First big air compressor

[njc41980]

Been needing to get a real compressor for my shop for a while now.

Online, I found two local options in the classifieds:

- A Quincy 5HP 60 gal two stage claiming 15.7 CFM at 90 psi and 15.2 CFM at 175 psi (It's supposedly been used for only a month)

- An Excell Devillbiss 80 gal two stage with 14 SCFM at 100 psi (It's new on the crate - never been used)

Please advise.

 

[FTG-05]

Yes.

 

[njc41980]

Is Excel a decent brand?

I can't find anything online?

 

[B_Bimmer]

I would get the Quincy. They make a good machine.

 

[bastage]

If those are your only 2 options then the Quincy for sure. I think devilbiss is pretty much defunct in the compressor market where as Quincy is still a big quality name so long term parts are more likely to be easy to get.

Ignoring that you are just a few hours down the road from me & both of those your talking about have come up when I search for Air Compressor's here on Facebook.

Look closely at the 2 pictures for the Quincy... Those are 2 different compressor's.. The dirty (real) picture is a 80 gallon & a much better compressor then the tag on the 2nd picture.. That looks to be this one which is actually 17.2 cfm @ 175.... That is the FAR SUPERIOR machine with a better pump & a Baldor motor. Even if its used (and you feel like they are full of **** about the usage) I would pay twice for it what I would the Devilbiss which has a WEG Motor & what looks like a cheap Chinese pump.

Edit: This is the one from the second picture... Its not a bad compressor, but I wouldn't pay 900 for it used.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Quincy. Assuming it's not being dumped for being a lemon.

 

[bastage]

Also if your willing to put a bit of work into making it look pretty & the motor is single phase 5HP I would take a long hard look at the 300 dollar Kellogg in Blackfoot... Its also in the 17cfm Range at 175psi. Its got a lot more style points going for it then both the Quincy or that Devilbiss.

 

[njc41980]

Also if your willing to put a bit of work into making it look pretty & the motor is single phase 5HP I would take a long hard look at the 300 dollar Kellogg in Blackfoot... Its also in the 17cfm Range at 175psi. Its got a lot more style points going for it then both the Quincy or that Devilbiss.

Thanks man.

Looking into them.

 

[bastage]

Thanks man.

Looking into them.

No problem... Honestly I think I would go with the kellogg if you had the time to put into it because its 1/3rd of the price & pretty... Otherwise that Quincy is a damn fine much more modern compressor.

 

[njc41980]

Bump.

Still looking to buy an Air Compressor. (Classified guys flaked out)

I'm looking to get a Quincy 5 HP 80 Gal unit, even though it's probably overkill for my amature home shop.

Can anyone tell me the differences in the models sold by Northern Tool (QT-5) vs Air Compressors Direct (QT-Pro) ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[slackdaddy1]

It is not overkill if you ever plan on doing media blasting, even a small bench top unit will use every bit of that air

I'm looking to get a Quincy 5 HP 80 Gal unit, even though it's probably overkill for my amature home shop.

 

[njc41980]

Bump.

Anyone have any insight on the difference between at QT-5 and a QT-Pro?

 

[sberry]

5 hp is not overkill. It's a standard for body work. Could be a lifetime unit for most guys.

 

[930dreamer]

Maybe one of these, probably 3 phase though;

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2575339746027531/

 

[njc41980]

I can't do three phase right now in my shop.

 

[sberry]

Get something single, easy to use. Factory designed.

 

[njc41980]

Do I really need a magnetic starter?

I think that might be one of the differences in the Quincy QT-5 and QT-Pro

 

[sberry]

Starter is probably worth a couple hundred juice depending on model.

 

[bczygan]

Do I really need a magnetic starter?

I think that might be one of the differences in the Quincy QT-5 and QT-Pro

Yes.

Bill

 

[u2slow]

Do I really need a magnetic starter?

I think that might be one of the differences in the Quincy QT-5 and QT-Pro

What are you doing in your shop? Larger motors (i.e. 5hp+) tend to be hard on pressure-switch contacts, and may need to be changed occasionally if it sees a lot of use. Mag start contacts are more durable.

A 3hp (240v) cord-connected unit has served my home wrenching needs for over 20 years.

 

[sberry]

My 3 has a starter.

 

[njc41980]

I have a big shop, but I'm no professional mechanic. I'm a weekend warrior at best.

5 HP and 80 gal may be a bit overkill, but I like overkill.

I'll also be using it to blow out a big 2 acre sprinkler system, so having some decent volume would be good.

I may have to grow into it. I plan to do some car restoration stuff, but I don't do any body work yet.

 

[Jonboy1974]

I have a big shop, but I'm no professional mechanic. I'm a weekend warrior at best.

5 HP and 80 gal may be a bit overkill, but I like overkill.

I'll also be using it to blow out a big 2 acre sprinkler system, so having some decent volume would be good.

I may have to grow into it. I plan to do some car restoration stuff, but I don't do any body work yet.

I was always told to buy more compressor than you "think" you need. Air tools are hungry. If you ever plan on doing any body work even just DA sanding you'll be happier with more compressor.

 

[Crabman]

I have an old 80 gallon 5hp Black Max (Sanborn).

It is really loud. But I bought it used and it has served my DIY needs for over 20 years.

The one thing I do that really eats the air is using my blast cabinet. If you think you will do some blasting (a big help in car restoration) you will need a big compressor like you are thinking.

 

[clubairth]

As was posted that is not overkill.

You will easily run out of air if you blast or paint. I run a 7.5HP single phase, 24.7 cfm @175 psi. compressor. It will keep up with my blast box but not by much.

Blasting is a dream with adequate air volume. Without it you will just be cussing all the time as you wait for the pressure to build back up. You will not get things as clean as you would with a constant higher air pressure.

I got and recommend going used if possible? I found a $2500 broken air compressor for $350. Put about $800 in it. Total of $1150 for a $2500 value.

Also the harder you run the compressor the more water problems you will have so consider what your going to do about the water production too.
.
.
.

 

[njc41980]

Haven't been able to stumble into any decent used compressors, so I'm going to knuckle under and buy a new one soon.

I'll probably pick up a Quincy QT Pro 5-HP 80-Gallon, or a similar one from Eaton/Emax with the silensor stuff on it. I've considered going up to 7.5 HP, or magnetic starter, or pressure lubrication, but I don't think I can justify anything more than the $2,000 for my home shop that only gets used occasionally.

I have two questions though:

1.
What regulator do I need for high volume air to my sprinkler system? I don't want to blow up all that underground PVC with 175 PSI, but I need to move a lot of air to blow it out well.

2.
What happens if and when I blow a line in my shop but I'm not in there for two weeks? Do you guys leave your compressor turned on all the time?

 

[930dreamer]

Look for a quality regulator that you can adjust, i just turn the compressor off at the end of the day.

 

[njc41980]

Do most of you all turn off your compressors every night?

 

[Lucid Moments]

Do most of you all turn off your compressors every night?

I do. First thing the air should hit coming out of the tank is a decent ball valve. Turn that off and you will minimize the chance for leaks and keep all of the pressure in the tank. I turn the compressor off too, but with the ball valve there it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[njc41980]

Somebody stop me.

I've been researching and shopping for a compressor for too long and things are getting out of hand.

I started off thinking I'd just get any old 60 gallon compressor.
Then I decided that it needed to be 2-stage.
Then my desire grew be at least 80 gallons.
Next I learned that some brands were way better than others.
After that I figured out that a low speed pump was way quieter.
Now I'm starting to think that I need disc valves instead of reed valves.

The more I learn, the more I convince myself that I need more overkill at even greater expense.

I honestly don't even use or need air that much, but somebody better stop me or I'll decide that I can't live without a pressure-lubricated Quincy or Advantage-series Champion at over $3K.

 

[930dreamer]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/239861770437978/

 

[FTG-05]

Somebody stop me.

I've been researching and shopping for a compressor for too long and things are getting out of hand.

I started off thinking I'd just get any old 60 gallon compressor.
Then I decided that it needed to be 2-stage.
Then my desire grew be at least 80 gallons.
Next I learned that some brands were way better than others.
After that I figured out that a low speed pump was way quieter.
Now I'm starting to think that I need disc valves instead of reed valves.

The more I learn, the more I convince myself that I need more overkill at even greater expense.

I honestly don't even use or need air that much, but somebody better stop me or I'll decide that I can't live without a pressure-lubricated Quincy or Advantage-series Champion at over $3K.

Been there, done that, didn't get the tee-shirt!

I went through the same process. Started with something pretty simple, like filling some car tires every once in a while.

By the time I got done, I had convinced myself I needed this:

https://eatoncompressor.com/product/10hp-v4-single-phase-vertical-air-compressor-w-dryer-package/

Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately, depending on your point of view) cooler heads prevailed!

 

[ovilla]

Hold out for the compressor you want (and will definitely wish you had bought). I recently went from a small oil-less self lubricating Craftsman 26 gal to a 80 Gal 6.5HP Two Stage 16.9 SCFM 175 PSI and I can tell you that it’s pure joy having enough air to run any air tool you want to use. I’ve been wanting to upgrade mainly to have enough air for my COATS 7060 tire changer but I also wanted enough air for anything else I might decide to do in the future. Seriously, now is not the time to settle.

 

[katit]

Wait for a deal. I had 24gal for 15 years and was thinking to get real deal for last 3-4 years. Found QT5 perfect cosmetically with blown pump. New T39 pump and some pulleys and I got practically new compressor for under $800

 

[njc41980]

Anybody ever heard of a brand called "Magic Air"?

Found a used one. Looks heavy duty, but I can't find ANY information on it.

 

[njc41980]

Looks heavy

 

[930dreamer]

Looks like a Saylor Beall pump. Probably a small company building compressors from sourced parts. Looks like a single cylinder pump 1-1-1/2 hp?


https://oemaircompressor.com/Saylor-Beall1-11/2HP5.9CFM2Cyl.810RPMSplashLubricatedSi.aspx

 

[driftpin]

Looks like a Saylor Beall pump. Probably a small company building compressors from sourced parts. Looks like a single cylinder pump 1-1-1/2 hp?

https://oemaircompressor.com/Saylor-Beall1-11/2HP5.9CFM2Cyl.810RPMSplashLubricatedSi.aspx

I agree, looks-like a Saylor-Beall; yes, looks like a single-cyl from this angle. Perhaps a remanufactured S-B? It has a magnetic starter, apparently. How-much is it?

I like my Saylor-Beall 705, it gives me 20 CFM on a 5 hp Baldor 240V-1 Ph motor and it runs at low RPM's. Magnetic starter, multiple ball valves & drops, dryer, pressure regulator, my blasting cabinet will work continuously, while the compressor runs a bit and stops. I do a manual tank drain.

 

[njc41980]

Looks like a Saylor Beall pump. Probably a small company building compressors from sourced parts. Looks like a single cylinder pump 1-1-1/2 hp?


https://oemaircompressor.com/Saylor-Beall1-11/2HP5.9CFM2Cyl.810RPMSplashLubricatedSi.aspx

I think it's bigger than that.

It's mounted on a 80 gal tank with a largish motor.

 

[njc41980]

I agree, looks-like a Saylor-Beall; yes, looks like a single-cyl from this angle. Perhaps a remanufactured S-B? It has a magnetic starter, apparently. How-much is it?

The seller says that it's a "twin" compressor and it's supposed to be 80 gallons.

He's asking $1,000

I'm hoping to go take a look this weekend.