thoughts on this air compressor

[bdog]

Saw this one at Sams for $829.

It is an Ex - Cell (made by devilbiss) 80 gal, 2 stage, 6hp.

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=353151

What are your thoughts for the price?

Not the biggest and baddest, but seems to be a lot for the price.


Before I pull the trigger can anyone recommend anything within $100 of this that would be a better buy for a homeowner that likes his air tools?

 

[autoace]

As a homeowner, as you stated, looks like you have money to burn. I run an entire shop with a comparable IR compressor. You could probably get by comfortably with much less. That being said, the price seems way too cheap, I paid about 1800,00 for the IR. I would buy a single phase, 60 gallon of better quality if I were you, goto Air Compressors Direct.com and take a look at the Chicago Pneumatic, IR's and Puma in the 60 gallon range, much easier to get replacement parts or warranty service if needed.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Can you go and look at it? Where are the pump and motor made? Some of the Devilbiss Air Power Products stuff is relabeled chinese junk. I have been careful to note the difference between Devilbiss and Devilbiss Air Power Products after being disappointed by a "Devilbiss" spray gun I ordered some years ago.
Where I work, we sell the Remanufactured Campbell Hausfeld 80 gallon two stage units for less than this, but that doesn't help you where you are.
Sears lists a CH unit at about the same price as this, and a Craftsman (made by Devilbiss) for a couple hundred more. Also check Lowes and Home Depot. Sometimes they will have a discontinued model or a display model reduced drastically.

I agree with the guy up there who said that this unit is overkill for a home shop. I bought a Campbell Hausfeld 60 gallon single stage compressor from Home Depot almost 20 years ago and I have never needed anything bigger. It does run constantly when I sandblast, though.

 

[Kevin54]

That doesn't look too much different from my IR. For the money it looks like a great deal. Especially for a 2 stage.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

What is the pump made of? There are several models that are cross brand (Devilbliss, Craftsman, Porter Cable, DeWalt) and all use an aluminum pump (that goes bad after a year or two of hard use).

 

[Major Ramifications]

What is the pump made of? There are several models that are cross brand (Devilbliss, Craftsman, Porter Cable, DeWalt) and all use an aluminum pump (that goes bad after a year or two of hard use).

Judging by the fin spacing, I'd say it is a cast iron pump.

 

[snorky18]

It looks exactaly like this, down to a couple of the stickers:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007SXI18/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I looked at the that Sam's model pretty hard (it's branded different names depending on who you buy it from, excel, delta, porter cable, etc, but it's the same compressor). It was more than I needed; but a great price for 2 stage 80 gallon.

I ended up going with the Kobalt (Lowe's) 60 gallon 3hp 155psi cast iron pump that was on sale around christmas last year for $300, $270 after talking to a store manager and using a Harbor freight coupoun.

$275/10.5 cfm @90PSI = $25.71 per cfm for my purchase at the sale price
$400/10.5 cfm @90PSI = $38.09 per cfm for my purchase at the regular price
$829/14.0 cfm @100PSI (close enough to 90) = $59.21 per cfm for the 80 gallon Sam's compressor

UNLESS you are going to (or think you may in the future) run a sandblaster, paint (need cooler air), or a lot of air sanding, I think the $400 one makes more sense as a "better buy for a homeowner that likes his air tools". At least it does for me.



Now, who's going to be first to flame me for encouraging a board member to buy a smaller / less expensive tool than what they're currently looking at?

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

Here is a Ingersoll Rand 60 Gal. 18.1 CFM @90p.s.i for about the same price.
This will cover all your Air requirements,with a well known Company.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_211720_211720

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

This isn't bad either,Most likely my next air Compressor

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200365169_200365169

 

[1320stang]

I bought the model before this one from Sam's (you can see me unloading it with a cherry picker in the 'show off your compressor' thread) and I love it so far. I painted sealer on my daughter's car recently and it kept up no problem, I got it for sand blasting primarily, but I haven't done it yet. I want to make an adapter so I can remotely mount my air filter though.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Here is a Ingersoll Rand 60 Gal. 18.1 CFM @90p.s.i for about the same price.
This will cover all your Air requirements,with a well known Company.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_211720_211720

Neal,
I hear where you are coming from, but both of the ones you posted are single stage units.

 

[Stephenw]

I don't believe the specs for any of the compressors posted in this thread. None have a magnetic starter. I don't believe for an instant that any draw 30 amps. That leads me to believe that they are exaggerating the CFM output as well.

 

[snorky18]

I don't believe the specs for any of the compressors posted in this thread. None have a magnetic starter. I don't believe for an instant that any draw 30 amps. That leads me to believe that they are exaggerating the CFM output as well.

The 30 amps may happen for a (very) brief moment at startup, but it's certainly not the running amperage of any of the compressors shown. It may be the breaker required. It may be the "Peak" Hp, which occurs for the aforementioned very brief moment only at startup.

"REAL" horsepower is directly proportional to amperage of the motor, stated on the nameplate of the motor.

Without going into the math and conversions (unless you really want to know), 1HP at 240 Volts =~5 amps. So my 240 Volt 15 Amp compressor is ~3 hp.

And 30 Amps would be ~6HP, which would be a motor that weighed well over 100LBS by itself. I'm about 95% sure that the compressor the original post was referring to at Sam's is ~22Amps. I know it is not more than 25 Amps. So 6HP is bologne.

Compressor HP has been overstated for years for marketing purposes. I believe Sears was even involved in a lawsuit about this.

I believe magnetic starters are recommended starting at about 25 Amps/5hp.

As far as "real" cfm specs, the only manufacturer I know of that will put a flow meter on and test the compressor for you is Eaton Compressors, which is a spectacular choice if you have that kind of coin burning a hole in your pocket.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

Can someone inform me of the "advantage" of a 2 stage over an single stage Compressor?

 

[bdog]

In a short form 2 -stage gives you 175 psi. Most single stage top at around 125 psi.

Even though you may not use that much psi, higher pressure means more air stored in your tank. You will have a lot more air in a 60 gal tank at 175 psi than a 60 gal at 125 psi.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

I have noticed that some Compressors, the range is from 140-175psi,If you need pressures lower than this say 90psi,you would have to install a regulator,Correct?