Air Compressor - Horizontal vs Vertical

[W_KY]

In my 28' x 32' home garage I have a L shaped set of steps in the back right corner. Under the stairs there is a boxed in closet with 220 already there.I can also get 110 there pretty easy as well.

My question is: I can get a horizontal 30 gal compressor that goes under the landing in the steps or I can get a vertical 60 gal compressor that would sit in the closet portion. The down side of the vertical is that there would only be about a foot to get around it to use the remainder of the closet. The downside of the horizontal in that it has half the capacity and not near the CFM. It also is pretty expensive in terms of dollars and capacity. The horizontal would definitely make better use of some space that is hard to use right now.

My air uses aren't great. I get by with a 3 gallon little sears compressor right now. I mainly run nailers for woodworking with occasional cleanup with blow gun. About the most I could see myself doing is using an impact or maybe a paint gun to paint some cabinets or something.

Here are the horizontal I'm considering:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E27JW6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Here is the vertical I'd probably get:
http://www.harborfreight.com/5-hp-60-gallon-165-psi-two-stage-air-compressor-93274.html

I realize these are two vastly different machines in terms of output, I'm just not convinced I need the larger compressor taking into account future uses.

If I put the compressor under the landing of the steps I can probably put my dust collection in the rest of the closet once I get around to getting it. One thing I'd need to work on is making sure it doesn't get too hot but I think I can handle that with some vents.

 

[ZipSnafu]

If the IR can do what you need I think it is definitely the better compressor. That being said I like to buy once and buy for life so think of the future CFM you will need.

 

[sberry]

The larger one will last forever, will let you do a quite a bit more work. Its not wringing the last ounce out of a limited circuit. You are running 2x the pump with a tank 2 x as big, gives it a lot more poop for way longer.

 

[Crusarius]

you can also gain more capacity by running hard lines through the shop. I ran 1" black pipe for that very reason.

 

[LX-Markham]

Is the horizontal one under the stairs limited in size to the smaller 30gal?

It sounds like a horizontal is a better fit for that space the way you describe it.
A horizontal tank compressor fit my spacial needs.

 

[Dr Stan]

For starters I highly recommend staying away from a HF air compressor. Their equipment that uses electric motors has a very poor level of quality, or any other Chinese made compressor. Be careful of IR's from a big box store. Their consumer line uses Chinese motors and Indian pumps. The only thing that is of US manufacture is the tank. I'd bet this is common on other brands of compressors.

Don't get me wrong as there are a few good buys at HF, especially in their sockets & combo wrenches. Their nitrile gloves are the best value I've found.

Instead go on Carig's List and look for a used industrial grade compressor. I managed to buy a 120 gallon 10 HP 2 stage vertical Champion at the scrap price of $275. It was 3 phase and I traded out the motor for a single phase unit.

Vertical compressors have the advantage of reducing the amount of water in your system. They also take up a lot less floor space. I have mine shoved into a corner, but it is accessible except for where the pipe connects with the tank.

 

[ww_big_al]

Air compressors are tough to pick. Bigger is better but not always. The IR unit your looking at is small but for what you want it should work. Biggest advantage is it is portable so you can wheel it where you want. Being an IR the quality should last you a life time if taken care of. An 1/2 air impact takes around 4-5 cfm. If yours takes more than that then you just have to wait until the compressor recharges. I have a 3 hp Sansborn unit in my basement wood shop. After there specsmanship, it is really a 1-1/2 hp unit. It does all I ask of it and it was all I had for years. Purchased it around 1990. Worked an impact just fine. Just had to be patient to give it recharge time. Out in the barn I installed a large IR vertical 5 hp unit. That needs to run a sand blaster which uses a lot of air.

 

[Dr Stan]

BTW, I see we're located close to each other. I'm in Owensboro.

A quick search of BG's Craigs List shows a number of compressors. A lot of them are the Chinese/Indian origin. This one has a Baldor (US made) motor and what looks like a US made pump. http://nashville.craigslist.org/tls/5906102967.html More than the HF, but something that will hold up for quite some time. Just remember "ya gets what ya paid for".

Also I've taught fluid power at a university, including compressed air systems.

 

[Falcon67]

Similar to the HF, I'd pick the larger upright if you have the space.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ingersoll-rand-5-hp-air-compressor-60-gal

 

[finn]

28'x32' would suggest the under stairs location is better.



Go with the horizontal compressor and utilize the otherwise wasted space.

 

[dffay]

I vote for the most you can fit. More horsepower, bigger tank, higher quality,etc. Then insulate it well for noise, leaving plenty of venting for air exchange. Future needs are the thought here. You might want to use a pressure pot sometime to paint the house sometime, besides the usual smaller paint jobs, impact requirements or media blast cabinet. You won't want for more and look upon the lesser compressor with regret.

 

[btdobie]

If you do go with the vertical in the closet, be aware that you will have to provide plenty of ventilation to keep it from over heating. Especially if it runs for extended periods of time. Between the 2 you posted I'd put my money in the IR for the reasons previously stated.
I bought a sanborn compressor at menards one week when the compressor was on sale and they had their 11% rebate promotion going. I ended up getting it out the d0or for about 30%less than it would have cost normally.

 

[BD1]

The HF is almost 2 times the CFM at 90 . HF is my vote 5.7 isn't much.

IR 5.7 at 90

HF 15.8 at 90

 

[Dr Stan]

If you do go with the vertical in the closet, be aware that you will have to provide plenty of ventilation to keep it from over heating. Especially if it runs for extended periods of time.

2X on the ventilation. You may want to consider adding an outside vent for fresh air, maybe even use a computer fan to help. Maybe 2 vents, one in & one out.

Then use acoustic ceiling tile to cut down on the noise sealing off the enclosure as much as possible.

 

[sberry]

One of the biggest things to take demand from air is to use electric. I got a butload of air tools but I do a lot of ****. most of them are "problem solvers" and really do the majority of the work with a 4 1/2 grinder and could do some more of it if I didn't have the air and all that put together wouldn't need it if I didn't need it. That sounds like babble but it can be so, if it wasnt for the stuff I need to fix stuff I wouldn't need it.
I am all for a bit of 1 time expense here and while it is more money its not Snap ratchet compared to HF money.
It doesn't always need to be good, since the used market is so it would make sense a HF would be even cheaper used??? This growd wont wear out a cheap comp and if they do they got their moneys worth for low cost and deserves replacement and upgrade, some import pos is fine if it works.
Mine runs 10x a day, my neighbor dodders in his shop and once a week. Doesn't even have it on and stores air, no plumbing, pretty nice comp though and never has to mess with it. Turns a ball valve on to a hose, has an extra section laying around.
Even if I don't do anything 3 of us use air at least some on most days. Most people with day jobs prolly don't use it daily, could go long stretches without needing it and when its off 99.8 % of the week its irrelevant if the pump is made in the USA or India or what size the line is or which connector.
The avg user of these tools you see for sale has died, my Bud had a whole career with 1 used 2 stage Cman comp with 1 oil change, maybe a belt, I tightened them once and fixed a start 20+ years ago worked since. Ran from a 10/30 circuit cause I didn't know any better, was 5 hp 2 stage, worked every day and still works exactly the same today, 30 yrs, never bought a part for it. It ran a dozen cycles every day,,,,,,,,,, for 20 yrs. I minor fix it and 30 mins service.
I bought a used broke piece on Clist for 50$, I should have bought a new one to do real work.

 

[sberry]

An electric tool is about 5 times as cheap to operate, runs from a dinky cord and is portable, cost less than the air tool. Wheels are cheap. You don't got to close it up tight as a nuns cunny you need to block the sound some and doesn't sound like the intent is to run it an inch from its life.
If I was doing this in residential would run it a few cycles for a few minutes, change the oil to Amsoil synth or similar, check the belt tension and stick it in the closet, add a ball valve on the bottom to a plastic hose I might find my way outdoors somehow. Put a ball valve from the unit I could close off and leave it charged.
If I was using it on occasion and it didn't leak would leave the breaker on.

 

[skouby]

I would say that the harbor freight compressor is far superior. The tank is made in USA the motor is made in Mexico and the pumper is made in Italy. They are assembled by Atlas Copco in Georgia. One of the best home owner compressors someone could buy sub $1000.00

 

[sberry]

Staple some egg cartons or a fiber glass blanket on the inside of closet door and the structure will add to the baffling. I need to fix mine again, same deal and simply have a little cardboard shelter and nut bolt between it and the work area.
I might fix it, I cheaped out at the end of a renovation but should go back to a blanket mat that was really good.
I am going to frame with wire mesh and add blanket. I did that when I moved in and had empty building, I made a Quonset of re wire and tossed a blanket over it, left a little open on one end and open on the other and it sucked the noise right up.
My workload had decreased, more away from the benches and its not such a pressing issue. I am going to batt around, leave part of one end open and an opening like a chimney with a muffler baffle.

 

[dffay]

On the noise reduction thing......its worth it to glue/liquid nails the foam onto the walls and door. Noise vibration travels along the shafts of nails and screws into the walls and studs.

 

[sberry]

I would say that the harbor freight compressor is far superior. The tank is made in USA the motor is made in Mexico and the pumper is made in Italy. They are assembled by Atlas Copco in Georgia. One of the best home owner compressors someone could buy sub $1000.00

I would bet it is good too. They been at it a while now and refined it a bit. A hometype just doesn't put the hours on it to wear one out. I have seen cheaper ones run a long time. If a guy doesn't want a project all its own, wants to plug it in and have class A air supply its easy, they are modest on the electric service too.
My friend has a cheap comp, does just fine with it. Has a cheap electric impact and a 4 1/2 grinder. He really doesn't run tools with it, tire air and a ******** mostly. Somehow to clean a carb out. Other neighbor has one, only real tool he ever runs from it is a little 3 inch cut wheel if he would have to.

 

[W_KY]

Thanks for all the replies. I called up to HF and they actually have that compressor in stock so I asked them where the motor was made and the pump.

They told me "The motor says something Ohio so I think its made in the States. The pump is made in Italy."

I don't have 100% confidence in my local HF employees so I'll swing by and check it out myself but at least its promising. The compressor is WAY more than I need but when has that ever stopped me before

 

[redmondjp]

Thanks for all the replies. I called up to HF and they actually have that compressor in stock so I asked them where the motor was made and the pump.

They told me "The motor says something Ohio so I think its made in the States. The pump is made in Italy."

I don't have 100% confidence in my local HF employees so I'll swing by and check it out myself but at least its promising. The compressor is WAY more than I need but when has that ever stopped me before

It's an ABAC/American IMC pump, used by Belaire, Rolair, and others. Hard to go wrong with that unit for the money.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Sounds like the size of the horizontal unit you are looking at would fill your needs, but man, that's a high proce for the particular one you're looking at...

Tommy

 

[sberry]

Sounds like the size of the horizontal unit you are looking at would fill your needs, but man, that's a high proce for the particular one you're looking at...

Tommy

I havnt looked at models and pricing, how much is it? I believe Puma may have had something similar in a cheap 2 stage that was priced well? There are lots of combinations and models, its hard to keep them straight.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I havnt looked at models and pricing, how much is it? I believe Puma may have had something similar in a cheap 2 stage that was priced well? There are lots of combinations and models, its hard to keep them straight.

The IR hot dog the OP was looking at was $729.00 on Amazon...

Tommy

 

[sberry]

The IR hot dog the OP was looking at was $729.00 on Amazon...

Tommy

Must be 2 stage in the 3 hp range then?

 

[sberry]

I looked at the original ones in the post, the HF isn't a bad looking unit, its a mechanics comp. 60 vs 80 gallon but 2 stage.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Must be 2 stage in the 3 hp range then?

2 hp single stage. Oil lubed. Didn't check see if it was pressure or splash lubed. A little pricey for that IMO...

Tommy

 

[sberry]

These are all splash but the IR in the ist post was only 311$ I think. I think it takes close to 800 to get to 2 stage. I think the Sears type thing my Bud had is in the 1200 range or so. It did what it was sposed to.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

The link says $729. $311 would be a reasonable number for it...

Tommy

 

[sberry]

They are made just for running air tools down 50 ft hose reels at full power. You could air up a full size truck tire with it if had to and if one has to can send it down long pipes or hoses.

 

[W_KY]

I agree on that 30 gallon horizontal being expensive at $700+. I checked and Sanborn does offer a 20 gallon that is in the $300 range. I'd like to be able to find a 30 gallon horizontal around $300 but I haven't been able to yet.

There is one of the 30 gal horizontal IR that is on craiglist locally for $500. It says new but I haven't checked with the person on the story behind it.

 

[sberry]

Right, big difference in price, for handyman air 300 or so sounds about right.

 

[-Brent-]

How about a pic of the space you want to put either compressor? Also, have you looked at used? It seems like in your area you could find something decent but I know some folks are reluctant to buy used.