Looking for a Reliable and Affordable Compressor – Warranty is a Priority!

[murphyeric]

Hi everyone,
I’m in the market for a new compressor and want to ensure I’m making a smart long-term investment. A robust warranty is crucial for me. I’ve been looking at brands like US Air Compressor, DV, and LG, but I’m not entirely sure which ones really stand behind their products when it comes to warranty support.

Have any of you had personal experiences with these brands or others? I’d really appreciate hearing about any positive or negative encounters, especially regarding warranty claims. What should I look out for when choosing a compressor?
Thanks in advance for your help and insights!

 

[The Cobbler]

What should I look out for when choosing a compressor?

first thing, you need to determine your air needs/requirements .

 

[finn]

Reliable and warranty pretty much rule out affordable.

 

[Beerhippie]

Reliable and warranty pretty much rule out affordable.

Reliable, good warranty, affordable: Pick two.

 

[PWC Repair]

I'm guessing maybe you mean ELGi? So you're looking for an industrial size compressor?

 

[dnschmidt]

Reliable and warranty pretty much rule out affordable.

That's about right. Reliable CHAMPION, ATLAS COPCO, TOP END QUINCY. Reasonable and probably good enough EATON/EMAX/POLAR AIR - all the same thing. Cheap with a fair at best warrantee: any of the **** they sell in big box stores.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

DV Systems HDI compressors are top notch. I had to warranty one a year or two ago and it was pretty painless, although we had to cover shipping. It's the only one I've ever seen in 30 years that needed replacement under warranty.

 

[swsman]

$600 and scout your classifieds for the one in best condition.

I know you said new, there are deals out there. Maintain it well and it should provide reliable service.

 

[murphyeric]

first thing, you need to determine your air needs/requirements .

I'm looking for a unit that delivers roughly 150 psi. I also need the tank and dryer to be integrated into one enclosure. Quiet operation and a compact footprint are really important for my setup.

 

[Rinspeed]

How much are you willing to spend.

 

[whateg01]

I'm looking for a unit that delivers roughly 150 psi. I also need the tank and dryer to be integrated into one enclosure. Quiet operation and a compact footprint are really important for my setup.

How many CFM? What tools do you intend the air compressor to run?

 

[cannuck]

$600 and scout your classifieds for the one in best condition.

I know you said new, there are deals out there. Maintain it well and it should provide reliable service.

The compressor in my shop has been used commercially and in hobby stages as well for about 70 years. I bought it about 30 YO with bad motor. On 3rd motor and 2nd switch (shop fire took them out) but original tank and head. Buy used commercial and never have to look back.

 

[dnschmidt]

Sounds like a Kaeser for you. Bring a truck load of money and everything you want can be yours.

 

[Beerhippie]

The compressor in my shop has been used commercially and in hobby stages as well for about 70 years. I bought it about 30 YO with bad motor. On 3rd motor and 2nd switch (shop fire took them out) but original tank and head. Buy used commercial and never have to look back.

This.

We bought an Ingersol Rand rotary scroll compressor a few years back. At the time, the 5 hp producing 25 cfm at 125 psi was plenty for our needs. Then we bough a whole bunch of very air-thirsty packaging equipment and need a lot more air. The IR was two years old, $4K+ new. The place we bought it from offered us $400 in trade-in towards a larger comp. You could have bought that perfectly good comp from us for less than a grand and we'd both have come out ahead!

Fortunately, we no longer have those air-hungry machines and the old IR is still purring away--six years of continuous use later.

 

[Hohn]

$600 and scout your classifieds for the one in best condition.

I know you said new, there are deals out there. Maintain it well and it should provide reliable service.

The compressor in my shop has been used commercially and in hobby stages as well for about 70 years. I bought it about 30 YO with bad motor. On 3rd motor and 2nd switch (shop fire took them out) but original tank and head. Buy used commercial and never have to look back.

This.

We bought an Ingersol Rand rotary scroll compressor a few years back. At the time, the 5 hp producing 25 cfm at 125 psi was plenty for our needs. Then we bough a whole bunch of very air-thirsty packaging equipment and need a lot more air. The IR was two years old, $4K+ new. The place we bought it from offered us $400 in trade-in towards a larger comp. You could have bought that perfectly good comp from us for less than a grand and we'd both have come out ahead!

Fortunately, we no longer have those air-hungry machines and the old IR is still purring away--six years of continuous use later.

I guess I'll be #4 here to go this route. I bought a 5hp Champion for $200 locally. It's in excellent condition and just needs an oil change and a 3ph power source. I'm on the home stretch of getting it up and running (I have another thread for that).

When talking about something that lasts as long as an air compressor does, buying used makes a TON of sense. Most of them are worth the asking price for just the tank if it's not too rusty.

 

[Beerhippie]

Yep. Used industrial compressors depreciate faster than Teslas.

 

[driftpin]

What? NO mention of Made in USA Saylor Beall?

Add your location below your screen name/avatar. Someone may know of a 'deal' by you.

 

[dchawk81]

Hi everyone,
I’m in the market for a new compressor and want to ensure I’m making a smart long-term investment. A robust warranty is crucial for me. I’ve been looking at brands like US Air Compressor, DV, and LG, but I’m not entirely sure which ones really stand behind their products when it comes to warranty support.

Have any of you had personal experiences with these brands or others? I’d really appreciate hearing about any positive or negative encounters, especially regarding warranty claims. What should I look out for when choosing a compressor?
Thanks in advance for your help and insights!

Why do you need a "robust warranty" when they're simple machines and easy to repair?

 

[dchawk81]

I bought this thing for a couple hundred bucks from the rail yard:

 

[Beerhippie]

Why do you need a "robust warranty" when they're simple machines and easy to repair?

Our 1972 DeViBliss recip has had several belts and one unloader valve replaced--in over thirty years of use here. Twenty of those as the primary compressor. Our IR scroll--now the primary--gets scheduled maintenance--oil, filters, etc.

That's it.

 

[dchawk81]

Our 1972 DeViBliss recip has had several belts and one unloader valve replaced--in over thirty years of use here. Twenty of those as the primary compressor. Our IR scroll--now the primary--gets scheduled maintenance--oil, filters, etc.

That's it.

A commercial compressor in a casual shop/home usage situation will last forever.

 

[Beerhippie]

A commercial compressor in a casual shop/home usage situation will last forever.

The comp runs a lot of our control systems around the brewery so runs a duty cycle of probably 10%, day in and day out. When we're packaging, it's more like 70% for eight hours at a time. Keg washing puts a similar load on it.

A few power tools can have it running almost continuously--that's when the old DVB kicks in (and startles the **** out of me every time).

For home use, yeah, probably go forever with little or no maintenance but belts and oil (if you keep the tank dry). The scroll comp maint. schedule is based on hours of run-time, so the less used, the less maintenance.

 

[oldmachinenut]

My Quincy 310 is 78 years old and is still my primary compressor. I bought it used in 1981 and it has been in daily use since.

 

[bwringer]

OP, we need some bare indication of usage and CFM.

"150 PSI" is not a very useful spec -- you can achieve that with a bicycle pump and a reasonably vigorous 12 year old. However, I suspect air volume might matter in your mystery application.

 

[MichaelP]

If you could eleborate on what you intend to use it for, you'd get quick and precise answers to your question instead of generalizations.

There is a difference between 2 gal portable compressors used for staple guns and compressors for sandblasting large parts, etc. At this point, your question sounds like "I want to buy a vehicle. What can you recommend?" Do you need a Go Cart, truck, bus or tank?

 

[nadogail]

As previously mentioned, your description of the intended load is needed to intelligently advise you about what compressor will best fit your requirements.
When I bought my first compressor my biggest concern was acquisition cost.
Later when I wanted a smaller compressor to carry to job sites, an “Old Timer” told me that the little compressors are all **** and I should just buy whatever happens to be on Sale. That little red compressor from Harbor Freight has not disappointed me yet and my first Devilbliss has gone to Compressor Hevan. The Harbor Freight Fortress Compressor will probably outlive me

 

[The Cobbler]

seems like the original poster has lost interest . Seems He has been logging on but not really replying to anyone

 

[Hohn]

Yep. Used industrial compressors depreciate faster than Teslas.

True, but at least nobody will randomly assault you for the crime of buying a used industrial air compressor.

 

[murphyeric]

How much are you willing to spend.

I'm looking to spend around $4000 to $4500 on it.

 

[murphyeric]

How many CFM? What tools do you intend the air compressor to run?

I'm aiming for around 20 CFM. Mainly, I'll be using it for a spray paint gun, an impact wrench, and a few other typical workshop tools—not heavy-duty simultaneous operations.

 

[Beerhippie]

I'm looking to spend around $4000 to $4500 on it.

Look for a used, low-hour scroll compressor in the 5 hp range. That should give you about 25 cfm @ 125 psi.

On second though, your budget is about the new price of one.

Our Ingersol Rand has an run-time meter in hours--it needs a oil change and filters every 200 hours of run time, which costs around $200 for parts and oil and take no more than a half-hour to do.

Scroll comps (in good fettle) also send much less oil downstream--like almost none.

Your ears will thank you! I barely notice the IR when it's running in my tiny shop.

 

[mikedodge]

I'm aiming for around 20 CFM. Mainly, I'll be using it for a spray paint gun, an impact wrench, and a few other typical workshop tools—not heavy-duty simultaneous operations.

That's it? A standard store bought 60 or 80 gallon compressor can accommodate that and never have issues.
The more expensive they are doesn't make them any more reliable. Look for a used commercial one like others have said.

 

[lbhsbz]

You don't need 20 CFM for a paint gun. You don't need 20CFM for a blast cabinet.

If you want overkill for what you want to use it for, any 5hp 60 gallon machine will be fine.

 

[whateg01]

You don't need 20 CFM for a paint gun. You don't need 20CFM for a blast cabinet.

If you want overkill for what you want to use it for, any 5hp 60 gallon machine will be fine.

You don't know that. These can be had in flavors up to 35 CFM!

 

[lbhsbz]

You don't know that. These can be had in flavors up to 35 CFM!

Well, have one of those, and 2 more blast cabinets....I'm well aware of the requirement.

OP is not using a blast cabinet, he's spraying paint and using an impact. A little portable 30 gallon deal would likely suffice, but since we all like overkill, a 3-5hp 60 gallon will be perfect with a smaller footprint than an 80 gallon.

 

[Firebrick43]

I'm aiming for around 20 CFM. Mainly, I'll be using it for a spray paint gun, an impact wrench, and a few other typical workshop tools—not heavy-duty simultaneous operations.

Polar Air Industrial 5HP 19CFM 1- Phase 2-Stage 80 Gal. Vertical Stationary Electric Air Compressor-w/Pressure Lube Pump,w/Isolator Pads

eatoncompressor.com

Great compressor that will do anything you want plus the pump is over sized and turned a fewer rpm’s compared to many other compressors extending life and making them pretty quiet. They have extended warranty as well available

A friend and I have had one for close to 10 years now. You can have a phone conversation right next to it running and the only issue has been an inter cooler mounting gasket on my buddies. They sent home a new one no charge.

We picked ours up at the factory and everyone we delt with in the process was great.