Air compressors

[bryan11]

I'm looking for an air compressor for home projects that's relatively quiet and is powerful enough to run some air tools such as impact wrench and cutting tool. No current plans for sand blasting or painting so far, but some friends said to buy a level higher than what I need now so opportunities are open.

For more quiet models, I'm looking for a cast iron, oil lubricated, belt driven system. That hopefully helps with reliability, too.

I'm currently trying to decide between 'portable' model with 20 or 30 gallon tank and a stationary model with a 60 gallon tank. Portable models provide around 5 CFM, stationary models provide more like 10 CFM. The stationary models cost around 20% more for twice the CFM output, so I'm leaning toward those. What would you do here?

Here are some models I'm considering:

Home Depot Husky (Campbell Hausfield) VT6314
- 60gal 135psi vertical stationary 254 lb 220V
- 11.5 / 10.2 cfm
• cast iron, oil lubricated, 1070 RPM
- 2 yr warranty, $438 (use 10% coupon: $394)

Puma Model# PK6060V
- 60 gal 150psi vertical stationary 305 lbs 220V 15amp
- 12.0 / 13.5
- 1/2" air outlet, oil sight gauge
- Oil-lubricated, belt-driven, single stage, cast iron, 2-cylinder, 50% duty cycle
- Rebuildable pump rod inserts and replaceable valves for extra-long pump life
- 1 yr warranty, $489

Puma Model# PK5020VP (same as Ingersoll Rand Garage Mate unit)
- 20gal 150psi vertical portable 110V/220V 15/7.5 Amp dual voltage
- 5.5 / 7.1 cfm
- Oil-lubricated, belt-driven, single stage, cast iron, 2-cylinder rebuildable pump
- Built-in regulator controls air pressure to air tools
- 1/4" air outlet, oil sight gauge and easy-start valve
- 1 yr warranty, $399

Home Depot Husky (Campbell Hausfield) VT6315
- 30gal 135psi vertical portable 178lb 120V (dual voltage?)
- 5.5 / 6.5 cfm
- cast iron, oil lubricated, twin cylinder pump (1070rpm?)
- 2 yr warranty, $399 (use 10% coupon: $360)

 

[kams1973]

I'd go w/ the VT6314 if I were in your situation

 

[holdover]

++ on the HD 10.2 cfm for 394.00, Have one
like it, puts out a fair amount of air, and if you need more put two in tandem for less than 800.00 Pretty quiet also.

 

[chrommagman]

VT6314 X2

you could buy the 30 gal but for 35 bucks more you have have twice the cfm!
they have the same pump & motor the 60 gal is 220. thats about the diff.

I have a 20 gal speedaire (same pump and motor as the husky's) I have been using a die grinder to cut stuff, the air doesn't last long. so get the 60 gal!!

 

[bryan11]

I'm thinking the VT6314 is the choice.

The Home Depot has a 'twin cylinder compressor pump' while the Puma PK6060V has a twin cylinder pump that in a separate, v-shape config for no heat transfer between cylinders. Is that an advantage of the Puma, or is this just advertising stuff?

 

[chrommagman]

I'm thinking the VT6314 is the choice.

The Home Depot has a 'twin cylinder compressor pump' while the Puma PK6060V has a twin cylinder pump that in a separate, v-shape config for no heat transfer between cylinders. Is that an advantage of the Puma, or is this just advertising stuff?

the V pump is a advantage because the cylinder doesn't transfer heat to the other one and it's easer to work on. But a fan will do just fine to cool the twin cylinder pump.
By the husky! it's made by Campbell, they last forever

 

[bryan11]

Thank you! That's exactly what I needed to know.

 

[jon1953b4]

You could use random parts from other compressors and make this hot rod franken compressor for $75.

 

[Diverbill45]

I use to have a smaller compressor and got tired of the low cfm's (anything below 15 cfm, I consider a small compressor) it was putting out and always waiting for it to pump up, so I went and purchased a bigger one. You'll be surprised at how much air some of those small air tools consume.

Now I have all the air I want and it evens runs my sandblast cabinet and doesn't work itself to death to keep up.

It is a single stage, but it has 3 cylinders and pumps up just as fast as a 2 stage compressor. The real nice thing about this compressor is the price. It was $400 lower than the price of the 2 stage model, that was priced at $1099. Same cfm, tank, HP motor, everything, except the price.

I've had this compressor for a couple of years and it's been great. I know it's a little more than you might want to spend right now, but sooner or later you're going to find out that you're using the compressor more and more and the lower cfm compressors have their limits and you'll wind up purchasing a larger cfm model in the future.

I started out with one small air tool a few years ago and now I have too many air tools and also have a plasma arc and sandblast cabinet that uses lots of air. I didn't think it would ever happen to me, but it did, and it'll happen to you too. Save up a little more money and invest it in a good, large cfm compressor and you'll be glad you did.

This compressor is very quiet, is cast iron, oil lubed and belt driven and IS NOT MADE in china. It's made in Canada.

 

[Diverbill45]

One simple way to quiet down a compressor is to run a line from the intake filters, on the compressor, to the outside of the building and install another air filter out there. A friend of mine did this to his compressor and it did make a difference in the noise level. As soon as I get my shop remodeled, I'm going to do the same thing.

 

[therealwormey]

This compressor is very quiet, is cast iron, oil lubed and belt driven and IS NOT MADE in china. It's made in Canada.

so where do you find that comp.and is it a true 5 hp or does the tag on the motor say 5spl...looks like a pretty good unit,,, but so does IR but the motor is made in mexico and the pumps say india or indonesia. my dad has a good IR, never had nothing done to it,it was in a body shop but it was made back when they were made in USA. im not so sure about the new ones.i just put a new motor on mine so i figure the pump will be next,,,i will be/have been lookin for a new one.

 

[Diverbill45]

For info about the compressor go to this web site. They have a list of all the compressors they build with the specs. for each one.

www.eaglecompressor.com

They have a list of distributors in the USA that carry their line. Just scroll down the home page and check the box that says find a dealer or service center.

 

[Bill Crowell]

I have two Campbell-Hausfeld compressors, and the pumps themselves are good, durable units.

Two points of concern about C-H compressors. In order to lower their price, some years ago they started using somewhat wimpy regulators IMHO. (Sometimes you have to disassemble the regulator and burnish the contacts. Reassembling it is hard unless you know how.) There were a lot of warranty claims, and C-H didn't reimburse their warranty stations properly, so now, for example, neither of the shops in my town that sell small engine and compressor parts will deal with C-H anymore. So if you buy one of these compressors, first figure out where you're going to get your warranty work done and buy your repair parts for it. I don't think Home Depot does warranty work, does it? I buy my parts from Sears Parts Central because they've sold C-H compressors for years, but if Sears ever folds I don't know where I'd be able to buy them.

 

[Falcon67]

VT6314 - or the VT6355 from Tractor Supply which is what I have. You have to watch for TS sales, then they run 399. I also have a Porter-Cable 25 gallon model (out of production) that has a 1.5HP motor and does mid 8 CFM. It has worked very well over time and run lots of stuff, including some HLVP paint work.

One simple way to quiet down a compressor is to run a line from the intake filters, on the compressor, to the outside of the building and install another air filter out there. A friend of mine did this to his compressor and it did make a difference in the noise level. As soon as I get my shop remodeled, I'm going to do the same thing.

Good luck with this - I did this on my compressor and it made ZERO difference in sound level, measured with a dB meter.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25979&highlight=sound+compressor

 

[therealwormey]

For info about the compressor go to this web site. They have a list of all the compressors they build with the specs. for each one.

www.eaglecompressor.com

They have a list of distributors in the USA that carry their line. Just scroll down the home page and check the box that says find a dealer or service center.

thanks for the link, they look like a good company