Opinion on this deal

[freshspecbluegt]

Hi all,

I am still a rookie shade tree mechanic but have graduated to the stage that I am working on my first engine overhaul ( 3.slow from a 95 4runner). I am about elbows deep in the disassembly and realizing that I would love to have some air tools to help with these 13 year old bolts. That and the fact that I need to do the front axle overhaul on my 80 soon is making me look seriously at spending a bit of money. However, I really only have $300 to spend on this. I found this deal at sears and it seems solid. For occasional use is this setup going to get me by? I don't expect to run grinders or cutoffs just an impact gun, a ratchet, and occasionally a nailer. I have a pretty rudimentary understanding of all the air tool specs so I am reading and learning but any input would be great.

Craftsman 26 gal. Air Compressor with Air Tool Kit, 1.6 hp, Vertical Tank, 160 Max PSI - Model 16760 at Sears.com

Thanks

Ross

 

[John Smith]

That will run all the tools you list just fine. Since it is oil-free it will be very loud. Take this into account if you have any noise restrictions or don't like to work around very loud compressors. Because of the noise I will only buy compressors that use oil since they are much quieter.

 

[e rock]

I have that one (or one very similar). It's fine. The impact that comes with it sucks, so don't count on using it for rotating your tires. I don't think I've used the ratchet since I already had a couple others that I use regularly.

I wouldn't pay $300 for it though. I bought mine as a return (it looks like it was plugged in, but none of the tools were even opened yet) that, according to the sales drone, was brought back because it was too loud for the original buyer's garage. So I got it for $200 and for that price, I'm happy with it.

The thing I'm most happy with about it is that it doesn't leak down over time. I often go a couple weeks without using it, and it doesn't lose pressure over time at all that I can tell. This is handy if you happen to leave the switch on and forget about it. My old compressor kicked on and woke me up at about 3am a couple of times.

It is loud. It is louder than you want to work around. It is too loud to be in the garage if your garage is attached to a house that any other humans may want to inhabit while it is running.

My $0.02

 

[freshspecbluegt]

Well, the noise is a concern but honestly this thing is probably only going to be used 10 weekends a year tops so I can't justify spending too much more for an oiled model. I think I am going to give a go and I'll report back on how it performs and importantly how loud it really is. Thanks for the input.

Ross

 

[KLF]

I think you will be surprised how much you will use it once you have it. Then you will be sorry you went with such a cheap one, and will be selling it on MUDBay. A friend has that exact compressor, it's unbelievably LOUD, and he's sorry he bought it.

Another thought: I predict the end of air tools sooner than you think. If I were you, I'd get a nice cordless impact gun kit, Makita makes a really nice one in their LXT series. I have this series of tools now, I just finished rebuilding a R151F transmission, and I used my impact driver a LOT. I hope to have the 1/2" impact gun soon, the rest of the tools rule. No more dragging hoses around the garage for me.

 

[freshspecbluegt]

I am concerned about the noise, if it is difficult to work around the machine because it is that loud I'll need to look elswhere. i am shopping around but I can't find any oil lubricated compressors with roughly a 25 gallon tank that are close to $300, i could spring a bit more since it will probably last me a decade or more but I really don't have the budget to drop $450 + tools on a compressor right now.

I may look into the cordless impact route since those could get packed in the truck for trips, anyone making a cordless ratchet?

Ross

 

[KLF]

If you still want a compressor, I would check craigslist, I see them used on there all the time for really cheap.

 

[fieldsken1]

air tank

dont get that one but buy the craftsman professional they are the same has a hard time keeping up with constant use but works just fine for the little jobs you have to wait sometimes for it to fill up

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Air tools are a pretty good place to spend real money. Once you start using them, the minor hassle of air hoses goes away fast.

I would definitely look at a used compressor on Craig's llist. If it's a decent one, all the rebuild parts will be available to make it good as new. T

The oil bath ones are much higher quality. Mine is 10 years old, and I resealed it last year. It's indistinguishable from new. Since you are on a budget, a single stage, rather than a double stage is in your future.

For the tools themselves, check out some of the posts by ToolsRUs. He knows his stuff about these and has made specific recommendations about which ones to buy. I would avoid Chinese air tools and look for used or new IR tools.

I spent more time piping and running airlines in my garage, then I did on the compressor. Just something else to consider.

Once you have air tools you will use them all the time, so make your buying decisions carefully. Oilless compressors kind of suck long term. I would avoid.

 

[RavenTai]

I bought the version of that compressor that sears sold 10 years ago, loud and weak, it cannot keep up with any constant duty tool, like a die grinder or sand blaster, spend a lot of time waiting for it to catch up. after a bit of this compressor running all the time the tank gets overly hot and you get a lot of water out the line,

I wish I had taken that $300+ and put it towards a real compressor.

If you really only are occasional intermittent use especially with nailers look at smaller portable compressors, not much less in real pumped volume but portable.