Air compressors - Vertical vs. Horizontal
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I have that one. I found it in the 'clearance' section at my local store. Somebody returned after using it for a weekend (not a bad idea come to think of it) and they obviously couldn't sell it as new, so I got it for $200. Works good, no complaints other than being somewhat loud, but that's the nature of oil-free compressors. I haven't outworked it yet.
As far as horizontal vs. vertical tanks go, I think it just comes down to what fits your storage and/or transportation needs. The vertical ones take up less floor space, but are not as easy to haul around.
As far as horizontal vs. vertical tanks go, I think it just comes down to what fits your storage and/or transportation needs. The vertical ones take up less floor space, but are not as easy to haul around.
I have a very similar Husky that can be run either vertically or horizontally. I like mine and have used it quite a bit since I got it 4 years ago, primarily for an impact wrench and air chisel. My only complaint is that it is really really loud compared to my brother's older oil-type compressor (maybe the Sears one is different). If I had the coin I would invest in a heavier duty unit, but so far mine has worked well.
Vertical it's all about the space.
That one is pretty weak on the CFM. I wouldn't get it. Every time you are going to do something that thing is going to be running pretty much continuously, and it's loud too. I wouldn't get anything less then a 2 stage air compressor if you have a shop with lots of air tools, or plan on getting lots, but then again depends how much and what you are going to be using it for.
That one is pretty weak on the CFM. I wouldn't get it. Every time you are going to do something that thing is going to be running pretty much continuously, and it's loud too. I wouldn't get anything less then a 2 stage air compressor if you have a shop with lots of air tools, or plan on getting lots, but then again depends how much and what you are going to be using it for.
I have an older suposed "5HP" (not really) craftsman oil-freecompresor, it is Ok for fillign tires and soem intermittent use but when I used a small sand blast cabinate I spent a lot of time waiting for it to catch up. same stopry with a die grinder or any other constant duty air tool.
Very loud, you can hear it all through my neighbohood, I have to wear wear plugs when it is running.
That 1.6HP is not goign to be of much use, again only for intermitent stuff.
A good compressor costs a lot of money.
That compressor would work for that. The capacity is large enough you could do one tire per cycle iMOP.
I have a similar unit. It is really loud. Horizontal ones are best for carting around. Drainage is the same. Vertical ones fit in a shop better.
If I could buy one again IMOP I would look for an oil resivoir type, with a belt drive. Quiet. I would buy as much as you can afford.
Having air in your shop makes you buy air tools. Like a grinder or cut off tool. Those take lots of air. The small compressors do turn them, but slowly with out power.
So IMOP look for belt driven units, they tend to be quieter and more powerful.
I use a small air compressor(2 gallon ?) for my brad nailer and tires. Works fine cost 50 bucks.
For a little air every once in a wile it would work, an impact uses a lot of air but not for very long, nailer uses little air, especially a finish nailer. I think you are likely to want more later and will find its limits.
I will say that I have had no troubles with my loud anemic oil free Craftsman it has been annoying me for 10 years now. not sure who really makes them or if they are made by the same people now,
A buddy found an old opposed 2 cylinder for $30, it needed a new electric motor witch he quickly found cheap, we figure it was from the 50's, it was big, heavy, quiet and put out a lot of air, it not only kept up with a grinder but would actually keep a 50% or so duty cycle, I tried to get him to sell it to me when he moved. don't know if you would be able to find something like that in short order but worth looking into.
I will say that I have had no troubles with my loud anemic oil free Craftsman it has been annoying me for 10 years now. not sure who really makes them or if they are made by the same people now,
A buddy found an old opposed 2 cylinder for $30, it needed a new electric motor witch he quickly found cheap, we figure it was from the 50's, it was big, heavy, quiet and put out a lot of air, it not only kept up with a grinder but would actually keep a 50% or so duty cycle, I tried to get him to sell it to me when he moved. don't know if you would be able to find something like that in short order but worth looking into.
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X2 The oil free compressors are just too damn loud to work near and I have to believe the oil improves the lifespan of the compressor. I have had a CH 60gal vertical for near 10 years and it is still going strong. My next compressor will be a 80 gallon. I think the bigger tank allows the compressor to do less work and it would drive me crazy waiting for anything smaller than a 60 gal to keep up while working.
oil free is a joke. When parts are moving in repetitive motion, that fast, for that long without being properly lubricated...they are going to wear faster. Thats like mobil 1 claiming you can go 12,000 miles between oil changes in your car. You can do it, but I don't recommend it.
Buy an 80 gallon horizontal lubricated compressor and you'll never need another.
I agree with ones who are recommending the oiled or lubricated models. The "oil-free" or "oilless" are NOISY! I have one, it compresses air all right, but every time it cycles on, I 'bout jump thru the ceiling. It also vibrates so much, it slides across the floor. I have taken to putting it in the shed, and running the air line from there into the garage just to keep the noise down. I like the lubricated models because they are whisper quiet.
Oiled for sure; I was sort of laughing at RT's post as I too have Craftsman oil free and it too has been working very well but also very loud and for over 10 years now. The thing just wont stop working! It is awfully loud and awfully shaky, the motor gets really hot to the touch and sometimes even smells warm, and the frickin plastic fan attached to the motor (presumably to help the cooling) has broken three times. I went to the local Sears parts place, got a replacement fan two times for like $15 each and then watched them grenade over time. I think the compressor is so shaky it literally shakes the fan apart so I have run the thing with no fan for some time now and it is still working! I do everything from low air requirements like framing nailers and finish nailers to really high air requirements like cut off tools, die grinders, several sanders, and several saws that all require really high CFM. The thing that requires the most air is always blowing out the sprinkler system - I do one zone at a time, let the comp cycle up to full, then another zone, etc. I set the regulator at 60PSI so as to not damage the lines and it runs full open for three minutes on each zone and then for several more minutes after each zone to cycle up. That's prolly pretty abusive to the thing but again it is still working. I'm really impressed with it actually and I hope it never stops working but if it does I'm definitely going to go with an oiled belt driven beauty with at least 100 gal tank. HTH 
I have a Ingersoll-Rand 110v Oiled Cast-Iron compressor.
It is supposedly in the same class as the typical Sears/Northern/Husky Oil-less models, but it really isn't. Much quieter, and it keeps up with all my tools all the time except for heavy use of the orbital sander. I expect it to last for 20+ years.
It is supposedly in the same class as the typical Sears/Northern/Husky Oil-less models, but it really isn't. Much quieter, and it keeps up with all my tools all the time except for heavy use of the orbital sander. I expect it to last for 20+ years.
I have the 33 gallon version of the one listed in the first post. As everyone else has said, but loud. It's fine for most of what I use it for - framing & finish nailers, but struggles with air tools and other high volume tasks.
The one thing about oiled compressors - they can be a bitch if you ever expect to paint with them. Yes, you can get coalescing filters and such - but it doesn't take much oil at all to screw up the paint on top of days of prep - ask me how I know :| You'll pretty much need to maintain a separate set of hoses and such and be very AR about the filters - not nearly as much trouble with an oil-free.
Of course, if you're just running air tools, all that oil is just a bonus.
The one thing about oiled compressors - they can be a bitch if you ever expect to paint with them. Yes, you can get coalescing filters and such - but it doesn't take much oil at all to screw up the paint on top of days of prep - ask me how I know :| You'll pretty much need to maintain a separate set of hoses and such and be very AR about the filters - not nearly as much trouble with an oil-free.
Of course, if you're just running air tools, all that oil is just a bonus.
Hmm, excellent thing to consider Eric, thanks for that; that never would have occurred to me I'll definitely get specific hoses for spraying stuff and I'll use my air/oil separator religiously whenever I get an oiled compressor. Thanks again!
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Well I ended up at my local Sears where I found a Craftsman model 919.167342 on clearance. It was regularly $340 and between the clearance pricing and the additional power tool discounts they were offering I got it for under $200. I also purchased an Ingersoll Rand 1/2 drive impact at Lowe's for around $100. The IR uses an average 4.2CFM @ 90.
The compressor is a 2HP 33ga horizontal oiless with 8.6CFM@40psi and 6.4@90psi. It cycles on at 120psi and off at 150psi.
With the outlet pressure set at a static 90 (IR max pressure) I'm able to remove and replace 4 wheels on the 80 before it cycles on at the 120 tank psi. Keeping in mind that the impact needs 90 psi and the tank cycles on at 120 there's no waiting for the tank to fill back up when using a 1/2 drive impact.
My only complaint so far is the noise when it's cycled on. I really don't think even that is much of an issue given the fact that I'm able to remove and replace 24 lugs before it cycles on. 24 nuts/bolts would be a lot of wrenching with a 1/2 impact gun. A 3/8 air ratchet would go even further. You could extend the cycle interval even further by switching the compressor off at 150 psi and letting it drop down to 90 before switching it back on while still being able to use the 1/2 impact. (I'm a compressor/air tool noob so I'm only assuming I'm looking at this correctly.)
I haven't tried a constant use tool like a grinder etc and probably won't but other than the compressor noise I don't really have any complaints. We'll see how the longevity is.
BTW - Don't buy the Craftsman auto retracting air hose reel. It sucks and works correctly less than half the time.
The compressor is a 2HP 33ga horizontal oiless with 8.6CFM@40psi and 6.4@90psi. It cycles on at 120psi and off at 150psi.
With the outlet pressure set at a static 90 (IR max pressure) I'm able to remove and replace 4 wheels on the 80 before it cycles on at the 120 tank psi. Keeping in mind that the impact needs 90 psi and the tank cycles on at 120 there's no waiting for the tank to fill back up when using a 1/2 drive impact.
My only complaint so far is the noise when it's cycled on. I really don't think even that is much of an issue given the fact that I'm able to remove and replace 24 lugs before it cycles on. 24 nuts/bolts would be a lot of wrenching with a 1/2 impact gun. A 3/8 air ratchet would go even further. You could extend the cycle interval even further by switching the compressor off at 150 psi and letting it drop down to 90 before switching it back on while still being able to use the 1/2 impact. (I'm a compressor/air tool noob so I'm only assuming I'm looking at this correctly.)
I haven't tried a constant use tool like a grinder etc and probably won't but other than the compressor noise I don't really have any complaints. We'll see how the longevity is.
BTW - Don't buy the Craftsman auto retracting air hose reel. It sucks and works correctly less than half the time.