Air Compressor for the garage....

[michakaveli]

I miss having one. It has many many uses, from air tools when working on a car, to blowing out water from the crevices. I've got a small garage, hence a 30 Gallon unit would be a max. I started looking on Home Depot and they have the following unit that perked my attention:

Campbell Hausfeld Reconditioned 30 Gal Air Compressor - "Reconditioned" VT6315HDRB

Campbell Hausfeld Reconditioned 30 Gal Air Compressor

I think that Campbell Hausfeld is a reputable brand. Again, hence my interest. I like the iron block that is oil lubricated, should last a long time if cared for.

Has anyone had any experience with these or similar "reconditioned" compressors, or this this just junk?

 

[r6_cannibal]

You should be able to find a good used 30 gallon belt driven compressor on craigslist or at a swapmeat for probably half that price. I'm in a similar situation where I have a small garage, plus I live in an HOA neighborhood so my oiless compressor is way too loud. I would recommend you stick to looking for the vertical compressors as you can attach an auto drain valve at the bottom.

If you must buy new, that brand is rather good for the home user. I have been running my CH oiless compressor for 4 or 5 years now without problem.

:edit: try to find a 40psi CFM rating and a 90psi CFM rating, those will give you a much better performance indicator over horsepower.

 

[michakaveli]

You should be able to find a good used 30 gallon belt driven compressor on craigslist or at a swapmeat for probably half that price. I'm in a similar situation where I have a small garage, plus I live in an HOA neighborhood so my oiless compressor is way too loud. I would recommend you stick to looking for the vertical compressors as you can attach an auto drain valve at the bottom.

If you must buy new, that brand is rather good for the home user. I have been running my CH oiless compressor for 4 or 5 years now without problem.

:edit: try to find a 40psi CFM rating and a 90psi CFM rating, those will give you a much better performance indicator over horsepower.

Thanks for the response. I'm also currently in an HOA, forgot to mention, so the quieter the better.

 

[Major Ramifications]

What the hell is a hoa? Is that the redneck pronunciation for a prostitute?

I sell reconditioned CH compressors, and the one you listed is a good seller. They are a good compressor for the money, and the latest ones are amazingly quiet. The pumps are chinese now, but we haven't had any problems to speak of. We are also a factory authorized CH repair center, so if any of my customers have trouble with one that we sold, it comes back to us.

 

[ultgar]

Quietest small compressor I've found is the Werther Silaire.....you can plumb the air intake to the outside the room and drop noise levels to the 44-48 db.

Here a picture with it running in a sound reflective room with steel cabinets on both sides....52db average SPL

Here's another view...peak 57db at 125hz...all of the irritating 500hz and up frequencies are below 50db

For bigger compressors, rotary's are quieter. If you're going with a piston unit, get one that turns at lower rpms. I had an old American IMC 60 gallon compressor that ran at 3000+ rpms and was very noisy.

SD

 

[r6_cannibal]

What the hell is a hoa? Is that the redneck pronunciation for a prostitute?

more like the yuppie pronunciation...at least it'll cost you as much.

it stands for home owners association, and it really ***** if you want to do your own thing. there are noise curfews, restrictions on what you can do to the physical appearance of your house, and you can't do things like park your car in the drive way, that includes working on your car there too, or you get a fine.

there are advantages too, but none apply to me fortunately we're just renting at the place we're at now.

 

[r6_cannibal]

Quietest small compressor I've found is the Werther Silaire.....you can plumb the air intake to the outside the room and drop noise levels to the 44-48 db.

Here a picture with it running in a sound reflective room with steel cabinets on both sides....52db average SPL

That's an awesome tool! I unfortunately wouldn't have any use for it other than monitoring how much louder my wife gets the longer i take to do something she asks...but it seems so cool to have!

That's a great recommendation for a small unit, I would have dismissed all the small ones thinking they were all really loud. How does that little air compressor compare to a larger belt drive model? And have you measured any of the loud oiless ones for reference?

 

[rhandwor]

Try to get an ASME approved air tank their is a difference. They are better built.

 

[ultgar]

That's an awesome tool! I unfortunately wouldn't have any use for it other than monitoring how much louder my wife gets the longer i take to do something she asks...but it seems so cool to have!

That's a great recommendation for a small unit, I would have dismissed all the small ones thinking they were all really loud. How does that little air compressor compare to a larger belt drive model? And have you measured any of the loud oiless ones for reference?

These are a specialty compressor and as such, pretty expensive. The one shown in the pictures lists for around $1500 and will still cost around $1000 with discounts and shipping. I use this in my basement workshop as the noise won't wake anyone if it runs in the middle of the night. A small Kaeser will probably run around 65-70db.

 

[vartz04]

what about the wall mounted CH compressor, the 8 gallon, that you can 2 more 8 gallon tanks to it and run at 24 gallons, It would take up almost no space in your garage.

 

[michakaveli]

I took another look online and realized it an "Online Only" item. Shipping comes to an additional $210

 

[GuidoK]

Quietest small compressor I've found is the Werther Silaire.....you can plumb the air intake to the outside the room and drop noise levels to the 44-48 db.

Here a picture with it running in a sound reflective room with steel cabinets on both sides....52db average SPL

Here's another view...peak 57db at 125hz...all of the irritating 500hz and up frequencies are below 50db

For bigger compressors, rotary's are quieter. If you're going with a piston unit, get one that turns at lower rpms. I had an old American IMC 60 gallon compressor that ran at 3000+ rpms and was very noisy.

SD

Nice 2260.
Looks like the 125hz spike is a specific reflecton or maybe a panel rattle/resonance, as it's also present at 250Hz and (about) 500Hz (2nd/3rd harmonic)
The compressor looks like one out of a refridgirator. (very quiet but not so much air)

 

[stricht8]

ultgar, that is one nice garage u have there. I like the color of your cabinets- mercedes dealer blue.

These are a specialty compressor and as such, pretty expensive. The one shown in the pictures lists for around $1500 and will still cost around $1000 with discounts and shipping. I use this in my basement workshop as the noise won't wake anyone if it runs in the middle of the night. A small Kaeser will probably run around 65-70db.

 

[stricht8]

why in he'll would anyone buy a house on such a neighborhood. Can't work on your car in the driveway and worst can't park there. How ridiculous. God forbid you have a party or something.

more like the yuppie pronunciation...at least it'll cost you as much.

it stands for home owners association, and it really ***** if you want to do your own thing. there are noise curfews, restrictions on what you can do to the physical appearance of your house, and you can't do things like park your car in the drive way, that includes working on your car there too, or you get a fine.

there are advantages too, but none apply to me fortunately we're just renting at the place we're at now.

 

[michakaveli]

ultgar, that is one nice garage u have there. I like the color of your cabinets- mercedes dealer blue.

Not to mention the E55 right next to those cabinets

 

[r6_cannibal]

why in he'll would anyone buy a house on such a neighborhood. Can't work on your car in the driveway and worst can't park there. How ridiculous. God forbid you have a party or something.

not to mention the 300 year old lady that drives around and writes down every little thing she sees wrong. I think she's on the board for the HOA. We call her Gramma Gestapo.

It's pretty ridiculous though. It's good for property value, but I don't want to rent in this place any longer than I have to. When we buy one of our criteria is to make sure there are no HOAs.

If I ever turned on my oil-less compressor in the place I am now, that old lady would probably **** herself.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

These are a specialty compressor and as such, pretty expensive. The one shown in the pictures lists for around $1500 and will still cost around $1000 with discounts and shipping. I use this in my basement workshop as the noise won't wake anyone if it runs in the middle of the night. A small Kaeser will probably run around 65-70db.

Based on how clean your garage is and the setup you have, I was expecting to see your location be Germany or something in Europe, not New Jersey!

HOAs blow! My condolences to anyone that owns a house in one.

 

[ultgar]

Based on how clean your garage is and the setup you have, I was expecting to see your location be Germany or something in Europe, not New Jersey!

HOAs blow! My condolences to anyone that owns a house in one.

That garage with the blue cabinets was totally disassembled and sold off in 2002. It now looks like this...

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

That garage with the blue cabinets was totally disassembled and sold off in 2002. It now looks like this...

That's cleaner than my kitchen!

 

[-B-]

ultgar nice to see Lista blue and red

 

[stricht8]

your new setup is pretty amazing but I have to say that I really like those blue cabinets. Maybe it had something to do with being a Mercedes enthusiast.

That garage with the blue cabinets was totally disassembled and sold off in 2002. It now looks like this...

 

[vette-kid]

why in he'll would anyone buy a house on such a neighborhood. Can't work on your car in the driveway and worst can't park there. How ridiculous. God forbid you have a party or something.

That depends on the HOA. I have never seen one that you couldnt park in the drive! Hell most people have too much **** in the garage to even get a car in there! Mine isnt so bad...I can turn wrenches in the drive if I want, I just cant park in the yard

OP, I have a two car garage, so space is limited. I got a 30gal Kobalt compressor that I picked up for $150 on cragslist. Its oil lubed and runs pretty quiet. I can hold a conversation anywhere in the garage without yelling...very comfortable level. I believe the new version of it runs around $400, and they have enough output to runs most air tools at least intermittently.

 

[darkwingbenny]

That garage with the blue cabinets was totally disassembled and sold off in 2002. It now looks like this...

Quick question. What kind of flooring is that?

Thanks

 

[michakaveli]

:edit: try to find a 40psi CFM rating and a 90psi CFM rating

What values are decent? Steer me in a direction, liek what value is a waste of time.

 

[ultgar]

Quick question. What kind of flooring is that?

Thanks

Porcelin tile............Porcelanosa Ston-ker . Rated for heavy duty use...each tile weighs 16 lbs.

 

[vette-kid]

What values are decent? Steer me in a direction, liek what value is a waste of time.

Im no expert on it. But just take a look at the tools you want to run. Most will list the ammount of air they consume. most impact wrenches, for example, seem to use somewhere around 5-6CFM @90psi. Ideally I think you want your compressor to have at least that amount. Mine is rated for 7CFM @40PSI and 5.7CFM @90PSI. I expect it will run most impact wrenches pretty well. If you will just be using it for the occasional impact wrench use, inflating tires, etc, the I would look for something similar to mine. I believe paint guns, blast cabinets, sanders, etc will all need a good deal more output and may not be possible on a low cost 30gal unit.

 

[ultgar]

What values are decent? Steer me in a direction, liek what value is a waste of time.

Get the most CFM (@90psi) that fits within your budget. Steve

 

[michakaveli]

Ended up picking up one of these. Per the specs is appears to be a solid little unit, outperforming many larger capacity compressors. Best of all, it's not a "re-build/re-conditioned" unit.

Ingersoll Rand 5.3 CFM @ 40 PSI | 4.4CFM @ 90 PSI, 2 HP Air Compressor, Model# DD2T2

 

[r6_cannibal]

That's a good amount of CFM for that little unit. Let us know how loud it is, the cylinder looks to have an intake you can attach an inlet pipe to and possibly make a kind of muffler for it if the sound levels are too high.

 

[michakaveli]

Got a chance to try it out last night (very brief), and this thing is really impressive. I think it didn't even take it a minute to fill the tank to 125psi. Using the gun nozzle attachment, it appears to have enough pressure to blow the dust and debris off most anything. Cycle time for the tank to refill is virtually instant. I want to try it out some more this weekend when I have time. It's fairly quiet, actually quieter than a small 3 or so gallon Kobalt "oil-less" unit my father has. I really expected it to be louder.

So far it looks Really good. 4.4CFM @ 90PSI from this little compressor still amazes me.

And being OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Detailer), I had to wipe down the beige tanks with Duragloss AquaWax and a MF towel