What size air compressor

[JoeOef]

After endless searching with no luck on craigslist for a great deal on a used compressor, I think I have made up my mind to buy new. Budget is sub $600, and obviously, the lower, the better. I have 220 in the garage.

It will be used with impacts most frequently, although I would like to try and paint some parts, and possibly running a blast cabinet. This would all be for small motorcycle parts. Looking at the air requirements for paint guns, it appears that a lower end, smaller compressor (any of the 30 gallon jobs). Then I read on some sites that if you are just doing small parts, a smaller compressor will work just fine. So what gives? I have a small garage, and I've worked, and successfully repaired and rebuilt several bikes and fixed cars without a compressor for many years up to this point, but it's time for a compressor. I just need to make the most of my space and budget.

Your thoughts?

 

[zkling]

I'd recommend a 60gal vertical, ~12+CFM @ 90psi. Single or dual stage. Should do 99% of what the average DIY guy does out of their garage.

 

[crewchief888]

since you have 220v available,
find the highest CFM 60gal you can afford.

blast cab and air grinders **** up bunches of air.

 

[bsmith405]

The blasting cabinet will **** up a ton of air. I am in the process of upgrading from a 60 gallon 3.7 hp Kobalt to a new Champion 7.5 hp 80 gallon Advantage series. I have a really nice Econoline cabinet that I got off of CL and the Kobalt unit will only run the cabinet for a short period of time @ 40 psi, which is what I usually run 120 ALOX at. I would keep looking at CL for the compressor if I was going to do much blasting. If you have to use a less powerful compressor, hook up a pressure pot the the cabinet.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 on best 60 gal vertical 240volt compressor you can afford. You'll never regret buying lifetime compressor.

Then plan out your airline system built with either copper or black pipe steel.

 

[kenfain]

I vote, that you hang in there for Cl. It'll happen for you, after all, you've been doing without for a few years,be patient. When you're on a budget, it's also a quality issue. You can't improve a sub -standard quality unit. Not enough to ever be totally satisfied. But you're obviously mechanically inclined, so you can rebuild if you have to, an old classic. They're easy to work on, fairly cheap to fix. And they run slower, quieter, last longer. You'll be braggin to your friends about it. It's gonna be a beautiful thing. Just hang in there. Whatever you decide, Good Luck!

 

[theoldwizard1]

The blast cabinet is the killer. You could get by with a 2-3HP, 30 gallon single stage unit for everything else/

Dual stage is not required even with a blast cabinet.

 

[d.mcfarland]

The blast cabinet is the killer. You could get by with a 2-3HP, 30 gallon single stage unit for everything else/

Dual stage is not required even with a blast cabinet.

But the OP is using it for smaller parts, so I don't know how big of an issue the blast cabinet is. Certainly not something to be ignored though!

 

[kenfain]

Or two compressors, saving money money by using only one until you need the other for additional cfm. Might not be all you need, those large blast cabinets use a lot of air. But in any case it would buy more blast time. To be honest, if I just need to air up a tire or some small task. I feel wasteful firing up my large compressor.

 

[fury9]

Keep looking on CL, you know as soon as you go buy a new one a great deal is gonna pop up, never fails

 

[softailgarage]

If you cant wait, Home Depot has a verticle 60 gal. for just under$600.00. I bought mine used for $300.00 and have been very happy with it.