lsrx101
Well-known member
So, armed with information that I gathered here and from new units in the stores, etc. I went on my search for a suitable air compressor for my garage.
I was a Tech for about 25 years and never could afford a compressor at home, and never even learned how to properly spec one! Now that I have a "cushy" job in IT, I still can't keep my hands clean and I find that I still need a compressor for the garage.
I decided that I needed a 50gal tank or larger, 7.5CFM or more, at 3.5hp or better. 220V was the obvious choice, just for electrical efficiency. I won't be using any real "air hogs", just my 1/2" impacts, air ratchets, die grinder, butterfly, air chisel, blast cabinet,etc.
I found a used Campbell-Hausfeld (#VT558705AJ)
vertical on craigslist and will be checking it out on Sunday. It's 5HP, single stage, 125 psi max, 11.4 cfm @ 40 psi, 9 cfm @ 90 psi, and a 60 gallon tank. The owner places it at early to mid 90's manufacture, but he didn't buy it originally. Comparable new units are ~$800 and up, but the modern ratings seem to be fudged a bit.
At $350 it sounds good to me, as long as it's not worn out or obviously abused. It sounds like it will meet my needs just fine, with a some overhead in case I get silly and want to try my hand at some body work (DA, air file, air grinder, etc) I certainly won't be doing any sand blasting, there's people that do that for money, and they're not me. (I did it ONCE on a 95 degree day, never again
).
I would appreciate any opinions.
I wonder about the quality of this unit. I remember CH being a good name in air products, but many of the CH air tools that I see today in the Big Box stores strike me as downright offshore cheap.
Thanks for any feedback.
I was a Tech for about 25 years and never could afford a compressor at home, and never even learned how to properly spec one! Now that I have a "cushy" job in IT, I still can't keep my hands clean and I find that I still need a compressor for the garage.
I decided that I needed a 50gal tank or larger, 7.5CFM or more, at 3.5hp or better. 220V was the obvious choice, just for electrical efficiency. I won't be using any real "air hogs", just my 1/2" impacts, air ratchets, die grinder, butterfly, air chisel, blast cabinet,etc.
I found a used Campbell-Hausfeld (#VT558705AJ)
vertical on craigslist and will be checking it out on Sunday. It's 5HP, single stage, 125 psi max, 11.4 cfm @ 40 psi, 9 cfm @ 90 psi, and a 60 gallon tank. The owner places it at early to mid 90's manufacture, but he didn't buy it originally. Comparable new units are ~$800 and up, but the modern ratings seem to be fudged a bit.
At $350 it sounds good to me, as long as it's not worn out or obviously abused. It sounds like it will meet my needs just fine, with a some overhead in case I get silly and want to try my hand at some body work (DA, air file, air grinder, etc) I certainly won't be doing any sand blasting, there's people that do that for money, and they're not me. (I did it ONCE on a 95 degree day, never again
).I would appreciate any opinions.
I wonder about the quality of this unit. I remember CH being a good name in air products, but many of the CH air tools that I see today in the Big Box stores strike me as downright offshore cheap.
Thanks for any feedback.