What's the GJ's opinion on this compressor?

[Fyrme]

I ran across this 80gal 5hp Rand4000 on CL today. I've been saving to buy a new tank for my good V-twin pump and 5hp motor, but have continued to keep looking for a deal. While, I don't classify this as a "steal", I think it's not a bad deal. The guy was asking $700, I offered $600 and he won't budge lower than $650. It also comes with all the air tools pictured. While most are Husky and Builders Square (You pre 30yo's won't recognize that name), I think I can recoupe a little of my money selling the tools I don't need. I've searched everywhere online and can't find any good documentation on cfm ratings. The best I can come up with is a little over 15cfm @ 90psi, which is just a tad less than the pump and motor I have now. The motor is a Marathon 5hp and is physically as big as my 5hp Baldor motor. The history on this thing is the guy bought it new in the late 80's, used it very little to do some hobby body work and sand blasting. It has been sitting in his garage unhooked for at least 10years now and he's moving and wants to sell it. It appears to be well taken care of and he swears he drained it every day. So hopefully rust is not an issue.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

My wife told me last night I am 36. I remember the builders square in Milford CT. From what I remember it wasn't exactly like Home Depot. I think it was part tool store and part odd lots.

 

[Fyrme]

Well, I'll be topping the hill this year. I made many trips to Builders Square with my grandpa as a kid.

Anyone on the morning crew have any input on this thing before I pull the trigger this morning?

 

[drivesitfar]

hard to say if it's a great deal or not, but a 30 year old compressor for that price doesn't seem like one to me. i'm betting this compressor didn't have enough power to run his sandblast cabinet like he wanted to so he might have gave up on it.

i'm not a compressor expert and was hoping one of the guys that is would chime in and help you some. as far as him swearing he drained his tank everyday i'd have to wonder because he might be moving, but there is junk all over the place in the small picture he posted in his ad to sell it. it might not be rusty, but it is 30 years old and sitting might be worse than one that is used daily and maintained.

i know you just moved and probably want a nice compressor, but personally i would wait for a newer one or one that is really old and taken care of by a meticulous guy.

good luck

 

[Fyrme]

I've been doing some more digging and have found another post from someone that said it is a 18.5cfm @100psi. The guy still has a bunch of paperwork on it, just not the owners manual. He claimed 18cfm also. It's a 2 stage pump, and while not obvious in the pics, it is in really good condition. He bought it to run a sandblaster to blast a car frame and do body work. I guess he lost interest in the project and just used it for random stuff until he moved in to the house he's in now, 10 years ago and never hooked it back up. I can't say much about his junk, because My garage has looked like that a time or two. He can't hook it up to show me it operates but guarantees it to work or my money back. He's not moving anytime REAL soon, from the way his house looked. I figured, I could sell 80% of those tools and make $100 back of my money making it a $550 deal. I also read that someone bought one of these back in '86 and it was $1250, so I don't think it's a "cheapy" by any means.

Oh, and just for comparison of money's the cheapest new TANK I can find is $550 to my door.

I too wish someone could chime in with solid info on these things before 8:30, when I leave to go get it.

 

[Davefr]

The pump looks like the aluminum POS IR put on various compressors. Don't buy it. The pump is problematic and parts are unobtainium. (I know because I have this POS pump).

 

[Lucky13driver]

It just depends on the amount of hours. Also consider that the old seals and gaskets could leak a bit. Now for the good news, I just replaced a 1975 Speedaire only because it was to small. I gave it to a buddy and its still working great.

 

[ttpete]

It doesn't look like 80 gallons, more like 50-60. No way are you going to get 18 CFM out of that. I'm willing to bet it won't even run a die grinder continuously. Save your money and get a name brand that you know hasn't been abused and will deliver the amount of air you need.

 

[Fyrme]

It was definitely a 80gal 2 stage, so 18cfm is possible. However, my old '70s cast iron Hercules 2stage V-twin 80 gal was only putting out 16cfm. I decided to pass on it. Had it been priced quite a bit cheaper, I would have bought it, but I just couldn't drop the $650 on it. So I guess I'm still going to buy the new tank for $600.