I need advice on buying an air compressors

[meigsrock]

I am looking at finally geting an air compressor and would like some advice on them. I am going to use it for changing tires, installing bumpers, installing a lift kit, and maybe down the road spraing some paint or a bed liner.

I am looking for any brand recomendations good, bad, etc. and size such as how big a motor I might need, 220v or 110v, how big a tank I should have, and how many PSI I will need for these jobs.

Keep in mind it won't see a ton of use as it is going in my garage for hobby mechanic use. I would also like to keep it afordable, around $300 or less If possible, no more than $500.

Thanks for any help and advice.

 

[ktmusa8]

Meigsrock, you are going to have a tough time finding the kind of compressor you want for the price range you are wanting. I have been looking for a while myself and doing a lot of research. What you want to look for is CFM ratings for whatever application you are wanting to use it for. Anything regarding paint is going to put you into the 220V range of compressors to really do the job right. I have been trying to save for a compressor from Harbor Freight. It has great reviews and is comparable to any of the other main brands, and it is made in the USA. Here is the link. 5 HP, 60 Gallon, 165 PSI Two Stage Air Compressor - Compressors-Oil - Air Tools This is just the compressor, you are going to want an air regulator and dehydrator as well if you plan on using air tools and painting as water in the lines can cause havoc on air tools over a period of time. For this setup you are looking at about 1,000 bucks.

 

[Leaping Deer]

I started out with a Coleman 5 horse 30 gallon compress (direct drive) years ago. It served me well I didn't spend a ton of money on it I think I got it for $150. I sold it for $120 recently on Craigslist and found a used 60 gallon 7 horse craftsman for $200. I will probably run this one until it dies or until I can spend the $850 for the 80 gallon Ingersoll Rand they sell at Tractor Supply. It should be more compressor than I need.

My suggestion is to find a decent one on Craigslist to see if its what you want. If you buy it right you can always sell it when you are ready to upgrade.

 

[Lake Rat]

Compressors

I bought a Husky 60 gal, 135 max psi 220v compressor from Home Depot a little over a year ago now and run my plasma, air tools, air up tires, etc. Haven't used a paint gun yet, but pretty sure it can handle it. Paid about $450 for it. I would say buy as much air as you can afford or have have room for. If your working out of a normal house garage, it may be better to look into a smaller 2 stage compressor that can do what you need and be on wheels so you can move it around if you are short on storage space. I used a Campbell Hausefield 5 hp 22 gal compressoer for about 7 years before it finally melted down (got more than my monies worth out of it). But being that small, it was frequently rode very hard and put up wet if you catch my drift.

 

[fj40charles]

Just be sure to purchase an oil lubricated pump. Cheaper to buy quality once.

 

[bmorefj40]

x2 on what fj40charles said. Plus, the oiless ones are louder than your neighbors would probably like, it definately limits my time in the garage since I wake the dead everytime I fire it up. (i live in a townhouse community) I have a 2hp/33gal craftsman that I bought about 7 years ago. I've modified the intake to quiet it down, but it still shakes the walls. I look forward to the day when it craps out...

 

[Pin_Head]

Look for a 5 hp compressor with a 30 gallon tank or more. CFM @120 PSI is most important, but you will always run short of air doing something.

 

[fieldsken1]

x2 on what fj40charles said. Plus, the oiless ones are louder than your neighbors would probably like, it definately limits my time in the garage since I wake the dead everytime I fire it up. (i live in a townhouse community) I have a 2hp/33gal craftsman that I bought about 7 years ago. I've modified the intake to quiet it down, but it still shakes the walls. I look forward to the day when it ****s out...

i have the same one and its fairly quite and works just ducky for what i need. but if you are going to paint this will not kept up you will have to wait between sprays for it to fill up and thats doing a whole car. little pieces are fine

 

[meigsrock]

Well i think I am going to go with this one:
Craftsman
Craftsman Professional 27 galon oil compressor. It seems bo be a pretty good unit for what I am looking for. Not too big, good PSI, good reviews, quiet, and enough CM if I decide to try my hand at painting something. The wife will probably make me paint the house or deck or something like that eventually.

If I ever need more air I could always add another tank to it.

It is a little more than I wanted to spend but it looks like a lot better unit than most and I will only have to buy once.....at least for a long long time hopefully. Anyone know more about this one. I will probably get it next week.

I was also wondering about air tools. What are good brands, bad brands etc. There is a lot of cheap stuff at Harbor freight but not sure the quality. I don't need industrial strength, just shady-tree mechanic stuff.

I was thinking of picking up this package too to get me started Craftsman
and then maybe a 2.5" cutting wheel and die grinder from harbor freight or Craftsman.

What do you guys think?

 

[Dirtsquirt]

Buy the most you can afford is good answer

I couldnt/ wouldnt survive with less than a 3 hp. 11-12 cfm @90 psi

5 hp (18-21cfm @ 90 psi) in my view is the best option.
Can find applications where it wont be enough. You bet ya.

Sand blasting comes to mind foremost.

The thing you need to remember is that The oiled piston compressors are built around a 50% duty cycle

The oiless units are for the occasional user. I dont know the duty cycle on those as we didnt deal with the cheap crap.
My guess is around 20%

More is always merrier. providing you have the power

 

[tat2matt]

I'm going to look at this one today for my warehouse. we use it to run a bunch of pnuematics on coffee roasters and packaging machines. If we get it I will have a few smaller ones to sell.

Commercial Air Compressor

 

[SM Racing]

You will probably not be very happy with the smaller compressor. I have worked in shops with some of the baby compressors and they are annoying. They have to run a lot to maintain the pressure, the tanks are too small and they put a lot of water into the air because they have to run so much.

I am glad I got the compressor I got. IR 2475. 80Gallons, 21CFM, etc. It sits outside and runs quietly. No buzzy compressor turning a million RPM and running all the time. Plus it doesn't put a bunch of water into the air.

 

[PAToyota]

I'm going to look at this one today for my warehouse.
Commercial Air Compressor

You will probably not be very happy with the smaller compressor.

He posted a 3-phase 10hp compressor and you're saying that is too small...

 

[45Kevin]

I bought a Husky 60 gal, 135 max psi 220v compressor from Home Depot a little over a year ago now and run my plasma, air tools, air up tires, etc. Haven't used a paint gun yet, but pretty sure it can handle it. Paid about $450 for it. I would say buy as much air as you can afford or have have room for. If your working out of a normal house garage, it may be better to look into a smaller 2 stage compressor that can do what you need and be on wheels so you can move it around if you are short on storage space. I used a Campbell Hausefield 5 hp 22 gal compressoer for about 7 years before it finally melted down (got more than my monies worth out of it). But being that small, it was frequently rode very hard and put up wet if you catch my drift.

I got the same one used for a good price. 13.5CFM at 90PSI, 240V.

I have run a siphon sandblaster with success and it seems to run my air sander OK.

I can fill up my tires without the thing turning on.

I will be able to sell it someday for almost what I paid for it. It seems these decent upright hobby/small shop compressors depreciate to about 60% of new price and then hold steady. That is unless it was used commercially and is shot.

 

[SM Racing]

He posted a 3-phase 10hp compressor and you're saying that is too small...

No I was referring to the OP who was looking at the baby compressor.

 

[meigsrock]

I like the one I got. The smaller 27gal craftsman professional oiled air compressor. They just discontionued this moddel so somewhere I saw it on closeout for about half price. I have had it a month and so far it is a good unit. I don't know how I ever managed without one now. It makes jobs so much easier and faster.

It does run a lot when using air grinders and sanders and can not keep full 150 psi pressure when running. Of course I wish I had a bigger one but I could not afford it. This one fits nice in the garage corner under a bench and will have to do for now. So far it fills all my needs as a hobby compressor. Someday I may upgrade but so far this one fits the bill well.