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Kobalt or Quincy Air Compressor

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HomeTheaterMan

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Apr 3, 2016
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I'm finally in the position to buy a new air compressor in the next few days and I'm having trouble deciding. I've narrowed it down to these two.

This will be going in my home shop where I run air tools on a regular basis, I run a tire machine some, and I'd like to be able to run a paint gun occasionally.

The Kobalt is a little cheaper has a better warranty, and has a bigger tank, but the Quincy is US made and has a 100% duty cycle motor which seems nice for running the tire machine. Both put out similar airflow.

My main concern is durability. I've had a cheap Craftsman 33 gallon for the past 15 years. If I'm spending this much, I'd like something here that'll last as well. I don't want to have a broken unit in 3 years.

Here is the Kobalt:
https://m.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-80-Gallon-Electric-Vertical-Air-Compressor/1000528985

Here is the Quincy:
https://m.lowes.com/pd/Quincy-Compressor-60-Gallon-Electric-Air-Compressor/50073343

What do you guys think is the better choice between these two?
 
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HomeTheaterMan

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You guys are making this decision even harder. Some sites have had negative reviews of the Quincy, so they makes me hesitant. You guys do have me leaning that way though.
 
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matt_i

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If I was choosing between Kobalt and Quincy I would choose the Q.

I had one Quincy in a plant, garden variety splash lube, and ran it like a hot scuff test (an analogy is ordering a high powered muscle car off the assembly line and sending it via truck, never started up, to a nascar race track, jumping in and putting your foot flat on the floor for 200 miles or until the gas tank runs out...) Back to the compressor...it ran something like 80% duty cycle 24x7 for around 3 weeks before the main plant air came back online (something like 400 hours of runtime....I'm wondering if my personal compressor has 100 hours in ~20 years lol). Then after that, on weekends, it never complained, I was impressed.
 
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Steve_P

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Regardless of specs or warranty, I would consider Quincy in a different league. They've been around forever and sell replacement parts. Kobalt is like HF; if something fails in 10 yrs it's time for a new one.

And I have a QT 7.5.
 
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u3b3rg33k

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there's a 20gal tank size difference up there, and 4CFM more at 100PSI out of that polar air - this is going to matter for blasting/painting more than max PSI cfm numbers.

19cfm @5hp for the Polar listed
15cfm @5hp Quincy/Kobalt the OP is looking at
12cfm @3hp out of the eastwood scroll.

makes me wonder why that quincy/kobalt are rated there...
 
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Niteman9

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Feb 10, 2017
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I wouldn't buy neither. Both look like 3450 rpm motors. Look for ones with 1725 rpm motors. Look for a good used one. I picked up a 5hp 80 gallon Champion for $600.00. Looks almost new. Traded in the three phase motor for a new Baldor single phase motor for $100.00. So total in is $700.00.


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bobcatdan

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bochnak said:
That unit is nice. Looks like they are using a "5hp" pump and spinning it faster? CFM is a bit low for a 7.5hp?
Click to expand...

I would put 22.5 cfm a pretty good rating. Yeah you can get 24 -25 out of some other makes, still a lot better than 17 cfm a lot of cheaper 80 gallons. I would take a Quincy over a new IR with the play dough compressor even though the IR has a higher cfm rating of 24ish.
 
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JJ99SS

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I've also researched the hell out of this for months as my CMan is also getting in need of replacement.

Between the two you have listed I'd go Quincy all day long. Reason is parts and reputation. My personal struggle is between a Quincy and a Jenny. On paper Quincy should win on price alone. But the part of me that wants the Jenny because...well its a Jenny. I like having stuff that nobody really has.

It's like my flatware we eat with in the house. Sure I could have gone to Target and get Oneidea, but I had to have this... www.libertytabletop.com from the only company to make flatware in the USA. (Flatware is a TOOL ya'll!! :) )
 
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bochnak

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Here are a couple of things I have learned with owning 2 compressors and swapping a pump on one of them:

1. Buy more compressor than you need at the moment. Today you'll be using an impact, tomorrow a blast cabinet. It happens all the time.

2. Try and buy a unit that has a pump that has been in production for 20+yrs. That tells you parts are going to be available.

3. Go with a company that has great customer service.

4. 1725 motor and sloooow pump speed is ideal. Pump speed of 800 or less. This will reduce noise, heat, moisture and also prolong life. The 2 units you linked to in the OP, don't list motor or pump RPM. I bet they are both rotating really fast.

5. A local compressor shop owner told me to never go above 50% duty cycle. They may claim 100%, but don't believe that if you want the thing to last.
 
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Citation

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The Kobalt is a Campbell Hausfeld compressor. Parts shouldn't be an issue and will probably be more accessable because CH compressors are so common.

It doesn't sound like the OP it's going to be anything to heavy and I suspect either compressor would be fine.

No reason to avoid 3450rpm motors for this application. If you are a heavy user then get something with a lower RPM motor and that uses a starter vs sending the motor current through the pressure switch.

For that matter I seems like most of the bigger compressor suggestions are overkill. There one suggestion I would take to heart is look for a deal on a used compressor. I think a new Champion is overkill but a used Champion for the same money looks like a deal to me. You may not need it but the extra capacity is nice just in case or if you grow your needs.
 
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Dentaltec

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I have been researching this forever. The truth is at the 2 to 3k price point there are SOOOOOO many options. The eaton compressors have had my eye for some time the EMAX and the Polar are all slow turning pumps. My goal was to get a machine that would out last me, that would not make me deaf working around it and ultimately would have room for me to grow into it. I need 16cfm for the tools I use but ultimately my min I wanted was 20.

I ended up placing an order for this

https://www.compressorpros.com/air-compressors/c-aire-a075v080-1230fp-7.5hp-single-phase-two-stage-80-gallon-full-featured-air-compressor/

Should be here in a week, pretty excited
 
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javajaws

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If in the $1k range I'd get that Quincy. If $2k or a little more I'd get a Saylor-Beall with disc valve and slow 845 pump rpm (that's what I have and no regrets - it purrs like a kitten).
 
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dkmc

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LOL.......why do you call it a "play dough" compressor??


bobcatdan said:
I would put 22.5 cfm a pretty good rating. Yeah you can get 24 -25 out of some other makes, still a lot better than 17 cfm a lot of cheaper 80 gallons. I would take a Quincy over a new IR with the play dough compressor even though the IR has a higher cfm rating of 24ish.
Click to expand...
 
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bochnak

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Dentaltec said:
I have been researching this forever. The truth is at the 2 to 3k price point there are SOOOOOO many options. The eaton compressors have had my eye for some time the EMAX and the Polar are all slow turning pumps. My goal was to get a machine that would out last me, that would not make me deaf working around it and ultimately would have room for me to grow into it. I need 16cfm for the tools I use but ultimately my min I wanted was 20.

I ended up placing an order for this

https://www.compressorpros.com/air-compressors/c-aire-a075v080-1230fp-7.5hp-single-phase-two-stage-80-gallon-full-featured-air-compressor/

Should be here in a week, pretty excited
Click to expand...

Can I ask why you chose that unit over polar air, quincy, etc....seems 500-1k more than others.
 
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DSLTRK

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Kobalt is no comparison to a slow rpm, commercial grade pump like a Quincy or Champion.

I vote to buy a better machine used and save. With proper maintenance, the commercial grade pumps will run for thousands of hours and they often have extras like condensation auto drains in the tank.

It's like comparing a Cummins to a 1.4l ecotec.

I grabbed this 2013 Champion for $900 and it was sitting but never used. Hardly comes on due to large tank size and purrs with the Baldor 1725 rpm motor.ce6662fcf8e2d5ad9d233c6bd7cf6b6f.jpg

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HomeTheaterMan

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Thanks guys. I'm not opposed to a used unit, but so far my searching in this area hasn't turned up any decent looking ones.

I'd like to keep this under $1,500 unless I'm getting something significantly better for not much more.

I'd looked at the IR as I really like their air tools, but their lower end compressors seem to get horrible reviews. So that's made me hesitant to buy one of those.

As others have said, the Kobalt is made by Campbell Hausfeld.
 
F

F3X

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Chino, CA
Look at Craigslist for:
Saylor-Beall
Champion
Kellog American
All American built and parts available.

New I would buy the Saylor-Beall VT-735-80 for 2259.00 online (or give the local dealer a chance at price matching:bounce:
Slow pump speed, 80gal not 60, sounds Great running and last +3 lifetimes.

I have a old 1960's Saylor with a 120 gal tank and 3hp (yes 3 real HP) that runs everything no issue. I have 600.00 in it and will probably swap a 5hp 3 phase and repaint down the road if I feel the need for a project.

IMO the new cheaper Quincys are not anywhere as good as the old units and the new players, emax, Polar Air, some others are running Chinese copy Saylor pumps. for 700.00 more get the real deal, 700 over 20~30 years is doable.

Good luck.
 

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Citation

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I am a fan of going for a used "industrial" vs new "pro-sumer" 80 gallon compressor. However, do keep in mind that if something fails on an industrial compressor it likely will cost quiet a bit more to fix. I expect an industrial unit to last longer under heavy use but do keep repair cost in mind if something goes wrong.
 
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Citation

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C2tuck said:
Google...

e1c7be5aeed75dcaf14c0700020d3e2d.jpg


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Click to expand...

Not defending them but with just 3 reviews that could be two reasonably happy customers plus one unreasonable person giving them a zero. But it could also be 3, 3 and 2.
 
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