Which compressor?

[Toolhorder]

Need some help deciding on a compressor. I knew I'd have to get a bigger one eventually as I started my shop out without much planning (basically a FU to the dealer and off I went) anyway I got a cheap 28 or 30 gallon 110 unit with a few HP motor. One of the portable vertical units. Barely powers my tire machine and if I use a prep wheel off a die grinder it's running constant. After 9 months this compressor won't go past 80psi and never hits shut off.
Looked at replacements and I'm between a Chinese farm store vertical 60 gallon for $550 or a IR 80 Gallon 5 hp model at 1300
Kinda leaning on the more expensive IR because of name and parts avail and it's bigger motor and tank.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I think Tractor Supply has an 80 Gal / 5HP IR for $1,100 and usually knocked down to $1,000 for any and every holiday...

HP is HP... You aren't going to find a 3HP air compressor produce more CFM than a 5HP...

I say buy the bigger one once and be done with it. Get yourself an auto-drain or at least plumb out a ball-valve for easy draining if it doesn't have it already. Change the oil after breaking in (manual says how many hours) and I would go with the Amsoil air compressor oil.

Honestly unless you want to dump a ton more money into a compressor that is probably as good as you are going to get for the $1k price range.

Maybe check your local CL for a good used compressor?

 

[md21722]

You really should have at least a 5-7.5 HP dual stage (175 PSI) compressor. Elevation cuts into performance so whether or not you're in Miles City or Butte could make a difference in your choice. In some cases, depending on the pump, elevation may require you to cut down the pressure of the pump as well. Some can take the extra stress and some can't. I would call your local compressor dealer and get some feed back from them. You don't have to buy from them. My local dealers sell a mix of high end and value compressors and doesn't try to sell you something you don't need. For a while they were selling Curtis value series to all the tire shops, now it looks like they've switched to Sanborn which has the same pump.

 

[redmondjp]

From your initial post, it does sound like you need, at a minimum, a "true" 5HP industrial-grade two-stage compressor capable of 18scfm@175psi. A 7.5HP unit would be even better, but is more expensive. There are hundreds of existing compressor threads on this site which cover all of the bases.

If you want new and want to keep the budget down, you could probably get away with the two-stage that Harbor Freight sells. It will have the pressure that you need for your tire machine, and will keep up with the die grinder. It won't last as many hours as an industrial-grade compressor, but the price is under $1K so that's the tradeoff.

Start watching Craigslist in your area. That's how I ended up with far too many compressors! I'd sell you one of mine if you were local.

 

[Finky198]

We bought the 7.5hp IR at TSC and have been very happy. The 5hp unit was nice as well. I think their a very good value. If maintained well they should last decades. As said above plumb in a drain. I have a ball valve that we kick during startup/shutdown. If your not the type to be on it spend the money on an auto drain.

Adding rubber under the feet made a significant differences in the noise and so did rubber matts under the motor and pump. Well worth the effort.

 

[EOC_Jason]

^^^ McMaster Carr sells rubber feet with threads pretty cheap if you don't feel like making your own out of hockey pucks.

 

[md21722]

My local dealer sells cork and rubber ones for $7 each. That's the same or cheaper than I could buy on Amazon. The mechanic shops I've known have usually had around 10HP / 240 gallon 3 phase. Some have had 2 x 5 HP units so if one is down they can get by on the other. The big tank keeps it from running all the time which would be more of a concern if it was IN the shop rather than under a lean or some other enclosure.

 

[Toolhorder]

I just bought the IR 5hp 2 stage 80 gallon tank. Got a plug for the one on my wall and some wire and hooked it up. Works good. I still have it on the pallet so I'll have to figure out something else it just vibrates too much. What's this puck thing you guys are talking about?

Anyway it's a solid machine I'm looking at getting a drier/moisture trap setup for it maybe mounted on the wall then to my tire machine and the other to a reel or pipe along the wall with fittings.

 

[Dr Stan]

I just bought the IR 5hp 2 stage 80 gallon tank. Got a plug for the one on my wall and some wire and hooked it up. Works good. I still have it on the pallet so I'll have to figure out something else it just vibrates too much. What's this puck thing you guys are talking about?

Anyway it's a solid machine I'm looking at getting a drier/moisture trap setup for it maybe mounted on the wall then to my tire machine and the other to a reel or pipe along the wall with fittings.

I recommend changing the oil after 8 hours, maybe less. Hard telling how much dirt, etc was in the pump after assembly. Your unit probably consists of a Chinese motor, an Indian pump and a USA tank.

 

[Toolhorder]

I recommend changing the oil after 8 hours, maybe less. Hard telling how much dirt, etc was in the pump after assembly. Your unit probably consists of a Chinese motor, an Indian pump and a USA tank.

Yeah sounds right. Wish it was all USA. I wish it had an hour meter too. Would that be hard to add?

 

[redmondjp]

Yeah sounds right. Wish it was all USA. I wish it had an hour meter too. Would that be hard to add?

No - easy-peasy. They make hourmeters that have a universal voltage input that you can wire in parallel with either the motor or the contactor coil.

Get on Amazon and enter "AC hourmeter" - pick one that lists an AC input up to 230-250V. Or you can get a battery-powered one that counts when exposed to vibration as well. Don't spend over $20 as anything over that is pure markup and there are only a few manufacturers.

 

[ArmyVW_GuyInTX]

An "auto drain" may be a good "next" option for it as well....something on my list for my IR 80gal 7.5.
I found my cork/rubber blocks for the feet at my local HVAC supply house. They come in a variety of sizes.

 

[Finky198]

If you take it a step further and remount the motor and pump on thin rubber mat the result will impress...