Air Compressor Opinions

[Joe Grippo]

Hello...Newbie here, I love this site! I am in the market for an air compressor for the new garage. I don't need anything huge; I was looking at this one....

http://www.irtools.com/IS/product.asp/item/3054

Any opinions?

 

[byrdman]

Welcome aboard! What do you plan to do with your new compressor? If doing something besides pumping up tires, you'll need to know the CFM requirements of the tools you intend to use. Pick the tool with the biggest CFM requirement, and compare that number to the CFM rating of the compressor. The compressor CFM should be higher than (or at least equal to) the tool CFM.

 

[AdamMopar]

I agree with what he said. If you are never planning on doing any type of bodywork or running a die grinder or cut off tool that often then what you linked should be fine.

If you do plan to do some of the above then I would look for something a little larger. Adam

 

[Joe Grippo]

I don't plan on any major body work that would require contiuous sanding, though a cutting tool might be possibly used once in a while. Mainly will be used for inflation, impact gun, air rachet and such. I don't see a huge need for much over 5cfm @ 90psi. This is what I was going by -

http://www.northerntool.com/catalog/buyersguides/aircompressors/

Thanks.

 

[Goobzilla]

I would go a little bigger, but that's me. I do run a cutoff tool and die grinders quite a bit. I got this one because I got a smokin' deal:

A lot of air ratchets are flat out pigs when it comes to air consumption. Shop accordingly.

 

[Wardrum]

Goobzilla -

I have a Porter Cable just like yours. Nice compressor except for that tiny little oil drain extension tube they supply with it. The oil in mine just trickles out and right onto the system feed line. Have you come up with a way to reroute that drain away from the line?

 

[kartracer55]

It all depends on your usage (like everybody said already). My friend has a small 110 compressor llike that (speedaire) and after a few nuts/bolts with theratchet you need to wait for it to pump back up. If you want to make regular use of air tools (or if your lazy like me) and your budget allows, Id look into going bigger. Something in the 10cfm range at least.

When you go to home depot, hey advertise their tools as only needing "5cfm" but thats BS, because its based ona 25% duty cycle.... It uses 5cfm over the course of a minute when te tool was actually run for 15 seconds out of the 60. To get an idea of what the tool needs to run non stop all day long, multiply it by 4. Multiply it By 2 or 3 and you should be happy with how the tool performs.

Jim

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You will alway find more uses for air tools than you realized, once you have a compressor. Pretty soon you will be doing some project with a DA sander and the darn thing will be running all the time. They you will be a 'cussing.

Buy as much as your wallet will allow, and then some. If you think you need 5 cfm, then buy 15 cfm.

Charles

 

[CadyRidah]

Get a big one cause one day you'll eventually regret getting a small one. Always buy more than you need. I've learned you waste more money replacing things you thought were adequate but actually wasn't. Especially with air compressors, I don't know anyone that hasn't replaced their air compressor for a bigger one. I also don't know anyone that was happy with their small one. IR is a good choice. I got an IR from northerntool.com. This is the one I have. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=200318461&R=200318461 Also a live pic in my sig.

 

[69lkmno]

Not to hi-jack this thread but what is the biggest 110v compressor that's available?

 

[kartracer55]

5.7 oil lubed, I think a 6 from craftsman

Eaton said they might be able to build me a 9cfm unit.

Jim

 

[Joe Grippo]

Thanks for all the info.....I took everyone's advice and bought a bigger one.....

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...isplay?storeId=6970&productId=158284&R=158284

 

[falconfling]

So for someone who will be

doing occasional paint and body work and sand (media) blasting, any opinions on a IR model and what cfm would be best ??? Likewhat what paint guns and sandblasters recommended ? I used to do all this stuff as a kid...but thats a lonnggggg time ago.
Garage almost finished...will pix soon.

 

[CadyRidah]

Thanks for all the info.....I took everyone's advice and bought a bigger one.....

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...isplay?storeId=6970&productId=158284&R=158284

Since your going with a single stage you should get this one http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_211720_211720 It's not much more than the one you want and you get more cfm plus 2 more horses. You also get a 1/2" outlet vs. the 3/8" outlet on the one you plan to get.

 

[krooser]

You will alway find more uses for air tools than you realized, once you have a compressor. Pretty soon you will be doing some project with a DA sander and the darn thing will be running all the time. They you will be a 'cussing.

Buy as much as your wallet will allow, and then some. If you think you need 5 cfm, then buy 15 cfm.

Charles

Charles kinda summed it all up....

 

[benniewi]

I ended up with an IR 2475 but in my opinion nothing looks better in a garage than a Saylor-Beall. they are uber tough and will take on the best, like Quincy. I like Quincy and Eaton, but the Saylor has a nice medium metallic blue that is really attractive. I figure if it can get the job done and look good, go for it.

www.saylor-beall.com