Compressors......

[Eazy716]

i know this has topic been beat to death, but I read thru all the other links i could find and im still unsure here.

Im looking into a new compressor. I currently run a 26 gallon i believe it is(crafstman) and it hasnt done the job for quite a while. I do alot of body work and DA sander work. Alos spray gun, and normal air ratchets, impact, etc.

My current compressor runs constantly and I cant stand it. Now Im still trying to keep the cost down as much as possible, but I suppose im looking around $500 to spend. I kow I want a cast iron pump, most likely 60 gallon. What do you guys reccommend? It will be housed inside my work until I decide to build an outdoor shed for it.

Also, I currently only have 110v power in the garage due to the jackass who re-wired my garage. I had a 220 in there and for some reason he decided to remove it

Im willing to put that 220 back in to accomodate the new compressor.

heres what ive been looking at so far.....

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...d=10053&productId=100083906&categoryID=524403

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...3&productId=100349428&N=10000003+90066+527575

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_48803_______14151|14152|14169|48803?listingPage=true


any help is appreciated.

 

[porcupine73]

Hi Eazy716, Buffalo NY here too! AFIAK like you said cast iron, oil lubed should be good for longevity. I don't know what brands/etc are the most reliable as i 'm still on the small craftsman compressor for my setup too, yes that thing is noisy!

If you are getting a 220v compressor, you might run a dedicated feeder from your house panel to it. This will help reduce the voltage flucuation to the other outlet sin the garage (ie lights dimming, etc). If you need 220v 20 amp circuit and have only say 12ga or even 10ga coming to the garage (depending on distance) the light dimming etc will be more noticeable when the comrpessor kicks in.

 

[arthur1920]

i know this has topic been beat to death, but I read thru all the other links i could find and im still unsure here.

Im looking into a new compressor. I currently run a 26 gallon i believe it is(crafstman) and it hasnt done the job for quite a while. I do alot of body work and DA sander work. Alos spray gun, and normal air ratchets, impact, etc.

My current compressor runs constantly and I cant stand it. Now Im still trying to keep the cost down as much as possible, but I suppose im looking around $500 to spend. I kow I want a cast iron pump, most likely 60 gallon. What do you guys reccommend? It will be housed inside my work until I decide to build an outdoor shed for it.

Also, I currently only have 110v power in the garage due to the jackass who re-wired my garage. I had a 220 in there and for some reason he decided to remove it

Im willing to put that 220 back in to accomodate the new compressor.

heres what ive been looking at so far.....

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...d=10053&productId=100083906&categoryID=524403

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...3&productId=100349428&N=10000003+90066+527575

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_48803_______14151|14152|14169|48803?listingPage=true


any help is appreciated.

HD or Loews seem to have the best low buck units.
I don't know if the 60 gal will be good enough for what you want. Decide how much SCFM you want Ithink would be 1st step.

 

[eschoendorff]

if you're running a DA sander... you're gonna want as much CFM as you can get. Unless you can find a old used compressor, I don't think that $500 is gonna do it. You're looking at 10-15CFM with those 60 gal units... and I, personally, would want 20-25 or more CFM to run sanders...


Might want to rethink your budget, or look at electrical tools for the high consumption air stuff....

 

[SteveU]

For 500.00 used would probably be best, new I would go with an Eaton but they will run 1200+ for one that will run a DA extended periods. The HD box store compressors work ok but how they would hold up long term under extended use with high air useage tools I think something like the Eaton would be better & cheaper in the long run. Whatever you do, don't get an oiless, a guy I used to work with had to rebuild his twice before he got rid of it under weekend duty use tinkering on & painting cars.

 

[porcupine73]

harbor freight sometimes has some fairly large compressors on sale, but I think even those are over the $500 mark.

Here's one from buffalo craigslist but its $650
http://buffalo.craigslist.org/tls/526452611.html
Quincy 5hp air compressor in excellent used condition. It is 230 volts, 22amps, hz60, rpm 3450, 60 galon tank

 

[goodfellow]

That 60 gal Husky is a rebadged Campbell Hausfeld; which is probably the most popular light duty vertical compressor ever made. I used a similar unit for years and it provided good reliable service. I've even seen small body shops run with that compressor and although it works in such situatiuons, it's a stretch.

It'll do 95% of what you want to do without any problems. However, it won't keep up 100% with a DA, air file, and die grinder. Using any high speed air tool for an extended period means that you'll eventually have to wait for it to catch up.

That said, given your present situation, it'll be so much better than the portable unit you now have; so you can probably live with some of the limitations. For the price, it's a good compressor.

 

[Major Ramifications]

I was going to say exactly what goodfellow said. No wonder they call him goodfellow.

 

[porcupine73]

Would it be practicable for him to run his current portable compressor in parallel with the new compressor for increased capacity? They'd have to be similar pressures of course, (i.e. not one at 130psig off and the other at 175psig off). Then the one with the higher on pressure would start first all the time (ie 120psig), if it can't keep up, the other would kick in to help it out?

 

[Eazy716]

thanks for the input everyone! its very much appreciated.

i was thinking exactly what Goodfellow mentioned...well not the rebadging part, but the fact that it would suit my needs and budget. even though it may need to catch up at some point, when i use a DA, its normally not for extended periods of time, so i wasnt as concerned about it being able to keep up.

using my current compressor i usually only use about 2-3 tanks worth of air...so say 70-80 gallons. so it would only need a short time to keep up.


and thanks Porcupine for the wiring tips.

if I went with this compressor, it says 240v 15 amp........what would be the best way to wire it up? just as mentioned before? forgive me, the only electrical work i do is car electrical.....the home electrical stuff is pretty new to me.

 

[porcupine73]

I'm not an electrician but I would go 2/c w/gnd at least 12awg to feed it. Depending on how far away (like > 100' maybe) from the panel you are you may need to upsize to 10awg or even larger.

If you wanted to get 240vac back to your garage anyway, maybe the way to go is run like 3/c #6 w/gnd from the house panel out to the garage, that should be good for 50 amps, then feed the compressor off the garage panel?