I'm in the process of getting my shop put up, so now I'm looking at what to put in it. I know somebody that has an older curtis air compressor that still runs strong, so I'm kind of leaning that way. I want something two stage around 80 gallons and around 7hp that runs on 240.
What air compressors are you using?
- Thread starter Chopt50
- Start date
bob15
Well-known member
I have a 1961 IR, Model 253, T30 on a 1944 air tank. It has a new Baldor 5hp motor on it. It is also the first compressor I have ever used that actually started, re-filled the tank with air and shut off while keeping using the die grinder in use the whole time.
earlthegoat2
Well-known member
1989 30 gal Speedaire. But I usually use an 80gal 5hp Saylor Beall horizontal.
bsaint
Well-known member
1980's 2hp QR-210 Quincy Duplex unit, about 100 gallons with Great Lakes refrigerated air dryer.
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Majordisorder
Well-known member
I'm running a 1-1/2 HP Craftsman horizontal I purchased 47 years ago. It was mounted in a 68 C20 (Suburban) for about 6 years for framing, and in a couple shops since then. New reeds, and a few oil changes and still going strong. Thinking of passing it on to my son and upgrading so I can do some sand blasting.
slodat
ALLIANCE MEMBER
jake00
Well-known member
Got a 25hp Gardner Denver from the 80's and a 30 hp Leroi basic cub plumbed into a 300 gallon tank, then going to an atlas copco dryer....
Finky198
Well-known member
IR24N75v It's a 7.5hp 80gal with 40 gal of additional storage. ( 240v 1ph)
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Bill C
Well-known member
I use an 80gal 5HP Champion Centurion and love it.
American made w/ a 2stage pump. Compressor kicks on at 145psi and shuts off at 175psi. An 80gal tank stuffed with 175psi air offers a ton of capacity. Fill rate in between cycles is plenty fast. It also runs quiet especially being mounted on rubber vibration isolators.
I can run my HVLP gun or sand blast cabinet without any issue. The RV15A pump on the compressor has no problems keeping up.
Stepping up on the 7.5hp seems like overkill unless you have multiple operators demanding air at the same time.
Getting a used one can be a steal of a deal. I would NOT be shopping for anything super old due to concerns about pressure tank integrity. My Champion was about 9yrs old when I bought it and it had been properly maintained. I think I got a good deal on it @ $550. Plenty of deals to be had on lightly used industrial grade compressors. Just watch out for those rusty hulks from the 50's and 60's with unknown maintenance. The biggest danger being the pressure vessel integrity.
American made w/ a 2stage pump. Compressor kicks on at 145psi and shuts off at 175psi. An 80gal tank stuffed with 175psi air offers a ton of capacity. Fill rate in between cycles is plenty fast. It also runs quiet especially being mounted on rubber vibration isolators.
I can run my HVLP gun or sand blast cabinet without any issue. The RV15A pump on the compressor has no problems keeping up.
Stepping up on the 7.5hp seems like overkill unless you have multiple operators demanding air at the same time.
Getting a used one can be a steal of a deal. I would NOT be shopping for anything super old due to concerns about pressure tank integrity. My Champion was about 9yrs old when I bought it and it had been properly maintained. I think I got a good deal on it @ $550. Plenty of deals to be had on lightly used industrial grade compressors. Just watch out for those rusty hulks from the 50's and 60's with unknown maintenance. The biggest danger being the pressure vessel integrity.
Schurkey
Well-known member
Industrial Air-brand 5 hp, 1725 rpm driving a knockoff Saylor Beall 705 (Sanborn/Coleman SC23) pump on an 80-gallon tank.
Does fine, but runs all the time when the die grinder is in use.
Does fine, but runs all the time when the die grinder is in use.
rnscustom
Well-known member
Ingersol Rand T30 80gal 2 stage 5hp new baldor 1725 rpm , Ingersoll Rand ss3 60 gal 5hp single stage 3450 rpm , old craftsman 20 gal 2hp single stage 40 years old with just reeds done to it .
md21722
Well-known member
I have 2 x 5 HP Champion R15 compressors & 240 gallons of tank.
Bill Bowman
Well-known member
Champion 5 hp 80 gallon tank. Bought it in 1982. Replaced the bogus electric motor around 1988 with a Baldor. Great unit.
Finky198
Well-known member
That's the difference in steping up to the 7.5hp. With the extra tank and hp, I can run a die grinders/cutoffs for a few minutes before it kicks on and their is no loss of power throughout the cycle. I am glad I went bigger. I'd love to add a second for heavy blasting but a mobile unit might make more sense in the long run...
If your gonna buy a big compressor. Buy once, Cry once.
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slodat
ALLIANCE MEMBER
This is exactly what I did. I ran a grinder for several hours straight the other night. Compressor cycled instead of running non-stop. I'm very happy with mine. I paid $3k out the door, brand new, fully loaded.
Finky198
Well-known member
Agreed... It nice not listening to it run constantly and with some work a lot of the noise can be further reduced. Thus you get more capacity with less run time and its quieter in general.
My sanity is worth every penny. Shop time is supposed to be fun or it'd be like idk Work... lol
My sanity is worth every penny. Shop time is supposed to be fun or it'd be like idk Work... lol
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Bill C
Well-known member
That's the difference in steping up to the 7.5hp. With the extra tank and hp, I can run a die grinders/cutoffs for a few minutes before it kicks on and their is no loss of power throughout the cycle. I am glad I went bigger. I'd love to add a second for heavy blasting but a mobile unit might make more sense in the long run...
If your gonna buy a big compressor. Buy once, Cry once.
I hear ya... maybe I'm lucky, maybe it's my die grinders... but my compressor does not even come close running constantly when using my grinders or sand blaster or HVLP. It cycles every so often. Runs for a minute or two, and shuts off.
You should size your compressor such that it does not run constantly during your typical use. Unfortunately the OP made no mention of his actual needs. For most home shops I'd think a true 5HP quality compressor would be more than sufficient (based on my experience). Heavy users or multiple user would of course need to step up.
WittHay
Well-known member
2007 Ingersol-Rand T30 on a old 80 gallon horizontal tank and a 5hp Baldor.
I always thought a real 5hp was a good size for a small shop. 7.5 hp seems to be popular now
Same experience as Bob 15, compressor cycles when running a DeVilbiss spray gun or Blue-Point die grinder. It will run constantly on a 1" impact doing tough Budd wheels
I always thought a real 5hp was a good size for a small shop. 7.5 hp seems to be popular now
Same experience as Bob 15, compressor cycles when running a DeVilbiss spray gun or Blue-Point die grinder. It will run constantly on a 1" impact doing tough Budd wheels
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Which air tools take the most air? I heard it's die grinders and paint sprayers.
md21722
Well-known member
Also air ratchets, drills run at full speed, & media blasting.
Air saws don't use a lot of air relatively speaking about 10 CFM.
Air hammers, depends on what you've got, 10 - 20 CFM generally.
Die grinders, 14 - 30 CFM.
Air ratchets, 20 - 35 CFM.
Drills 20 - 30 CFM if run at full speed.
They do make impressive 5" grinders that use 50+ CFM, and 9" grinders that use over 100 CFM. They would typically be in a factory production environment/shipyard.
In construction, jack hammers.
In mining, rock drills.
Finky198
Well-known member
I think my 5" grinder is rated on 10 cfm avg, but under load Its needs close to 40 cfm. It seem to run just fine with 24 cfm as long as I don't get carried away or bog it down. The grinder and sand blasting are the only things in our shop that can make the compressor run continuously.
I had no clue air ratchets were such air hogs...
I had no clue air ratchets were such air hogs...
A lot of great information guys. Thanks. My main use will be normal shop tools, impacts, ratchets, and grinders. Occasional sand blasting and body work. Just want to make sure the compressor can keep up without running constantly.
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BCreekDave
Well-known member
Mine is an Eaton Polar Air 5HP on an 80 gallon tank. Its a Saylor-Beall knockouff pump but is quiet and built well. Pay some attention to an aftercooler to take the water out. Got mine for 800 used on CL. it had about 20 hours on it.
