Space Saving Air Compressor

[littleviking]

I need some advice.

I'm looking for an Air Compressor

The tools I would be using are

angle die grinder
impact wrench
air brush
1/2 ratchet


Most of the air tools I use are between 3.5 and 5.3 CFM for the most part.

I have a 20x15 garage and space is at a premium.
I cannot put the compressor outside and need it to be portable for the most part.

I was looking at some horizontal 20 gallon tanks but I want to post up here before I go and spend any money on something I might not like.


Also i prefer vertical but won't discount a nice horizontal.

Thanks

 

[gdocktor3]

Horizontals are nice because you can hide them under tables or workbenches, while verticals can tuck away in corners or narrow spaces. I have a 30 gallon 5 hp Craftsman compressor and I think it's the perfect size for small diy garage. A 20 gallon will run an awful lot with high consumption tools like die grinders.

 

[Kenskip1]

I am in the same ship as you only in a different compartment. This is the one that I am looking for. I would like a 60 gallon but I cant find wheels that would fit it. So this one may have to work for me. Ken

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-30...table-Electric-Air-Compressor-C302H/206695048

 

[littleviking]

Horizontals are nice because you can hide them under tables or workbenches, while verticals can tuck away in corners or narrow spaces. I have a 30 gallon 5 hp Craftsman compressor and I think it's the perfect size for small diy garage. A 20 gallon will run an awful lot with high consumption tools like die grinders.

That's my other problem.

I can't find anything with a big enough HP rating to justify spending any money on it.

My cousin has a 3HP 15 gallon craftsman and for the life of me I think they only made one and it was special order for him. The dang thing just hums away with anything he ever runs through it.

I cannot find anything over 2HP

I must be looking in the wrong places.

 

[littleviking]

I am in the same ship as you only in a different compartment. This is the one that I am looking for. I would like a 60 gallon but I cant find wheels that would fit it. So this one may have to work for me. Ken

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-30...table-Electric-Air-Compressor-C302H/206695048

That one has a 1.6 HP motor. I don't know if it can keep up with something after the tank empties.

That's what I don't want to do is constantly be waiting for the tank to re-fill if Im doing something air intensive.

The problem is I don't do air intensive stuff often enough to warrant a big stand up 80 gallon compressor.

 

[gdocktor3]

Buy a used compressor off Craigslist. Screw spending $200-300+ on a big box store compressor when you can find a used IR or something for roughly the same price. It may not happen today, but they are out there.

 

[littleviking]

In my area most of the compressors are the big 80 Gallons ones or the industrials

and they are all rotted and rusted from the inside out.

 

[crewchief888]

Horizontals are nice because you can hide them under tables or workbenches, while verticals can tuck away in corners or narrow spaces.

floor space is tight in my 19x22 garage with all the rest of the stuff in there.


i put my horizontal compressor up on a platform, and build shelves underneath for storage.

the pic is over a year old, one set of boxes have been moved, but the compressor is still in the same place.

 

[99LeCouch]

I have a 30 gallon that fits nicely into a corner. It also keeps up with the DIY auto stuff pretty well. A 20 gallon horizontal was an option. But after seeing how those can fail more catastrophically than a vertical, it wasn't worth the eventual risk.

If anything, getting a smaller compressor means getting better-quality air tools that consume less air. And high-flow fittings to let it breathe better.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 for a vertical tank compressor in the 30 gal to 33 gal range. OP if you do find a 3 HP 120v/240v model, that would best meet your needs.

 

[firebox40dash5]

I got a Speedaire/CH vertical off Zoro with a 30% coupon. I couldn't beat it with free shipping, it ended up being $260 or something. Never been a CH fan, but it does the job. I couldn't realistically add a 230v circuit to my shed or put it somewhere I could use one of the 3 existing ones, so i had to keep it to 120V/20A... this one doesn't blow a dedicated 20A breaker.

You can search my posts in here for a description of how to open up the airflow... as-is it's very restricted. I run a 2135timax, air chisel and whiz wheel without an issue the way I set it up. You can drain it kinda quickly with high-volume tools of course, but my driveway-wrenching duty cycle has never been an issue for it.

 

[md21722]

Air ratchets & die grinders use a lot more air than the impact will because they run longer. CH does make a 3 HP 26 gallon horizontal compressor. If space is at a premium consider going cordless. I was never really happy with the cheap compressors and the air ratchet. I never really bothered with the die grinder unless it was for a few seconds. Today I have about 7.5 HP worth of air on 240 gallon of tank, works much better. If space is a premium look around your shop/garage and see what you can move. I found I could put a whole corner of my garage in storage.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

How portable does it need to be? If it doesn't need to be too portable maybe you could put a vertical in the corner with air pipes going to front of garage on either side with quick disconnect fittings? Then if you had to you could disconnect it from pipes to move but you could run a 50ft hose from pipe


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[littleviking]

How portable does it need to be? If it doesn't need to be too portable maybe you could put a vertical in the corner with air pipes going to front of garage on either side with quick disconnect fittings? Then if you had to you could disconnect it from pipes to move but you could run a 50ft hose from pipe


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When I say portable I really mean I need to be able to move it myself. once I put it in place its getting plumbed and then left where it is.

I'll move it maybe once a year for cleaning and maybe painting when i get around to it.

Nothing like moving it up stairs or anything.

 

[littleviking]

Air ratchets & die grinders use a lot more air than the impact will because they run longer. CH does make a 3 HP 26 gallon horizontal compressor. If space is at a premium consider going cordless. I was never really happy with the cheap compressors and the air ratchet. I never really bothered with the die grinder unless it was for a few seconds. Today I have about 7.5 HP worth of air on 240 gallon of tank, works much better. If space is a premium look around your shop/garage and see what you can move. I found I could put a whole corner of my garage in storage.

a 240 Gallon Tank would eat up my entire garage.

 

[littleviking]

I got a Speedaire/CH vertical off Zoro with a 30% coupon. I couldn't beat it with free shipping, it ended up being $260 or something. Never been a CH fan, but it does the job. I couldn't realistically add a 230v circuit to my shed or put it somewhere I could use one of the 3 existing ones, so i had to keep it to 120V/20A... this one doesn't blow a dedicated 20A breaker.

You can search my posts in here for a description of how to open up the airflow... as-is it's very restricted. I run a 2135timax, air chisel and whiz wheel without an issue the way I set it up. You can drain it kinda quickly with high-volume tools of course, but my driveway-wrenching duty cycle has never been an issue for it.

Thanks Ill be taking a look for that!

 

[littleviking]

floor space is tight in my 19x22 garage with all the rest of the stuff in there.


i put my horizontal compressor up on a platform, and build shelves underneath for storage.

the pic is over a year old, one set of boxes have been moved, but the compressor is still in the same place.

That is a pretty dang good idea. I have plenty of up space but Im limited by floor space!

I'll have to think about that and do some planning. maybe I can grab something that will sit up high.

 

[tatra]

Consider tank and pump mounted seperate from each other. Tank could go in or hang from rafters . Larger pump and motor could be sett up on a base to allow movement wit a hand truck . Base would incorporate rubber mounts .

 

[N_Jay]

I found cheaper used compressors on "Let-Go" than on Craigslist.
There are lots of decent looking 30 to 60 gallon machines out there and even more if you are open up to building a franken-pressor.

 

[Citation]

I have a 20 gal Westward from Grainger. Its another CH made compressor. Its ok with my die grinder. One option to consider is if you have more than one breaker in the garage, get a second compressor. When I get around to it I'm going to connect my Westward and a 4 gallon roofing compressor together. It should give me about 9 cfm@90. With a pair of valves I can shut off one or the other compressor. That's handy if I want to quickly fill say the small compressor to air up tires or just use the large one for most jobs. A4 gallon twin tank easily fits under a bench. A pair of 10 gallon hf compressors can deliver similar results.

 

[Dinky26]

I stuck mine in my garden shed I barely hear it run, probably not the best now that I can't really get back there since my stroke. Pretty much stays on all the time.

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[Master Caution]

I have a smaller garage as well and needed a good compressor for pretty much the same uses as you listed. My previous 30 gallon oil-free compressor was noisy and could not keep up with high demand without cycling constantly. I upgraded to a IR Garagemate 20 gal lubricated upright compressor. It is fantastic; relatively quiet, designed to run continuously, and pretty good output for moderate user.

 

[littleviking]

I have a smaller garage as well and needed a good compressor for pretty much the same uses as you listed. My previous 30 gallon oil-free compressor was noisy and could not keep up with high demand without cycling constantly. I upgraded to a IR Garagemate 20 gal lubricated upright compressor. It is fantastic; relatively quiet, designed to run continuously, and pretty good output for moderate user.

Holy cow that is almost absolutely perfect for what I need.

THANKS MAN!

 

[SantaAna12]

That one is five bills with free shipping at Northern. (After gift card). Good reviews (107).

 

[Ethan Williams]

If you still haven’t found the right air compressor, check out compressors at Compressor World online store where you can compare compressors of various makes online and pick from a large variety based on capacity, output, configuration and more. You even get to view the dimensions of the products to ensure they fit your criteria for size.

There’s an Ingersoll Rand compressor that might fit your bill, it is 3 HP. Then there is a Powermate that is just below 2 HP, but I am not sure you are looking for that. You can always talk to compressed air experts online to locate and confirm the product that is right for you. They also have prize match guarantees and sales which I personally think is a very good thing!

 

[littleviking]

That one is five bills with free shipping at Northern. (After gift card). Good reviews (107).

Yeah

Im trying to get the wife on board. Letting her know all the good that will come from having a Compressor like that.

She wants a Generator for the house instead.

I think she might be right but dangit the Compressor is more fun!

 

[littleviking]

If you still haven’t found the right air compressor, check out compressors at Compressor World online store where you can compare compressors of various makes online and pick from a large variety based on capacity, output, configuration and more. You even get to view the dimensions of the products to ensure they fit your criteria for size.

There’s an Ingersoll Rand compressor that might fit your bill, it is 3 HP. Then there is a Powermate that is just below 2 HP, but I am not sure you are looking for that. You can always talk to compressed air experts online to locate and confirm the product that is right for you. They also have prize match guarantees and sales which I personally think is a very good thing!

Employee or happy customer.

 

[PhantomEB]

I went thru a few of those little guys back when I was a teen, now 20 years later I still got the same industrial 80 gallon one I brought for $1200 Cdn at age 21. New shop is getting plumbed to have outlets every 4-6 ft. Then a couple 10-20 ft pieces of hose to use when necessary in addition to the pair of 50' reels at the front and back.

 

[bb_max]

Yeah

Im trying to get the wife on board. Letting her know all the good that will come from having a Compressor like that.

She wants a Generator for the house instead.

I think she might be right but dangit the Compressor is more fun!

Then you need a Compresserator
https://www.deere.com/en_US/product.../3500_watts_15_7_cfm/3500_watts_15_7_cfm.page

 

[littleviking]

I'll let you tell my wife how much it costs. Lol. Cool concept though.


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