I was reading a thread on a 2 man shop compressor thread and I didn't want to hijack it. What do large shops like dealers (10+ techs) use compressor wise? We are a 5 man shop and have 2 IR compressors, I was wondering what bigger shops use.
What type of compressor do large shops use?
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sickjuice
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bobcatdan
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The larger shops I worked at normally had two 120 gallon compressors hooked together.
We have 2 hooked together, a 80 or 90 and a 120. Why 2 different sizes? I don't know.
RCStocker
Well-known member
2 different size tanks average out and make no difference in the pressure. My bet is that it came town to cost or what they found for good deal.
You can turn off one compressor and use both tanks or set them for the same pressure and run both, Then you can set one to go off 5 pound before the second and let it the other one fill the tank with pressure.
The size of the danks don't matter. It is the PSI and recovery rate that counts.
I have never seen a 90 gallon tank. I have seen 60, 80, 100, 120 and others.
For years I hooked 3 20 gallon and a 30 gallon on the same line and only had to compressors run. That was when I needed a lot of air. I had the compressors for the construction job sites and used them for nail guns.
I went to a 60 gallon Ingersol Rand 175 2 stage compressor in both of my shops and installed one in my tractor barn. Larger shops use huge comercial compressors that are in a different catagory altogether.
bsaint
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Sullair. The best.
shampoop
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Only shop I worked at that had one was a very new very large tire shop that got a ton of business and a large dealership.
Most normal mechanic shops I worked at did something like this. large standard compressors.
bts
Well-known member
The number of people using the air can be a bit irrelevant.
We have a 100cfm screw compressor for 4 techs but at times that is not enough air.
All depends on what you are using it for.
We have a 100cfm screw compressor for 4 techs but at times that is not enough air.
All depends on what you are using it for.
DARKSCOPE001
Well-known member
im not sure of the exact ones we use i just know they are the screw type. we have several thoughout the hangar. seem to work pretty good. we generally have a large tank (unsure of size 120 or bigger) then connect it thought a 1 inch hose to air pigs and remote tanks mounted on the aircraft docks that have standard air couplers.
Sullair Screw Compressor..all different sizes..as well as a Sullair Dryer...most huge shops use these..and most of them are not car shops most are Industrial plants...prices used 3K and up..but they are most 3phase...
GeneralDisorder
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Typically a screw of some kind. 20 to 50 HP range. Sullair is just one of many choices and they are popular in some regions. Quincy, Atlas Copco, and IR are also popular in this market segment. Copco is the 900 lb gorilla of the compressor world and they bought out Quincy a couple years back. Sullair is probably number 2. There are smaller players such Powerex, Champion, and others but they are fringe or specialty machine such as oil-free, etc.
Moving on up to *real* compressors in the 100 to 1000 HP world you see the big screw machines being left behind by the turbo-compressors - Copco and Cameron are the big players there. Basically turbo-charger style centrifugal pumps run in stages and powered by very large electric motors. Not uncommon to see these half a dozen 1000 HP machines manifolded together running an entire auto assembly plant.
GD
Moving on up to *real* compressors in the 100 to 1000 HP world you see the big screw machines being left behind by the turbo-compressors - Copco and Cameron are the big players there. Basically turbo-charger style centrifugal pumps run in stages and powered by very large electric motors. Not uncommon to see these half a dozen 1000 HP machines manifolded together running an entire auto assembly plant.
GD
BullfrogJohnson
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We have a 75hp I.R. rotary screw compressor
crewchief888
Well-known member
we have a 120g 2 stage in our shop.
"spare" compressor, (that came from one of our shops that closed down),
120g 3 stage champion
last shop i worked at we had a 150(?)g 2 stage (worthington?) that supplied 18 bay heavy eq shop with more than enough air.
"spare" compressor, (that came from one of our shops that closed down),
120g 3 stage champion
last shop i worked at we had a 150(?)g 2 stage (worthington?) that supplied 18 bay heavy eq shop with more than enough air.
redwrench60
Well-known member
We used to run a pair of mammoth tri cylinder two stage compressors and two 120 gal. Tanks. But it was becoming too costly keeping them running and methheads kept stealing stuff off them. (they were behind the shop) So they got a big *** rotary screw compressor and put it inside. It's so quiet you can talk right next to it and it makes the air jack! As Spinal Tap says "this one goes to eleven"
we have two buildings each one has 6-8 bays. one building has a nice rotary the other is a 120 gallon single