I'm looking for a compressor for working on my 80 and 60. I would be mainly taking things off and replacing them , some sanding maybe .
Any suggestions ?
Any suggestions ?
Best compressor for weekend mechanic
- Thread starter raynyc
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
reddingcruiser
Practicing for retirement
One of the most frustrating things about an air compressor is not having enough pressure and volume to properly operate air tools, regardless of how often you use them. 
After years of fighting it I finally bought a 220v, 3 HP, 12 CFM air compressor. IMHO, if you can afford $500 - $600, get one with at least 3 HP and minimum 10 CFM. Though not really 'portable', hose is cheap and most people are working within 25 - 50 feet of their compressor. Vertical tanks take up very little space and a good compressor should give you years of reliable service.
Oh, the downside, they are not 'oil-less', so once in awhile you have to check the compressor oil level.
After years of fighting it I finally bought a 220v, 3 HP, 12 CFM air compressor. IMHO, if you can afford $500 - $600, get one with at least 3 HP and minimum 10 CFM. Though not really 'portable', hose is cheap and most people are working within 25 - 50 feet of their compressor. Vertical tanks take up very little space and a good compressor should give you years of reliable service.
Oh, the downside, they are not 'oil-less', so once in awhile you have to check the compressor oil level.
- Thread starter
- #3
you think i could get a 3hp 110v one?
thanks for the advice , your account is exactly what i didnt want to do right off, i would rather spend the money and never think about it .
thanks for the advice , your account is exactly what i didnt want to do right off, i would rather spend the money and never think about it .
no expert but it seems to me that you have to figure out first what kind of use you will have. If it's only air wrenches, blowing, drying, tires etc, you could get buy with a small one. If you mean indeed things like sanding etc then an entirely different category is needed because of high air draw.
I only have a small one, 21 gals I think and it's plenty big for the former type of use. But I can't do sanding etc at all. No matter, I got plenty of electrical sanders which work just fine.
I also chose an oil one, I trust those live longer.
Oh, and the motor ratings on these things are probably often not very meaningful and comparable. They'll often quote surge draw I think. For example a 3hp motor as you said, would draw 2,250W or 19A at 120V, which is already more than many 120V outlets can handle.
I only have a small one, 21 gals I think and it's plenty big for the former type of use. But I can't do sanding etc at all. No matter, I got plenty of electrical sanders which work just fine.
I also chose an oil one, I trust those live longer.
Oh, and the motor ratings on these things are probably often not very meaningful and comparable. They'll often quote surge draw I think. For example a 3hp motor as you said, would draw 2,250W or 19A at 120V, which is already more than many 120V outlets can handle.
Air compressors are like welders. Many people buy 120V models, thinking "I'm not gonna be doing much". Then later they get a new project and try to do something like run a sander or sand blaster, and realize they bought too small.
Do you have 220V in the garage anywhere? I have a 60gal upright Porter-Cable 220V model (can't remember the hp rating), and I consider it pretty much minimal. My blasting cabinet really gives it a workout, I have to stop and let it cool down occasionally.
Also, oil-free sounds like an advantage, but generally they are not as well made, and are much noisier.
Do you have 220V in the garage anywhere? I have a 60gal upright Porter-Cable 220V model (can't remember the hp rating), and I consider it pretty much minimal. My blasting cabinet really gives it a workout, I have to stop and let it cool down occasionally.
Also, oil-free sounds like an advantage, but generally they are not as well made, and are much noisier.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #6
i guess the biggest problem is i live in Brooklyn where garage space is at a premium, so i have to lease one.
i will pay anywhere from 500-1000 a month for my hobby and the owner probably wont want to give me a long term lease , mainly to scared that he would miss out on any upside in the future. yes thats how it goes here in the city ...
so i imagine what ever tools i get need to all be portable and able to plug into the basic electric that most garages have.
220v would be an out of pocket expense for an electrician to come wire every time i need to move .
nothing is easy here.
i will pay anywhere from 500-1000 a month for my hobby and the owner probably wont want to give me a long term lease , mainly to scared that he would miss out on any upside in the future. yes thats how it goes here in the city ...
so i imagine what ever tools i get need to all be portable and able to plug into the basic electric that most garages have.
220v would be an out of pocket expense for an electrician to come wire every time i need to move .
nothing is easy here.
If you are stuck with 120V, you need to find out if you have a 20A or a 15A circuit, because it will make a difference. With a 20A circuit, you can run a "5hp" compressor that will deliver about 7 CFM @ 90 PSI. I have one like that and it can run a lot of tools, like a HVLP sprayer, or a jitter bug sander pretty much continuously. It won't run a rotary sander or grinder without waiting for it to catch up. With a 15A circuit, you will be limited to a 3 hp pump and you will have to wait a lot more. It is nice having a 10 hp 60 gallon Quincy, like we had at work, but you can get a lot done with a 120V as long as you don't mind waiting for it on some jobs.
- Thread starter
- #8
Great advice. I can easily get a 20 amp circuit so now I know what to look for !
Icantdive55
SILVER Star
compressor
I started with one of those 110 Oil-less craftsman jobbers and it was a waste in the long run. When it finally gave out it was more expensive to fix it than it was to buy a new one. So my neighbor sold me his OLD oil compressor for $30. It's 230v so I rewired it with a 10' plug that goes directly into my dryer outlet. Our dryer is gas anyway so it worked out well. Just something to consider.
I started with one of those 110 Oil-less craftsman jobbers and it was a waste in the long run. When it finally gave out it was more expensive to fix it than it was to buy a new one. So my neighbor sold me his OLD oil compressor for $30. It's 230v so I rewired it with a 10' plug that goes directly into my dryer outlet. Our dryer is gas anyway so it worked out well. Just something to consider.
alia176
SILVER Star
I suggest picking up a belt driven air comp out of Craigslist, preferably an older unit. Anything with a two piston design, slower speed oil bathed unit and at least a 30 gallon tank should take care of you. Slower = quiet, good for your family and the neighbors.
