Eastwood Scroll Compressor??

[Zimm3]

Looking to replace my 30+ year old low end Campbell Hausefield compressor. Current unit is a 5 HP single state with 50 gallon tank. It is slow to fill, loud, and runs constantly when blasting.

The Quincy QT54 sounds like a solid unit, but is probably overkill. I am a hobby guy who runs air tools, paints, a blast cabinet, and pressure pot blaster. Blasting is occasional. The specs call for a 50 amp breaker, which is an issue, as I prewired a 10 guage line, not a 6.

The Eastwood scroll is interesting as it would be about the same cost as the Quincy if I purchase the start up kit from Air Compressors Direct. I could also pick it up, as opposed to having it shipped. At 12.7 CFM, it should have the capacity I need. When I blast, its generally with a small orifice tip and lower pressure to avoid warping sheet metal.

All of that being said, I'm looking to see if anyone out there has experience with the Eastwood unit over time. Its been out there a few years now. Anyone given theirs some hard use?

 

[dogdog]

There is an old thread review here when the first gen of that came out. just search it..

There is also an unbranded one that some one group buy directly from factory to Columbia here with a special motor configuration... few years back also.

 

[Ditchdigger]

They have a flaw where water vapor will get into the oil system. Eastwood has downplayed this and instituted a monthly oil system drain maintenance step.

30/60 Scroll Compressor Service Bulletin

The Eastwood Company provides unique automotive tools and supplies, as well as expert advice and solutions, for the classic car and hot rod enthusiast. Visit us online today.

www.eastwood.com

Ours will start acting up and vent oil, water and air, sometimes violently but usually you just come into a big mess on the floor. We do the monthly drain but since it runs 8 hours a day 5 days a week we probably need to do it at least every other week.

After 18 months of use it sounds bad and we are replacing it.

When new it was amazingly quiet and delivered all the air we wanted in a shop with two mechanics and three upholsterers. Spray guns and impacts running all the time. We started to have issues about two months before they announced the new maintenance item and schedule and found out about it when calling for support. I assume months of pumping a lot of water through the oil system is what damaged ours.

 

[alex71]

if you have room for a big recip, that's what I would do. I have the scroll, and I bought it because of space and noise constraints. if I had a bit more room I would have bought a 5 or 7.5 recip with the big silencer... But I didn't.

For occasional hobbyist use the scroll has been fine. The most I run it is in the fall to blow out my lawn sprinkler system, when it runs for a couple of hours non-stop. Other than that it is occasional air tool use. The compressor has barely enough power to run a 1HP pneumatic grinder, but it does have enough.

I'm hoping it will last a good, long, time with my usage, but there's no guarantee. I certainly wouldn't expect it to last as long as a proper recip compressor if running 8 hours a day 5 days a week in shop use.

 

[71goldss]

I’ve been running my QT54 with a 30 amp breaker and #10 wire since 2012 with no issues. Specs called for that, and I believe still do.

 

[Sumboodie]

They have a flaw where water vapor will get into the oil system. Eastwood has downplayed this and instituted a monthly oil system drain maintenance step.

30/60 Scroll Compressor Service Bulletin

The Eastwood Company provides unique automotive tools and supplies, as well as expert advice and solutions, for the classic car and hot rod enthusiast. Visit us online today.

www.eastwood.com

Ours will start acting up and vent oil, water and air, sometimes violently but usually you just come into a big mess on the floor. We do the monthly drain but since it runs 8 hours a day 5 days a week we probably need to do it at least every other week.

After 18 months of use it sounds bad and we are replacing it.

When new it was amazingly quiet and delivered all the air we wanted in a shop with two mechanics and three upholsterers. Spray guns and impacts running all the time. We started to have issues about two months before they announced the new maintenance item and schedule and found out about it when calling for support. I assume months of pumping a lot of water through the oil system is what damaged ours.

I've seen a few videos on You Tube showing that issue as well with un happy owners.

 

[Zimm3]

Thanks to all. For those running the Quincy- how loud is it? My old Campbell Hausefield is really noisy.

 

[71goldss]

Thanks to all. For those running the Quincy- how loud is it? My old Campbell Hausefield is really noisy.

My first post back in 2012 was regarding my new, at that time, QT54. I feel it’s loud, but many online reviews claim otherwise. Opinions vary widely. I felt mine was loud enough that warranted building a sound proof and ventilated closet around mine. I also felt, and still do feel that most of the high db’s are coming from the whine of the 3450 rpm Baldor motor, but I can’t confirm for sure. I love my QT54, but probably wouldn’t so much without the closet.

 

[dnschmidt]

The Eaton/Polar Air/EMAX with the silencer box is the bomb. Just as quiet as the scroll and doesn't need to run all the time.

 

[Zimm3]

Which Polar Air are you running?

 

[dnschmidt]

Which Polar Air are you running?

None, but if I were to replace my Quincy, which hopefully I'll never have to do in this lifetime, one of the 7.5HP silent air models is clearly the way to go. https://www.homedepot.com/s/7.5 hp emax air compressors?NCNI-5 31SCFM is clearly going to get the job done when you're talking about sandblasting and 60 DB is very, very quiet. BUY ONCE CRY ONCE.

 

[sparky 1971]

The Quincy QT54 sounds like a solid unit, but is probably overkill. The specs call for a 50 amp breaker, which is an issue, as I prewired a 10 guage line, not a 6.

I know nothing about the Eastwood compressor, but 10 gauge wire is fine for a five horse compressor as long as it's THHN/THWN and not Romex. If romex, it should be 8/2. Code allows for up to a 60 amp breaker on those wire sizes for 5 HP.

 

[tom86951]

Anyone know the back story behind this curious letter I just got from Eastwood? They send me a warning sticker to put on the compressor and say 'unattended use of the scroll compressor is not recommended. Turning the unit off when not in use will reduce the risk of fire...."

What risk of fire? And how is a sticker going to help? My compressor is out behind my garage, so a sticker's not going to remind me of anything, and I sure didn't buy it with the intention of turning it on and off every time I use it.... Anyone know what prompted this letter?

 

[cvairwerks]

Reading between the lines, they probably have a number of reports of pressure switch failures and the compressors running for hours or days on end, eventually overheating and possible causing a fire.

 

[tom86951]

I wrote to Eastwood asking for more information but all I've received in response so far is four email ads from them. If there's a fire risk, a sticker isn't going to fix it. If there isn't a fire risk, why send the letter? Something feels mismanaged either way. I'd say maybe its a CYA letter written by lawyers, but the letter only seems to make things worse from a product liability perspective. Imagine if Ford send Pinto owners a letter with a warning sticker. I don't get it...

 

[scooby074]

Crappy pressure switch can weld itself closed. If it starts unattended with the contacts welded, it can overheat and cause fire or burn out. Im guessing theyre having issues with people having serious leaks in their air system causing the compressor to short cycle until the contacts stick and the thing wont shut off.

Mechanical failure like belt breaking or keyways shearing can lead to the motor continuously running as well.

Shutting it off isnt the worst request. I shut mine off every nite. Ball valve on the output means that the tank stays mostly full until the next use so there is no recharge time.