Recommendation on Compressor

[TecNickal]

Hi guys,

I have a 1.5 car garage/workshop in the back of this place I'm renting. It has 110 and 220 outlets in it. Not bad for a rental house!

I do all my own car work. Jackstands, jacks, and hand tools. I'm ready for a compressor. Something that can buzz out crank pulley bolts or axle nuts (so 200-250ft/lbs+).

What should I be looking for? Is it a "get what you pay for" these days? Is it all Made in China unless you drop 4 figures plus on something? I'd like to keep this purchase under $500. Leave some room for impact tools I gota buy (got sockets already).

Thanks,
Nick

 

[HMCFab9]

Buy the biggest one you can afford, you will not regret it.
The more you work in your garage, the more tools you will get & the more air you will need.
$500 might be a little low to get a good size one.

When I bought mine, I was told to look for cast iron cylinders & 2 stage / oiled. I bought a 7.5 HP 36 CFM 80 gallon. I wish it was bigger, but you may be able to get by with half or better yet 2/3 of that for what you say you are doing. I run air tools continuously at times, so I wanted a big tank / higher CFM.

Some guys are saying go to tractor supply, but I have no experience with them.
Curtis was always a good compressor & Baldor has always made the best motor.

 

[larry_g]

I hate to say it but do a search on compressor. We have had two of these discussions in the last two weeks.

Welcome to the forum.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[pacecar]

I got the 20 gallon vertical puma last year for x-mas for around 400 at northern tool, if im not mistaken their was a similar IR in the hot deals section last week for around the same price

advantage of the puma was the motor could be wired for 110 or 220

not really good for continuous use like grinding but its good for general use like an impact


edit: never mind, the tractor supply deal was a bit beefier than mine http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=213678&highlight=Ingersoll

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 that you surely couldn't have done much, if any, research if you didn't mention some of the terrific recent sales on mid size compressors - - - -

. . . . . example $399 for 60 gal 3.1 HP at Tractor Supply, etc.

Welcome to GJ, and questions welcome but there are thousands of threads on air compressors.

Most shops end up with 2 compressors anyway. Low-end 120volt oil-less in 3 gal to 10 gal tank range that is mobile to haul around. Bigger compressor SHOULD be Oil-Splash cast iron compressor that is belt driven. These bigger ones that will last a lifetime generally are 5 HP or greater, and 60 gal or greater.

Use Search function in the black line near top of website, by sliding cursor down to ADVANCED SEARCH and put in key words . . . . . . air compressor

Filter the search down further with . . . . air compressor 240 volt

 

[TecNickal]

Guilty as charged. As a mod/admin on a few websites, I should be ashasmed. Made the big newb mistake. My apologies.

Thanks for the note on advanced search, I should have tried that. The regular search on compressor wasn't clueing me in on specific threads (or I mistyped it). I'll peruse the recent threads when searching Advanced Search.

While we're on topic, has anyone on here written articles or FAQs on such topics? "What to look for when shopping compressors?" Based on tasks someone does, power requirement, look for ones that feature X, Y, Z.

CNGSaves and HMCFab9 have some excellent info that would be great in a compressor writeup.

 

[Major Ramifications]

You know, maybe we should have a sticky on compressor selection since it comes up so much.
Like they said, buy the biggest you can afford and you won't be sorry. Personally, I wouldn't go smaller than a 60 single stage gallon with about 10 or so CFM at 90 PSI.
These are common home shop compressors and should run somewhere between $400 and $500.
What is the current rating on the largest 220 outlet in there?

 

[CNGsaves]

Also there are Comparison Charts on internet that do a pretty good job of grouping similar compressors that might fit your needs. Thus, a great place to start. See Google list in pic below.

This Air Compressors Direct website is particularly nice with the filters for HP, voltage, gallons, etc.
http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/stories/156-How-to-Pick-the-Perfect-Air-Compressor.html

If you have absolutely no compressor now, maybe a compromise would be oil-splash compressor in 25 to 30 gal that still runs on 120 volt.

Also, you might look for California Air with a GJ Advanced Search as they have a very quiet oil-less compressor . . . another compromise mid-size compressor.

If you need convincing NOT to purchase a cheapy oil-less compressor, do a Google search as folllows: oil-less compressor sound test site:YouTube.com

Finally, if you'll Update GJ Profile with State / City fellow GJer's could help scour CL to find you a bargain on quality air compressor in your general area.