need air compressor recommendation

[mech-tech]

Well fellas, I come to ya'll again for great wisdom. I have a small house and do a lot of work myself and from time to time find myself in need of a good compressor. I do own a small two gallon campbell hausfeld compressor for tire inflating, which has served my well. But I would like a larger compressor. I am very limited on the amount of space I have so a vertical would be preffered. My needs are for possibly the occasional impact or other air tool, and also house painting when the time comes. It wouldn't see much use so I don't need the best of the best. I was looking at the twenty gallon compressors, but most seem to be the lower end consumer grade oil-less pumps. My question is, would an oil free pump last me through the years at very occasional use? I do love the big two stage compressors I am used to at work, but just don't need that kind of duty cycle. I know a 20 ish gallon would serve the occasional impact needs, but what is the best bang for the buck on these lower end compressors? I've already had two different lowes employees tell me to stay away from the kobalt compressors, so that brings me here with the need for experienced advice.

Thanks again guys!

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Honestly, I'd watch craigslist and get a good quality used one...Personally, I like/need a true 5hp 60 gallon...It keeps up with anything I can throw at it...

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Here's a Matco I just found in Tampa....(I would be a little leary of this one as this guy thinks it's a Mac...Plus theres some funky wires hanging out of the motor)....Expect to pay between $300-$700.....

 

[71goldss]

I have the 2 stage, 5 hp, 60 gal, but if I were looking in the catagory that you are requesting, I would strongly consider this one. It gets great reviews, is oiled (stay away from oil less!), and for the money I don't really see how you could go wrong for light home use. Not everything at HF is junk. You just have to do research on their items first!

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-hors...-iron-vertical-air-compressor-68127-8026.html

Good luck on your search!

 

[mech-tech]

I would step up to 60 gallon, but I only have 120 volts outside, plus the space issue comes into play.

 

[pipsters]

Check out this thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=138871

FYI you won't be using an air compressor to paint a house. You need a 3000 psi airless to do that.

You might be able to spray some latex if you thin it down 75%...

 

[mech-tech]

One other question to ask, I believe my 120 outlet is 15 amp. How big of a compressor can I safely run on it? I am guessing 30 gallon would be right at the max?

 

[mech-tech]

I read a review on the kobalt 30 gallon, and it said if its wired for 120 volts, it draws 20 amps. Is this true? I hate to buy a good oil lubed compressor and find out it just trips the breaker on start up. With only a 15 amp plug, am I stuck to using oil free compressors?

 

[E.Marquez]

I read a review on the kobalt 30 gallon, and it said if its wired for 120 volts, it draws 20 amps. Is this true? I hate to buy a good oil lubed compressor and find out it just trips the breaker on start up. With only a 15 amp plug, am I stuck to using oil free compressors?

Or a very small one.

15 amps on 120v is very limiting as you can tell.
That and size are your biggest limiting factors..
Any chance you can run a 20 amp circuit?

 

[dirtydogintex]

New or 'gently used', if it's not an ASME code tank walk away.

 

[CNGsaves]

You've got to decide if you want real compressor or not. Will it work to ONLY have one compressor that only can run in garage?? Are you willing to rewire the 120v so you can have a bigger breaker?? If you go this trouble, why not go ahead and run a 240v run to the garage?? Have you checked your main electrical panel for open slots and planned out potential route for electrical to the garage??

Whatever will run without tripping that 120v breaker will be sub-par for the long term. Small vertical tank 20 to 30 gallon and oil splash compressor at say 2 HP to 3 HP.

I'd vote for adding a 240v electrical run to garage. Get a used 5 HP 60 gal off of CL for $200 to $400 and use extra money for wiring garage.

If you still need little portable compressor, get a used DeWalt twin tank that would serve all your other needs. These are bulletproof little compressors that construction guys/roofers use all the time - - - $100 to $150 used.

My 2 cents.

 

[mech-tech]

I would love an 80 gallon ingersoll or champion, trust me! But for now I have to work with what I can do until I make better money. It wont see much use at all, and I do plan on wiring for 240, but again, that will be a few years down the road.

 

[Davefr]

It sounds like something like this would serve your needs.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-professional-27-gallon-vertical-portable-air-compressor/p-00916474000P?prdNo=19&blockNo=19&blockType=G19

http://www.lowes.com/pd_268707-1126-VT6389_4294795216__?productId=3824207&Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_avg_rating|1&facetInfo=

Just make sure you get cast iron oil lubrication. These will do everything but high duty cycle/high air consumption tasks. (ex: sandblasting)

 

[dirtydogintex]

here's a place to keep an eye on but if you see something, jump on it - we all know how hen's teeth go....

http://bigskytool.com/Specials.aspx

 

[Sincitymetalworks]

get the biggest you can afford you be thankful in the long run

 

[CNGsaves]

Yeah, I agree most DIYers at home don't need a 80 gallon. I got my 60 gal 6.5 HP from CL for $220 and have smaller compressor for other uses (ie portable), that was free hand-me-down from neighbor.

That's what I'm saying, this first compressor you buy likely should be your Portable one - - - so OK to just run on your 15A breaker.

I'd recommend a vertical 20 to 30 gallon with wheels that you can pretty much take anywhere. These come up on CL for $150 to $200.

OR . . . a more versatile first compressor might be used DeWalt twin tank 120v that has adjustable regulator and it's portable and can be hauled around to do projects (ie sits flat on roof if you are shingling, etc) - - - new these are $350 to $400 and used $100 to $200 and have 2 ports (ie full pressure or say 90 psi for air nailer).

Good luck in your decision.

 

[6-Speed]

I have a 20 gallon IR Garage mate that runs on 115V . It's a good 2 HP compressor that operates basic air tools. The Puma PK5020VP is nearly the same compressor, but it can be wired for either 115VAC or 230 VAC. These are very solid and heavy 20 gallon compressors.

 

[dirtydogintex]

I have a 20 gallon IR Garage mate that runs on 115V . It's a good 2 HP compressor that operates basic air tools. The Puma PK5020VP is nearly the same compressor, but it can be wired for either 115VAC or 230 VAC. These are very solid and heavy 20 gallon compressors.

How much current (A or amps) do they pull at 115vac?

22 - 26 amps?

 

[6-Speed]

How much current (A or amps) do they pull at 115vac?

22 - 26 amps?

Here's an excerpt from the PK5020VP ad:

Features + Benefits

• 2 HP running (5 HP peak) 115V/230V 15/7.5 Amp dual voltage induction motor
• 2-cylinder cast iron pump in V-configuration

 

[Carla]

Hello, mech-tech,

First, do yourself a favour, and stop thinking in terms of air tank gallonage as a primary factor in your decision.

Your issue, if I read correctly, is a need for air, and a restriction to a 15A 115V power supply to run the compressor.

There are plenty of cheapo 'joke machines' out there with 'ratings game' hp ratings, but, back in the real world, your best investment is an older style, high quality, small pump run by a 3/4 hp best quality motor, preferably the 'repulsion start induction' type of motor., or an older heavy pattern capacitor start motor. Weight and size are the recognition features for best quality motors......the late-model 'tin can' motors tend to burn out under load. (something about 'modern' cost-engineering....'design to probably survive the warranty period')

You can find the specs for the smaller sizes of Quincy pumps on the internet. The smaller models of the Quincy make are 'real machines' which aren't likely to 'self-destruct' if used for some time. (DeVilbiss and other equivalent 'industrial grade' pumps are equally good......I just have a personal preference for the Quincy make)

Assuming you need only 100psi air, a single stage pump is the most efficient.

With some looking, you can find a good used pump, likewise a good serviceable high quality motor, and belt the pump to run at the rpm specified by the maker for 3/4hp.

The motor/pump assembly 'won't know or care' what gallonage of tank it feeds. If you are able to find a good serviceable ASME 200psi rated tank, say a 60 or 80 gal vertical, you have a reasonable factor of safety with 100psi air. A simple length of copper tubing with a short length of flex tubing for vibration damping, run from the pump to the tank, with a check-valve at at the tank, is all you really need,

You can opt to drill the tank plate....if it has one.... to mount the motor and pump, or you can improvise any base......even a few thicknesses of plywood laminated together.....for the pump/motor to set it up remotely from the tank.

A common practice in small home hobby shops, years ago, was to have the motor/pump under a bench, and the tank outside, with a rain-tight cover for the pressure switch on the tank which controlled the motor.

Its obvious that a small pump will take quite some time to bring a 60 or 80 gal tank up to 100psi......but once it does, the user will have a good volume of air, enough to drive an air wrench or air sander, available for 'x' many minutes at a time, after which he/she must wait for the pump to refill the tank.......'there's no free lunch', of course, but in a home hobby shop application, that does allow for reasonable use of air tools......with 'break time' to do operations which don't require the air.

cheers

Carla

 

[BOONEY7750]

I have a Puma PK6060v. I am happy with it. Your really need to determine your S.C.F.M needs then determine tank size than you can debate about 120v vs 230v and your budget. I knew I wanted to lay paint some day on a project truck, I knew I probably needed about 13 S.C.F.M. at 30 psi. I could not find any 120v units that met this need. I "stole" 40a 230v circuit from the dryer. Works great. Glad I did it. Puma makes a unit that is 120v 30g that seemed decent when I bought mine, but I think it was 20a. I got this one for $475.99 at a local farm supply store during one of the holiday sales.

http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Puma-PK6060V-Air-Compressor/p591.html?gclid=CIWIqIHr4LUCFQSnnQodOC8AkA

I am not sure as to the Puma Harbor Freight connection, I have never seen them at my local store, and the features for the money on my Puma seem nicer than the U.S. General models my store carries?

I can tell you to be weary of the "consumer" Ingersoll models, basically all of them under $1,000. I worked part time at a TSC and we had a lot of warranties on pump failures of the side by side model Ingersolls, not as much when it came to the V-twin models.