Help me choose new Compressor

[CobraJake]

So after 5 years of owning an "oilless" 30 gallon it finally gave up. . So been looking a bit and wanted to go a little bigger. This is only for personal use but the few times I use a grinder or cut off tool it would only last a minute or so then would have to wait 3 minutes to use it again. So was thinking 60 gallon for some more volume and see 99% of them are 220v. That let me down for a bit till I remembered I have a spot where a dryer used to be with a 4 pin plug.

So, is a 2 stage really worth it? The new location will be behind a couple closed doors but would still like quiet operation. Seen this one that states 700rpm operation which seems really low to me?

https://www.aircompressorsdirect.co...-Compressor/p67979.html?preferred_placement=1

 

[justme-]

Your old compressor cam likely be fixed, usually piston ring wears out. New piston/ring/cylinder is reasonable price and fairly easy repair. Oil style is always better for most things, yes two stage should recover faster tho personally I don't recommend an off brand on a unit that expensive.

 

[CobraJake]

Your old compressor cam likely be fixed, usually piston ring wears out. New piston/ring/cylinder is reasonable price and fairly easy repair. Oil style is always better for most things, yes two stage should recover faster tho personally I don't recommend an off brand on a unit that expensive.

but its oil-less and can't hear myself think anywhere near it. For $300 I paid and 5 years of use why would I fix it?

Is Industrial Air an off brand? People have good luck with Husky and Kobalt was just looking of something a little better. Don't want to spend $2000

 

[American Locomotive]

Industrial Air is an offbrand. It appears to be using the same chinese pumps and motors every other cheap compressor uses.

 

[CobraJake]

Industrial Air is an offbrand. It appears to be using the same chinese pumps and motors every other cheap compressor uses.

Some of these don't even list rpm. Whats a good oiled low rpm unit?

 

[justme-]

Tractor supply has an ir 14cfm 5hp 69gal for $650. 3301332 is sku from flyer.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Husky and Kobalt were mostly Campbell Hausfeld the last time I checked, which is a good brand.
Definitely use the dryer outlet if you are not using it for a dryer. The question becomes, How much do you want to spend? A 60 gallon oil filled single stage will be a huge improvement over what you had, but a two stage would be nice. I would avoid an off-brand for something like this.

 

[CNGsaves]

BELOW is what you want . . . . . $100 used . . but QUALITY . . compressor (oil-splash) that just needs an electric motor . . . . fellow "Sparky" GJ electricians will steer you in right direction:

https://cnj.craigslist.org/tls/d/air-compressor/6241298799.html

Keep your other tank and just "double" up on storage, as needed.

 

[Infinia]

but its oil-less and can't hear myself think anywhere near it

ahh you must of made a decision nearby.
A better question is why wouldn't you fix it>? all compressors are loud
It's silly spending 800-1000 bucks to do a little DIY grinding and cutting. Consider using electric tools and a flex shaft.

I'd Fix it then decide to keep longer or /sell it.
BTW the repair kits return the pump to essentially to brand new. ~ $50 and an hour labor. We live in a consumer society where nobody repairs anything and justify things based on $/month affordability not their worth.

 

[CobraJake]

Husky and Kobalt were mostly Campbell Hausfeld the last time I checked, which is a good brand.
Definitely use the dryer outlet if you are not using it for a dryer. The question becomes, How much do you want to spend? A 60 gallon oil filled single stage will be a huge improvement over what you had, but a two stage would be nice. I would avoid an off-brand for something like this.

Id like to keep it around $1000-ish. Im not sure what the good brands are as my last one was just a $300 Craftsman i grabbed in a hurry and has been ok for what I do.

 

[CobraJake]

ahh you must of made a decision nearby.
A better question is why wouldn't you fix it>? all compressors are loud
It's silly spending 800-1000 bucks to do a little DIY grinding and cutting. Consider using electric tools and a flex shaft.

I'd Fix it then decide to keep longer or /sell it.
BTW the repair kits return the pump to essentially to brand new. ~ $50 and an hour labor. We live in a consumer society where nobody repairs anything and justify things based on $/month affordability not their worth.

The shop i go to for some welding work has one half as loud as my oil less was which is a huge plus being in a semi small space. It just echoes in my 15 foot ceilings.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

If you $1000 to spend, then I would recommend checking Craigslist and Offer-up for a used Champion, Saylor-Beall or Quincy QR series compressor. All 3 are TRUE industrial grade that will last you a lifetime. Personally, I take one of those 3 used, anyday over a new imported POS. All 3 of those are made in the USA and parts are readily avaliable.

I just took a quick look on the Boston Craigslist and found these...

https://boston.craigslist.org/nos/tls/d/saylor-beall-air-compressor/6241472590.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/bfs/d/emglo-electric-air-compressor/6239261970.html

Different end of the spectrum, Emglo's are also great little pumps, although this one is a single stage pump, so 125 psi max. All depends on your CFM needs.

 

[Infinia]

The shop i go to for some welding work has one half as loud as my oil less was which is a huge plus being in a semi small space. It just echoes in my 15 foot ceilings.

Half as loud is only 3dB.
As you go along on your compressor journey you might find out there is a big penalty for both cost AND CFM performance for going quiet. Intermediate steps are direct drive oiled compressors But that isn't a whole lot quieter than what u have. Find out the cost of your welders set-up is. BTW disposable ear plugs can offer ~20 dB reduction at the most bothersome harmonic frequencies.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Is this a decent compressor Rolair made in Wisconsin. I was in getting my Karcher pressure washer fixed and noticed this unit. They were solid on their price but remember this is CDN $s. Hope the pic turns up (excuse quality as it was only meant for my reference) but lately only a link is shown. Anybody know what is with that?

 

[aka Larry]

Your old compressor cam likely be fixed, usually piston ring wears out. New piston/ring/cylinder is reasonable price and fairly easy repair.

Pay money to fix an oil-less compressor? I'd pay someone to take it away!

 

[redmondjp]

Is this a decent compressor Rolair made in Wisconsin. I was in getting my Karcher pressure washer fixed and noticed this unit. They were solid on their price but remember this is CDN $s.

It's not bad - it's a 3-cylinder single-stage unit that should meet most of your air needs.

 

[DC73]

So after 5 years of owning an "oilless" 30 gallon it finally gave up. . The new location will be behind a couple closed doors but would still like quiet operation. Seen this one that states 700rpm operation which seems really low to me?

Just gave up my oil-less as well. Just. Too. Damn. Loud. Picked up this Puma: https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Puma-TE-5040V-Air-Compressor/p13941.html

Night and day difference. Can't believe how quiet it is compared to the screaming banshee I gave up. I had mine in a separately insulated mechanical room but I still couldn't carry on a conversion in the main shop with it running. I can leave the door to the room open with this new one and it's still much quieter.

I went with the squatty-body 40 gallon tank due to space restrictions I had, but so far this compressor is just what I wanted. Quiet, fills the tank fast from completely empty, will run any tool I need, and the price was decent. Puma does offer models with more tank capacity.

The lower RPM you noted is not a problem if the specs are what you need. A lot of the better two stage compressors operate in that RPM range.

DC

 

[justme-]

Pay money to fix an oil-less compressor? I'd pay someone to take it away!

That's you, some people will. I fix a couple a year at work...

Everyone has an opinion

 

[CobraJake]

Just gave up my oil-less as well. Just. Too. Damn. Loud. Picked up this Puma: https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Puma-TE-5040V-Air-Compressor/p13941.html

Night and day difference. Can't believe how quiet it is compared to the screaming banshee I gave up. I had mine in a separately insulated mechanical room but I still couldn't carry on a conversion in the main shop with it running. I can leave the door to the room open with this new one and it's still much quieter.

I went with the squatty-body 40 gallon tank due to space restrictions I had, but so far this compressor is just what I wanted. Quiet, fills the tank fast from completely empty, will run any tool I need, and the price was decent. Puma does offer models with more tank capacity.

The lower RPM you noted is not a problem if the specs are what you need. A lot of the better two stage compressors operate in that RPM range.

DC

thats good to hear. Looks like they are in TN ( 100% USA?) . And low rpm.