[geko29]

Cool, I had been looking at that Kobalt (and the larger one), but it sounds like it won't quite meet my needs.

 

[geko29]

So I've learned two things in the past week:

1. I do have a 230V outlet under my bench (251V, actually, according to my trusty Fluke).
2. Grainger apparently doesn't sell any 230V, single phase, vertical tank compressors under the Speedaire name. All the ones I can find are of the Westward brand.

So that has my list looking something like this:

Westward 4ME96: 60G vert, single cylinder, 3HP, 10.2CFM@90psi, $397
Speedaire 1NNF7: 20G horiz, single cylinder, 3HP, 10.2CFM@90psi, $440
Ingersoll-Rand SS3: 60G vert, inline twin, 3HP, 10.3CFM@90psi, $508
Westward 4ME97: 60G vert, V-twin, 5HP, 16CFM@90psi, $628
Ingersoll-Rand SS5: 60G vert, inline twin, 5HP, 18.1CFM@90psi, $748

Any input/recommendations on the above? Based on the spare parts lookup, all the Westward and Speedaire models are made by Campbell Hausfield, and I think the first one is the same that Home Depot/Lowes sell under the Husky/Kobalt name for $400/$439. I think I'm leaning towards the IR SS3, but want to make sure I make the right decision here, as I'm hoping to buy once and use it for a lifetime.

 

[MrRocket]

Westward 4ME96[/url]: 60G vert, single cylinder, 3HP, 10.2CFM@90psi, $397
Speedaire 1NNF7: 20G horiz, single cylinder, 3HP, 10.2CFM@90psi, $440
Ingersoll-Rand SS3: 60G vert, inline twin, 3HP, 10.3CFM@90psi, $508
Westward 4ME97: 60G vert, V-twin, 5HP, 16CFM@90psi, $628
Ingersoll-Rand SS5: 60G vert, inline twin, 5HP, 18.1CFM@90psi, $748

Air compressors are like batteries and radiators. You can never go to big. I suggest you get the biggest one available and never look back. A lifetime is a long time to wish you went bigger. Of the ones listed, I say the IR SS5. IMHO.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

A 60 gallon, 5 HP air compressor is more than most home owners will ever need. If you plan on using an air ratchet, die grinder, cuttoff wheel or air drill, you will need something with that much volume however but more than that would be overkil unless you plan on using larger equipment, a blast cabinet or have several budies over using high volume tools at the same timel. Depending on the compressor, those specs will give you somewhere between 15 to 20 CFM @90 PSI.

Try to buy the best compressor that you can for the money looking at the motor (USA being better), an ASME tank and a low RPM compressor. Even though your wife works at Grainger, check other suppliers as well (Northern Tools, HF, Lowes, HD, etc.) as they might have a better deal on the same compressor.

 

[geko29]

Air compressors are like batteries and radiators. You can never go to big. I suggest you get the biggest one available and never look back. A lifetime is a long time to wish you went bigger. Of the ones listed, I say the IR SS5. IMHO.

That's a good point. Is there something else you'd recommend that I didn't list?

A 60 gallon, 5 HP air compressor is more than most home owners will ever need. If you plan on using an air ratchet, die grinder, cuttoff wheel or air drill, you will need something with that much volume however but more than that would be overkil unless you plan on using larger equipment, a blast cabinet or have several budies over using high volume tools at the same timel. Depending on the compressor, those specs will give you somewhere between 15 to 20 CFM @90 PSI.

Are you saying I shouldn't go for a 5HP because it's too much, or I should because it's too much?

Try to buy the best compressor that you can for the money looking at the motor (USA being better), an ASME tank and a low RPM compressor. Even though your wife works at Grainger, check other suppliers as well (Northern Tools, HF, Lowes, HD, etc.) as they might have a better deal on the same compressor.

I have looked, and at the low-end, the prices seem about the same. For the IRs I listed, Northern tool is $600 for the SS3 and $880 for the SS5, so the savings are definitely there. I looked at Sears, but they seem to be way overpriced comparatively speaking, and the only thing I found at HD or Lowes aside from the $400 rebranded CH that seemed worthwhile was a 80 Gallon, 3 cylinder, 5 horsepower Kobalt that does around 15CFM for $800. I want to say that motor is AO Smith or Emerson, but I don't know who makes the pump or tank. It is nice in that it has a built-in pressure regulator, 2 quick-connect fittings built into the panel, and is generally ready to go. But it does seem a tad on the expensive side for what you get, compared to the IRs from Grainger.

But I'm totally open to suggestions.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

geko,

Most home owners use their air compressor to air up tires, basketballs, run a nail gun or maybe a small impact wrench. For those individuals (which is probably 75% of the market), the 5 HP model is overkill.

If you are going to use large impacts, air ratchets, die grinders, small blast cabinets and the like, a 5 HP unit pushing 15 to 20 CFM is a good price point to hit. Enough to have a good reserve without going crazy. IMHO this will cover about 20% of the people needing an air compressor

If you are going to use multiple high volume tools, large blast cabinets and similar items, go with a 7.5 HP unit or better to have enough air. I would think these people would make up no more than 5% of the market.

 

[geko29]

I plan to use a medium impact (at least I assume that's what a 1/2" would be--they seem to run from 1/4" to 1"), 3/8" air ratchet, and air tires on a frequent basis, with occasional use of a hammer, die grinder, and/or cutoff wheel. I don't anticipate the need to run a sander, paint gun, or blast cabinet. Definitely no multiple simultaneous high-volume tool usage in my future.

 

[alex71]

I must be in the 5%... I have a SS5 series compressor and there are many times I've wished I had more air. I like to play with air grinders and some of these things have silly CFM requirements. The tools still work, and work well, but I can only imagine how well they would work if I had a compressor that put out 40CFM or more. I can easily make that SS5 with the 80 gallon tank play catchup.

When we buy a new house with a detached shop, I'm going to start looking for a second 5 or 7.5hp compressor. I intend to run the two in tandem.

to the OP... I would definitely go with the SS5 from that list. That's a good price for a good compressor. Its only downside is that its a bit noisy, but not horrible. Don't expect to be able to hold down a conversation at normal volume while standing right next to it though.

 

[geko29]

to the OP... I would definitely go with the SS5 from that list. That's a good price for a good compressor. Its only downside is that its a bit noisy, but not horrible. Don't expect to be able to hold down a conversation at normal volume while standing right next to it though.

Sounds like the consensus here. I'm not looking for something silent, just something I can tolerate when it kicks on. My father-in-law's 2HP Speedaire is fine, for example--it's noisy, but you can still hear yourself think when it's running. But if the 1.5HP Coleman that my dad has kicked on when I was under the car, I'd probably knock out one of the jack stands on purpose, just to make the pain in my head stop.

Looks like I'll be going the SS5 route, thanks everybody!

 

[MrRocket]

That's a good point. Is there something else you'd recommend that I didn't list?

I haven't done a lot of research to give you a good recomendation. I just know that mine is too small for what I want to do. Works good for what it is intended for but I have bigger aspirations. I work in a factory that has a compressor set up that allows unlimited use of any and all tools at anytime. I want the same usage ability at home. Obviously won't need a set up like the one I have access to at work, but if someone had access to more "compressor" they may increase their knowledge and experience to match. I'm buying tools as I find them that won't run well on my compressor now because I don't want to be limited in what I attempt to learn in the future. I have a plan to get a larger detatched garage someday with a sufficient compressor and learn as I go. Can't do that with a limiting factor on equipment. Good luck on what ever you get.

 

[Jack90210]

I plan to use a medium impact (at least I assume that's what a 1/2" would be--they seem to run from 1/4" to 1"), 3/8" air ratchet, and air tires on a frequent basis, with occasional use of a hammer, die grinder, and/or cutoff wheel. I don't anticipate the need to run a sander, paint gun, or blast cabinet. Definitely no multiple simultaneous high-volume tool usage in my future.

I use my 30gal Kobalt for air ratchets and a 1/2" or 3/4" impact gun; it's plenty of capacity and the volume is reasonable. Mine was $200 used.

 

[geko29]

Next question:

I'm almost definitely going with the SS5 (thanks again everybody for recommendations), and I like the idea of the hour meters I've seen on some members' compressors. I assume I just pick any old 230V meter, but do I wire it up between the wall and the pressure switch, or between the switch and the motor? Or am I way off and it kind of hangs off the side somewhere?

 

[geko29]

Next question:

I'm almost definitely going with the SS5 (thanks again everybody for recommendations), and I like the idea of the hour meters I've seen on some members' compressors. I assume I just pick any old 230V meter, but do I wire it up between the wall and the pressure switch, or between the switch and the motor? Or am I way off and it kind of hangs off the side somewhere rather than being part of the circuit?

Anybody? Want to get this right the first time....

 

[1restorick]

About 12 years ago, I purchased a PUMA brand compressor for my home shop. I picked this model because it has a large pump (lots of CFM output)with a thirty gallon tank to save space. It's been dead reliable and is even relatively quiet. Here's a link but it doesn't show a photo:

http://www.handsontools.com/Puma-Mo...ompressor-30-Gal-Horizontal-Tank_p_16396.html

Rick

 

[geko29]

Just ordered!

Bought the Ingersoll-Rand SS5L5, the startup kit for it, and an ENM Hour Meter to keep track of usage. $883 delivered, including tax.

Now I just have to wait anxiously for it to arrive....

 

[KM1013]

How'd you end up wiring in that meter? It says it's a 115V unit.

 

[geko29]

How'd you end up wiring in that meter? It says it's a 115V unit.

I haven't wired it yet (meter and startup kit arrived Friday, compressor's coming Tuesday), but according to the catalog it's 120/240V. There are only two terminals, one goes to either hot, the other goes to ground. So it's basically wired the same whether you're using one pole or two.

 

[KM1013]

Yeah that chart does show 120/240. Let us know how it works out for you and maybe even a picture of the final install.

 

[ZRX61]

I don't think you will use an air ratchet anywhere near as often as you think. I turn wrenches just about every day, my 3/8 air ratchet has sat untouched in the bottom of a toolbox for at least the past 12 years... I think I used it twice before then.

 

[geko29]

I don't think you will use an air ratchet anywhere near as often as you think. I turn wrenches just about every day, my 3/8 air ratchet has sat untouched in the bottom of a toolbox for at least the past 12 years... I think I used it twice before then.

I suspected that might be the case, so I decided to start with a $30 refurbished Campbell Hausfield instead of a high-end one. If I find myself using it a lot and it's too weak/loud/big/etc, I'll pony up for one of the big boys and I'm not out much. Could probably even eBay it for close to what I paid. If I rarely/never use it, again I didn't waste a pile of money. So it's all good either way.

My first big project will be heavy on the impact wrench and air hammer for sure, and I guess I'll see if I wind up using the ratchet much.

 

[CRTDI]

I just picked up this small Porter Cable unit for some light home/auto/garage use. I've been pretty happy with it so far. Some of the supplied attachments however are a bit iffy though.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_253750-70-C...products&ddkey=http:CategoryDisplay#prod-tabs