General Air Tools Questions

[hangfirew8]

You broadly condemned air die grinder use with his 30. I reminded the world not all die grinders are air hogs of 1/2HP and up. I already recommended some smaller die grinders in his other thread. The context from the previous thread is, will they be better than a Dremel... oh yeah. Then you come alone and toss out die grinders not attached to 80gal/5HP. So I bring them back to the table. Smaller ones, that is.

I did not add an "if" or misquote you. Anyone can scroll back and re-read your entire post if they need more context. The 1/2HP is a condition I have already been discussing, that is, my cutoff tool would be a bit much for his system. So it's not like I misquoted you or drew a false distinction.

I really tire of the bigger/badder oh-you-need-this attitude here on GJ, then the egos explode when contradicted with facts and experience. If you want to push everyone to upgrade to 80gal/5HP, don't expect me to facilitate you.

 

[alex123]

Yes you doubling cfm .
Ideally want same psi rated for best benefit, tanks don't have be same size just of suitable final joint capacity for you estimated requirements. you could even just add second motor and pump to 1 30gallon tank or fit both motors/pumps to another single large tank .
How easy or hard really depends on what you buy/working with, is as easy as buying 2 compressors, joining tanks with a pipe (normally spare fittings on tanks that can be used) and read the manual and tweak pressure switch so both not starting right together (timed relay can be better option), becomes more work if mounting on 1 large tank but it all easy stuff once get ball rolling, even adding timer relay for second motor control is easy if need do that way.
My auto shop compressor is a twin 5hp 240V setup and that what made me do the home 120V same concept .
Is best way get very usable diy air setup at low cost and low hassle .

That's really interesting. So the Husky I am interested only yields 5.1 CFM and is 30 gallons. This 20 gallon compressor yields 4 CFM, but is only $199. Am I not better off just buying two of these and putting them together then? I would get 40 gallons, and 8 CFM. Both are 175 psi.

Edit: IF this is a good option, would it be okay for me to run the second compressor on an extension cord? I want to make sure I'm not tapping into the same fuse.

 

[alex123]

Air tool CFM comes from the tank. It depends on the pressure in the tank, the size of the tank, and size and flow of your hose and fittings.

Pump CFM determines how fast the tank gets refilled, or if it stays full.

You can run high CFM tools just fine on a 30 gallon tank. You just have to stop and wait for refills more often. No matter how you cut it, you'll be getting more work done with the air tools then with a Dremel.

Running a 600ft/lb air gun, I could all 6 lug nuts off a truck wheel from a 1/3HP+10 gallon tank at 105PSI. By the time I got the wheel out of the way, moved the jack, jacked up the other corner and got the next jack stand out, the compressor had the tank ready for the next wheel.

I can run my aircat 1/2HP 3" cutoff wheel 100% from my 13.5CFM single stage 3.5HP 60 gallon. When I did so I totally shredded the wheel (overheated) and I had to take it off to continue. When running at a more reasonable rate the pump was running only 1/2 the time or less.

This gotta have 17CFM/80 gallon is pure nonsense.

My understanding of the concept is in line with what you've described. As well, when I read the reviews on the 30 gallon compressors, people are saying that they can run high CFM tools just fine, but that there's just a bit of a wait some times if it's something like a die grinder or cut off wheel.

 

[alex123]

You'll be able to run what you want, but will have to wait at times. Oil less compressors are much louder than oiled. I have a 33 gal craftsman. I will not buy another oil less.

That Craftsman is ridiculously loud. I don't own one, but just based on YouTube videos, there's a noticeable difference based on that Craftsman and other 30 gallon compressors. In this case, the Husky is actually rated at a lower decibel rating than the oiled type Kobalt.

 

[alex123]

It's no longer a given that oilless is louder than oiled. Per the specs I think that husky is quieter than the belt drive oiled compressor that he was considering. My guess is noise wasn't a design consideration then the first oilless pumps hit the market and were probably compared to the more traditional belt drive oiled pumps. Oiled direct drive units can be pretty loud while newer oilless models are impressively quiet.

Agreed. The oiled Kobalt compressor is louder (per the specification sheet) compared to the oil less Husky.

 

[Mr_B]

That's really interesting. So the Husky I am interested only yields 5.1 CFM and is 30 gallons. This 20 gallon compressor yields 4 CFM, but is only $199. Am I not better off just buying two of these and putting them together then? I would get 40 gallons, and 8 CFM. Both are 175 psi.

Edit: IF this is a good option, would it be okay for me to run the second compressor on an extension cord? I want to make sure I'm not tapping into the same fuse.

If was on a sale or something so even cheaper then yeh worth a try .
Stick with the husky or something similar and see how it goes, if your usage needs more keep eye out for used second one or a sale .
Trouble with lot of these cheaper compressors is they don't last well even more so when duty pushed to the max, 2 good 4 or 5cfm@90 pumps and motors on a 30 to 60 gallon tank is pretty impressive, I don't need more at home and duty times kept sensible so they last way longer .
oiled tends be more durable imo .
You can use extension but keep length short as can and of large gauge so not much voltage drop .

 

[alex123]

If was on a sale or something so even cheaper then yeh worth a try .
Stick with the husky or something similar and see how it goes, if your usage needs more keep eye out for used second one or a sale .
Trouble with lot of these cheaper compressors is they don't last well even more so when duty pushed to the max, 2 good 4 or 5cfm@90 pumps and motors on a 30 to 60 gallon tank is pretty impressive, I don't need more at home and duty times kept sensible so they last way longer .
oiled tends be more durable imo .
You can use extension but keep length short as can and of large gauge so not much voltage drop .

I wish I could get a 60 or 80 gallon. My issue is that I move often, and with a leased unit, I don't have the luxury of adjusting the electrical to 240v. The only alternative I see is just running it off the drier socket?

 

[Mr_B]

See how you go on the 30 gallon or try find a good deal/sale on 2 20/25 gallon, 2 units does make it more portable over 1 larger tank plus can run individually .
On 120V 2 is way forward if using tools for longer run times and don't want wait too much and also want duty times kept sensible ...

 

[alex123]

See how you go on the 30 gallon or try find a good deal/sale on 2 20/25 gallon, 2 units does make it more portable over 1 larger tank plus can run individually .
On 120V 2 is way forward if using tools for longer run times and don't want wait too much and also want duty times kept sensible ...

Sounds good! Many thanks for the help

 

[HC33]

If your interested i have a brand new Snap on 30 gal 5hp air compressor im selling for a major discount . im talking major 500 bucks . I paid $1695.00 for it used it for 5 mins . i just needed something bigger and more power . But when i bought the bigger 60 gal snap on one ******* me forgot to ask to trade in towards the new snap on compressor. so its been sitting in my shop collecting dust and i just got around to making a effort to sell it cause i now i need to make some space in my shop and its taking up a little space i could use. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it . i used it once for 5 mins then drained the air and closed the drain valve . Look on snap on for it BRA5DV30VP. If you want to buy it for a super great price $500.00 message me and we can figure out shipping to your location .

 

[sberry]

To run a cut off wheel longer get a 30$ BD 4 1/2 at Walmart. Runs on 1/2 the power of the comp, no noise when not using it, cord instead of hose.

 

[CGT80]

You broadly condemned air die grinder use with his 30. I reminded the world not all die grinders are air hogs of 1/2HP and up. I already recommended some smaller die grinders in his other thread. The context from the previous thread is, will they be better than a Dremel... oh yeah. Then you come alone and toss out die grinders not attached to 80gal/5HP. So I bring them back to the table. Smaller ones, that is.

I did not add an "if" or misquote you. Anyone can scroll back and re-read your entire post if they need more context. The 1/2HP is a condition I have already been discussing, that is, my cutoff tool would be a bit much for his system. So it's not like I misquoted you or drew a false distinction.

I really tire of the bigger/badder oh-you-need-this attitude here on GJ, then the egos explode when contradicted with facts and experience. If you want to push everyone to upgrade to 80gal/5HP, don't expect me to facilitate you.

I didn't condemn or toss out grinders not attached to 5hp 80 gallon compressor, but instead stated that the run time would be limited and it could be done with patience, as I did in the past, and you did above.



That is great you have recommendations in another thread. I missed it or did not put it together with this thread, as I don't look that close at screen names. With so many threads on the same topic, it isn't worth trying to figure out which ones should be tied together.



Again, in this thread as well as others, I let people know that they have to decide for themselves whether a large compressor that will keep up with everything is an option vs. potentially making performance compromises with a smaller unit...........and that is based on facts and experience(yours, mine, and others). While I do prefer bigger and better, I don't always have to have it and I know it doesn't always work for others. One of my strong points, is that I usually look at situations from multiple points of view. Sure, I 100% recommend going as big as possible if using die grinders and other air hogs, but I never said a smaller compressor was not possible as that is exactly what I did (as much as I hated it).


There are many air compressor threads on here with the same results: go small for limited work and accept the trade offs, or go big to use the air hog tools to their potential (at the cost of expense, size, and power requirements). What is acceptable will vary from person to person. Part of the go bigger/better attitude can be ego, but part of it is based on what works well and what doesn't.

 

[alex123]

To run a cut off wheel longer get a 30$ BD 4 1/2 at Walmart. Runs on 1/2 the power of the comp, no noise when not using it, cord instead of hose.

What is a BD?

 

[hangfirew8]

A Black & Decker grinder won't fit in all the tight spots an air cutoff will. I know, I have a Ridgid grinder and was forced to use the Dremel until I got the Aircat.

-HF

 

[sberry]

I agree it won't fit in all the tight spots but doesn't mean it can't be used where it can. 95% of the work is in the open or should be once a guy figures how to keep from working him self in a corner.
I used to do it,, pretty rare anymore.

 

[hangfirew8]

Depends on what you are working on. Cars are getting tighter and tighter. I did use the 4-1/2 on the pickup last year where there was room.

-HF

 

[hangfirew8]

I didn't condemn or toss out grinders not attached to 5hp 80 gallon compressor, but instead stated that the run time would be limited and it could be done with patience, as I did in the past, and you did above.



That is great you have recommendations in another thread. I missed it or did not put it together with this thread, as I don't look that close at screen names. With so many threads on the same topic, it isn't worth trying to figure out which ones should be tied together.



Again, in this thread as well as others, I let people know that they have to decide for themselves whether a large compressor that will keep up with everything is an option vs. potentially making performance compromises with a smaller unit...........and that is based on facts and experience(yours, mine, and others). While I do prefer bigger and better, I don't always have to have it and I know it doesn't always work for others. One of my strong points, is that I usually look at situations from multiple points of view. Sure, I 100% recommend going as big as possible if using die grinders and other air hogs, but I never said a smaller compressor was not possible as that is exactly what I did (as much as I hated it).


There are many air compressor threads on here with the same results: go small for limited work and accept the trade offs, or go big to use the air hog tools to their potential (at the cost of expense, size, and power requirements). What is acceptable will vary from person to person. Part of the go bigger/better attitude can be ego, but part of it is based on what works well and what doesn't.

Sorry for my cranky response earlier.

I just think many air tools provide good value and there are choices that will work better than Dremels in particular, or cordless, if properly matched to the size of the tank. Smaller air tools may not rip compared to a big air tool. But they may fit in tight places and get the job done, and can be cheaper than some other options.



-HF