Seems compressor threads are popular recently, but I'll beg everyone's patience as I'd like to discuss a compressor to meet my needs. I've recently purchased a house that now gives me a garage of my own to work in, rather than having use of my Dad's. My application is basically as follows:
- evening and weekend user. For the most part if I'm working on something and run out of air, I can wait for the compressor to catch up, I'm not in a rush.
- probably 65% of the use is just inflating tires, and running low-intensity air tools like a brad nailer.
- maybe 25% of the time would be an impact wrench, air ratchet, and tools that put moderate and intermittent demands on the compressor.
- the last 10% would be die grinder, or an HVLP paint gun for modest size projects (say painting furniture and such) that requires more air capacity.
My father has an older Craftsman compressor, about 2hp and 25gal or so. It's been good for this sort of application - at times I've wished for a tad more air, but never been seriously short. Based on all that I'd say my *needs* are actually for a compressor of about 8-9cfm with about 30gal tank. And I don't want to go too crazy with a huge tank given the intermittent sort of use I'll have.
Dad's initial thought was that I should buy a small twin stack compressors, and an extra reservoir tank, and if needed I can borrow his compressor. His thinking is that I could do it a bit cheaper for now, and use the money elsewhere. That said, a little compressor would be outgrown quickly, and would cost $300-400 by the time an extra tank was added to allow me to use an impact intermittently.
My budget isn't fixed, but with house and shop projects competing for funding I don't want to overspend. I also don't want to buy something that won't meet my needs for years to come. I don't think twin-stage is necessary, or within what I'd want to spend, but I should be able to get a decent oil lubricated single stage. I'd actually prefer a horizontal, but most of what I've found is vertical. I do have 230V wired already. So here's what I've found, and my comments. Any other suggestions, recommendations, or comments (especially on the I-R and Quincy - are they good, and are they good value?).
Powermate IPA1882054
120V - 1.9hp - 20gal - 7cfm@40psi, 5.7cfm@90psi - oil lubed, belt drive
Specs are comparable to Dad's. Probably very close to what I need, Portable could be useful, although not necessary. About $500, and easily available.
I-R SS3L3
230V - 3hp - 60gal - 11.3cfm@90psi - oil lubed
Continuous duty is good. Doesn't include the regulator or startup kit. But for not a lot more money it looks like it's twice the compressor. About $800 either from a dealer locally, or from a cheaper retailer that would require some driving.
Quincy Q13160V
230V - 3.5hp - 60gal - 12cfm@100psi, 14.6cfm@40psi
Looks nice, probably close to $800 to get it home, maybe a bit more to buy from a local industrial supplier. Don't know anything about Quincy - good stuff? Does this go on sale at Northern Tool ever? Do they stock it? Is the 26gal Quincy worth looking for?
C-H VT6271
120/240V - 26gal - 3.2hp - 10.3cfm@90psi, 11.8cfm@40psi
It's horizontal tank, big pump, and a moderate sized tank - almost perfect for what I'd need. However C-H doesn't seem to be as favoured by most people. And I don't care for the plastic tires. Also, it doesn't seem to be in stores locally so probably won't get a great deal on it. But for those 2/3 of the time when only a single fill of the tank gives enough air to use, having a moderate sized tank would be more energy efficient.
Other - perhaps Craftsman, Husky or C-H 60gal. 3hp models? I've also seen reconditioned Morgan and C-H 60gal units that looked like good deals ($300-400), but are they too good of a deal to be true???
- evening and weekend user. For the most part if I'm working on something and run out of air, I can wait for the compressor to catch up, I'm not in a rush.
- probably 65% of the use is just inflating tires, and running low-intensity air tools like a brad nailer.
- maybe 25% of the time would be an impact wrench, air ratchet, and tools that put moderate and intermittent demands on the compressor.
- the last 10% would be die grinder, or an HVLP paint gun for modest size projects (say painting furniture and such) that requires more air capacity.
My father has an older Craftsman compressor, about 2hp and 25gal or so. It's been good for this sort of application - at times I've wished for a tad more air, but never been seriously short. Based on all that I'd say my *needs* are actually for a compressor of about 8-9cfm with about 30gal tank. And I don't want to go too crazy with a huge tank given the intermittent sort of use I'll have.
Dad's initial thought was that I should buy a small twin stack compressors, and an extra reservoir tank, and if needed I can borrow his compressor. His thinking is that I could do it a bit cheaper for now, and use the money elsewhere. That said, a little compressor would be outgrown quickly, and would cost $300-400 by the time an extra tank was added to allow me to use an impact intermittently.
My budget isn't fixed, but with house and shop projects competing for funding I don't want to overspend. I also don't want to buy something that won't meet my needs for years to come. I don't think twin-stage is necessary, or within what I'd want to spend, but I should be able to get a decent oil lubricated single stage. I'd actually prefer a horizontal, but most of what I've found is vertical. I do have 230V wired already. So here's what I've found, and my comments. Any other suggestions, recommendations, or comments (especially on the I-R and Quincy - are they good, and are they good value?).
Powermate IPA1882054
120V - 1.9hp - 20gal - 7cfm@40psi, 5.7cfm@90psi - oil lubed, belt drive
Specs are comparable to Dad's. Probably very close to what I need, Portable could be useful, although not necessary. About $500, and easily available.
I-R SS3L3
230V - 3hp - 60gal - 11.3cfm@90psi - oil lubed
Continuous duty is good. Doesn't include the regulator or startup kit. But for not a lot more money it looks like it's twice the compressor. About $800 either from a dealer locally, or from a cheaper retailer that would require some driving.
Quincy Q13160V
230V - 3.5hp - 60gal - 12cfm@100psi, 14.6cfm@40psi
Looks nice, probably close to $800 to get it home, maybe a bit more to buy from a local industrial supplier. Don't know anything about Quincy - good stuff? Does this go on sale at Northern Tool ever? Do they stock it? Is the 26gal Quincy worth looking for?
C-H VT6271
120/240V - 26gal - 3.2hp - 10.3cfm@90psi, 11.8cfm@40psi
It's horizontal tank, big pump, and a moderate sized tank - almost perfect for what I'd need. However C-H doesn't seem to be as favoured by most people. And I don't care for the plastic tires. Also, it doesn't seem to be in stores locally so probably won't get a great deal on it. But for those 2/3 of the time when only a single fill of the tank gives enough air to use, having a moderate sized tank would be more energy efficient.
Other - perhaps Craftsman, Husky or C-H 60gal. 3hp models? I've also seen reconditioned Morgan and C-H 60gal units that looked like good deals ($300-400), but are they too good of a deal to be true???
).