The right size compressor?

[Ballerbrian]

Hey guys! I Have a question regarding air compressor size. I am looking to buy a used compressor on Craigslist and have found a ingersoll rand t30 'model 2475. It is a 80 gallon 2 stage 5hp built in the year 2000. He is asking 500$ for it and I want to know if you guys think this is a good compressor? My main concern is it not being strong enough. I will be using this for the paint booth only in my body shop. We use sata 4000 guns they are air hogs that require 15.2 cfm. And this compressor is rated at 16.8. Will it handle the job or should I look at buying a 7.5 hp?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Mohawk Dave]

IDK enough about the CFM you need in excess to speak knowledgeably, but when I was looking at buying a failed T30 for $200, I learned all?/some?* of the pumps were BIG $$$. As in not worth repairing.

So if you do learn this will fit your needs, make sure you know what pump it is and it is good etc. Hope this helps even a little.

Oh yea...and welcome to GJ!

 

[mayday0017]

If you have 3phase in the shop go ahead and step up to something bigger even if you don't need it. Then if your other shop compressor goes down you can at least limp along off this one. Also the reason I ask about 3phase is you can pick 3phase compressors up for really cheap almost any day of the week.

Welcome to the forum, where are you located add it to your profile someone around you might know of a good deal to pass along to you.

 

[Davefr]

Hey guys! I Have a question regarding air compressor size. I am looking to buy a used compressor on Craigslist and have found a ingersoll rand t30 'model 2475. It is a 80 gallon 2 stage 5hp built in the year 2000. He is asking 500$ for it and I want to know if you guys think this is a good compressor? My main concern is it not being strong enough. I will be using this for the paint booth only in my body shop. We use sata 4000 guns they are air hogs that require 15.2 cfm. And this compressor is rated at 16.8. Will it handle the job or should I look at buying a 7.5 hp?

Thanks everyone!

I'd go at least 20% higher then your actual CFM needs for any tool that's high duty cycle.

(ie look at 7.5HP)

 

[sberry]

I would say yes. You don't need air 100% of the time. I don't recall the numbers to a common gun but painted 50 cars with 3 hp at about 12 cfm 2 stage.
I can be thrifty and let the air catch up a little and lay back on just before shut off to make a comp run continuous such as a body tool. I could put a coat on a car running about a cycle or 2, once it started would run till I was done with a pass. Move around while its catching its breath. Put a pressure ga on the main you can see it, ha

There are a lot of home brew body shops run a man or 2 on a 5 hp comp. Lots of them.

 

[Ballerbrian]

Hey guys what's the most popular brand of compressor? Ingersoll, champion? Would single stage be better or 2 stage for painting cars? Because I could this guy and he says he can find me any compressor I want so I want to see if I should just buy this ingersoll or I should look at other brands. I was thinking a 7.5 or 10 hp champion is my best bet.

 

[DSM21]

Hey guys what's the most popular brand of compressor? Ingersoll, champion? Would single stage be better or 2 stage for painting cars? Because I could this guy and he says he can find me any compressor I want so I want to see if I should just buy this ingersoll or I should look at other brands. I was thinking a 7.5 or 10 hp champion is my best bet.

2 stage is always better bc it supplies a more steady supply of air. Also when looking at a compressor don't look at the Horse power, but look at the CFM ratings.

 

[Iowa Farmer]

I have a Champion air compressor. 5hp on a 80 gallon tank. Nice compressor, but you will pull your hair out if you need to buy any parts ie: pressure switch.

Ingersol is a good compressor, but they are kind of proud of their name.

I also have a Cast Air. They are a company out of Minnesota, so far I've had good luck with it. Google them if your interested and you can get a idea of how many CFM they have. Mine runs 35 cfm no load and 27 cfm at 175 pounds. Its a single phase 7.5 HP 80 gal tank.

For what you want to do. 2 stage is the only way to go!
Good luck!

 

[Ballerbrian]

I have read that single stage puts out more cfm than two stage when it's running? Also if I had let's say 3000$ to spend on a compressor what should I buy? A champion 7.5 hp?

 

[marinusdees]

There is no "right" size.

 

[tsbrewers]

it should run it fine. probably won't do two guns at once though (at least not real well). I have done a lot of spraying with my quincy that is the same size.

 

[DieselDent]

If you have 3phase in the shop go ahead and step up to something bigger even if you don't need it. Then if your other shop compressor goes down you can at least limp along off this one. Also the reason I ask about 3phase is you can pick 3phase compressors up for really cheap almost any day of the week.

Welcome to the forum, where are you located add it to your profile someone around you might know of a good deal to pass along to you.

My thoughts exactly, there is a T30 near me for $500 and its 3 phase but if it was single phase it would be at least double that.

When I worked in a body shop our compressor was a 7.5HP and closer to 30cfm at 90psi any less and it would never stop running. When I outfitted my shop I got the same compressor and have never had a problem running out of air and I do a lot of media blasting.

 

[Wuaname]

I would say yes. You don't need air 100% of the time. I don't recall the numbers to a common gun but painted 50 cars with 3 hp at about 12 cfm 2 stage.
I can be thrifty and let the air catch up a little and lay back on just before shut off to make a comp run continuous such as a body tool. I could put a coat on a car running about a cycle or 2, once it started would run till I was done with a pass. Move around while its catching its breath. Put a pressure ga on the main you can see it, ha

There are a lot of home brew body shops run a man or 2 on a 5 hp comp. Lots of them.

What is the minimum in compressor you would recommend when talking just about the occasional painting a car or motorcycle body work for home?

 

[countryroad82]

I have read that single stage puts out more cfm than two stage when it's running? Also if I had let's say 3000$ to spend on a compressor what should I buy? A champion 7.5 hp?

Coming from somebody that has made the switch from single stage to 2stage painting cars, the 2stage runs circles around my old compressor. While it is kind of an unfair comparison, my old compressor (Porter Cable) is 60 gallon, while it would do the job, it wasn't very happy. But I do quite a bit of sandblasting and painting, as in I am at my shop every evening from 4:30 until about 9-10:00 as I run my shop after I get off work. I blew my old compressor up twice, once was my fault (ran out of oil) and the other it just died...... While I was painting! Yeah it sucked.
My new compressor (Eaton) is a 2 stage and nothing but awesome. It is bigger for one, 80 gallon tank, bigger pump, bigger motor. It build up pressure faster than my old compressor, runs less, keeps up with my DAs and other air tools.
So with all that said stay with 2 stage! As of brand, I personally don't like an Ingersol compressor, they run at too high RPMs. They have one at my day-job and its a good compressor but compared to my eaton at home I feel it's gonna die soon! See if you can find something like Quincy, Bel Aire, Eaton, there are others I'm forgetting. But with me saying that, for $500 I would see if I could hand the guy 4 Benjamin's and run that puppy in the ground!

 

[theoldwizard1]

CFM at what PSI for both the gun and the compressor ?

If the gun uses 15 CFM at 40 PSI and the compressor makes 16 CFM at 90 PSI (or higher) you will have no problem.