"Right sized" my air compressor

[couch67]

I know, I hate that term too. But I felt it fit my situation. I have an 11 year old Husky compressor that I bought new, it was a pretty good deal at HD, if I recall less than $300 (cdn). 20 gal tank, 5 / 4 sccm at 40/90 psi. I don't run air tools, or a sandblaster, pretty much its for light shop use, including brad nailing and the occasional roofing nailer. It has been more than enough compressor for me.

The main complaint - it's LOUD. Its like the end of the world is now. Animals scatter for their lives and children cry when it starts up. But its at the noise level you would expect for a cheap oilless compressor from HD. Trouble is, I think its getting louder. A few extra squeals have recently surfaced, likely indicating bad things will soon happen.

While perusing the discount aisles at HD last week, a smaller air compressor caught my eye - a husky 2 gal, 3/2 sccm at 40/90psi. Nice, compact unit, built in regulator and dual gauges. It was on sale for $170 cdn. I didnt buy it right away but did some googling and reviews looked pretty good. Went back the next day and purchased.

Man this thing is quiet, I cannot believe the difference! Sure, its small, 1/10 the tank capacity of the old compressor, and half the flow at 90psi. But it has a quick recovery and the specs claim it can be run with 100% duty (recommended for 30 minute cycles). This should easily do what I need for air. And, if down the road if I start to sandblast or paint cars, well I can always 'right size' again...

 

[Benw455]

Right sizing is buying a 120 gallon compressor and if that's a little too high you drop down to a 80 gallon compressor. LOL

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I started out with a 33 gallon 5 ish CFM oilless compressor. It did everything I ever needed (including sandblasting) for years. With some tasks (like sandblasting) I spent a lot of time waiting on it. Other jobs it was extra work carrying it (or extra hoses) to the job.
Yes it was loud but teh noise wasn't a big issue.
Now I have a 20 gallon thats about 4 CFM, a small (2 gallon?) portable (about 1 CFM) and an 80 gallon 5 HP thats about 15 CFM.
They all have their purposes and get used.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I had a 20 gallon DeVilbiss for many years. When it finally died I thought I needed the typical Garage Journal solution: "Waay too damn big = Just right". I found a deal on a lightly used Harbor Freight 60 gallon vertical and honestly used it very little.

When we moved a year ago I knew I didn't really need that big mutha anymore. I gave it away. Now I use my Senco PC1131 that puts out 4.3 cfm. I think they're about $250 new, I got it at an outlet years ago for I think about $150. I fill tires, I use my nailers including a big framing nailer when I was building my 8x12 shed kit from Costco. I have it connected to a 50 ft retractable reel in the garage by quick disconnects. It's pretty noisy but for what I need it's fine.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

A very portable, quiet, oil lubed compressor that satisfies Your needs.. Enjoy

 

[niget2002]

I have a small one gallon in the garage I use for topping up tires. Best little compressor that could.

The shop has the 80 gallon 5hp for heavy lifting. I also have a 25gallon oil less that I should probably sell as it's just backup for the big one now.

 

[firebirdparts]

Oil-free compressors are loud. That's the main determinant after raw size. I wonder when they deliberately try to make a compressor quiet, as they did in this case, if they just have a quieter valve in there.

 

[ripperd]

Yeah, I feel like I should do that too. I have a harbor freight 20? gallon upright that is also wake the dead loud that hardly ever gets used. 99% of what i use now is battery electric(sanders, impact, brad/trim nailing, tire filling). About the only thing I use air for these days is the air gun nozzle, and the occasional random time I use my air powered vacuum brake bleeder. The problem is sunk cost, and if I got another compresser, I'd want a nice and quiet one, which will be a lot more $$$.

 

[nadogail]

I too have a 20 gallon Devillbiss, noise maker. It was bought with the nickles and dimes from recycling Aluminum cans and a few dollars earned from side jobs. I selected it because it had the winning combination of biggest tank, highest capacity, smallest footprint and lowest price. Noise was not a consideration.

I later purchased an oil lubed, twin tank compressor from Harbor Freight. It is quiet and sits on a home built cart that lets me pull it around. I have been known to connect the two compressors together when I want a higher volume of air for spray painting a fence or other high demand jobs.

The "right size" compressor is big enough to do what you need at a price you can afford.

 

[joe_padavano]

I "right sized" my compressor from an optimistically rated 3HP unit to a true 7.5 HP, 23 SCFM unit. The $30 nail gun compressor from an auction house is what I use for the air nailers.

 

[PoorUB]

Something here is confusing me! It seems most here are limited to one compressor! You can own more! I own three. A real honest-to-god 5 HP 80 gallon commercial unit, a 3/4 HP 7 gallon portable I have owned for 40 years, and a hot dog Rollaire 1725 RPM oil lubed pump unit I use for air nailers and any time I need portable air. The 3/4 HP doesn't see mush use anymore as the Rollaire has about the same CFM but smaller and less weight.

 

[couch67]

I would love to have more than one, but always having a constant battle with space. Going with one smaller unit for now should work for me (at least for now).

One of my son's 16 YO friends is a beginner wrencher, fixes up dirt bikes on the side. Lives with his mom, I'm not sure where dad is. But he's going to be a new proud owner of the 20 gal unit! Gifted it to him, and going to fix him up with a hose and a few attachments (blowgun, tire inflator, etc).

 

[Zrsnopro97]

I'm currently in the same boat, trying to sell my Kobalt 60gallon upright for something smaller. The Kobalt has been sitting unwired for 2 years now and taking up space. All I need a compressor for is filling up tires and the air gun attachment for odd jobs.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Oh and PS: I run my two Harbor Freight Earthquake impact guns off my Senco occasionally. Basically to take off wheels once in awhile. It's really all I need.