Compressor thoughts

48builder · October 08, 2006, 02:38:19 PM

I have been wanting a new compressor. I have been using an old 3 HP, 20 gallon that produces 7 CFM at 90 psi with 100 psi max. It won't power a die grinder at all and is marginal at most other tools. I was at Lowes today, and they have a 7HP model that produces 13.5 CFM at 90 psi, with 125 psi max and a 60 gallon tank. The price is $499, and I get 10% military discount off of that.

Seems like that should do everything I need to do in my garage, shouldn't it? It's almost twice as much air as I have now with a much bigger tank.

Walt

Bruce Dorsi · October 08, 2006, 03:52:54 PM

Hi, Walt!

The 13.5 CFM at 90 psi, and a 60 gallon tank will be a definite improvement over your old compressor.

However, don't believe that 7hp rating, as that is a bogus number created for advertising purposes.

kb426 · October 08, 2006, 04:21:55 PM

How much money do you want to spend? What are your plans for the future? If you think you will do more projects in the future, try to buy 1 more and be done. I bought a Belaire 218v and have plenty of air now. It is an 80 gallion upright though. When I was researching compressors, the home depot units got poor reviews. Same for the Ingersoll rands. Seems they blow up. I realize you may have to move often so you have different reason's for what you buy. I would stay away from any teflon piston units. (oilless)

Crosley.In.AZ · October 08, 2006, 05:18:37 PM

Do not believe the HP ratings as mentioned. The manufacturer uses some trumped up way to rate the HP on these motors.

this larger compressor you are looking at may work for you fine, becareful though.

Buy as much compressor as you can afford.

My 20+ yrs old Speedaire dual stage ,5 hp, 80 gallon tank unit will run two DA sanders all day if you want , with air pressure in reserve

purplepickup · October 08, 2006, 10:26:27 PM

I bought one of those single stage 60 gallon compressors 11 years ago and I'm surprised but it's still working just like when I got it. It's a 230 volt Powermate that I got at Sam's club for about $350. I didn't have the money to buy a better one at the time. If it ever dies I might buy a better one this time but I sure have used this one a lot.

Sandblasting is about the worst use of air that I do. The compressor would run constantly trying to keep up if I didn't stop every few minutes. Some of the cheaper air tools take a lot of CFM's too, especially DA sanders. Painting isn't much of a problem with the low CFM guns available nowadays.

By the way, I'll bet that 13.5 CFM @ 90psi rating is a misprint. Those compressors usually hold about that many CFM at 40psi and around 10 or so at 90. If it is 13.5 @ 90, that's really good.

58 Yeoman · October 08, 2006, 10:56:36 PM

I'm with George on this one, only mine is a Sanborn (I think) and it came from Farm and Fleet. Five horse, 60 gallon tank, upright. It blew a reed valve the first year, and they fixed it free. It blew another a couple years later, and I made one out of a feeler gauge, and it's been working fine ever since. I think I bought mine in the 80's.

MrMopar64 · October 08, 2006, 11:02:05 PM

I bought that one from Lowes. (well the wife bought it for my B/D)
3 years ago. I used it to build and paint the Rambler never had any problem with air supply

MM64

1FATGMC · October 08, 2006, 11:06:35 PM

Quote from: "48builder"Seems like that should do everything I need to do in my garage, shouldn't it? It's almost twice as much air as I have now with a much bigger tank.

Walt

It does seem like a big tank should do better and it does some, but you can still run a 60 gallon tank down quick.

My next compressor will for sure be a two stage even if it is a $750 one from Sam's club. If you can get into a 2 stage for $300 more I would sure do it and you won't ever regret it.

c ya,

Sum

donsrods · October 09, 2006, 12:37:09 AM

We've burned up two of the 60 gallon single stage compressors in the last 5 years. The one we are using now is put together from parts from the two. I have learned some lessons about compressors from this experience.

First of all, for the average hobbiest, these are more than adequate. Where they fall on their face is high demand tools, like DA sanders and sandblasting. I got so tired of waiting for the compressor to catch up so I could blast some more.

I bought an Eaton two stage compressor for our marina and two guys can use DA's at the same time and it keeps up fine. So I am going to buy one of these for our hobby shop, put a good 6 hp motor on it, and link the two 60 gallon tanks together into one big tank. That should give us enough air to do the heavy duty things.

Don

Rex Schimmer · October 09, 2006, 10:29:47 AM

I think that the 7 horsepower rating is just for starting. I have a 5 hp comperssor that I bought from Harbor Freight and it ran about 2 years before the motor went south. I did a lot of research and I could get a similar "compressor rated" motor that was rated at 13 amps and 208/230 volts or I could get a "real" 5 hp motor rated at 15.2 amps and 230 volts. I went with the "real" motor and if you can believe this it is alot quieter than the original.

One of the things that we all do but don't (I include my self!) is put a regulator on the outlet of the compressor. It should be set at 80-90 psi with the compressor set to shut off at around 125-140 psi. You would be surprised the amount of power that you save and how less often that the compressor turns on. I did this years ago at a large machine shop that I was the maintenance manager at, we had about 1000 hp of comperssors, and we lowered our electric bill by around $2000/month.

Rex

enjenjo · October 09, 2006, 10:48:18 AM

I have a 5 hp Dayton commercial compressor. Been using it about 10 years. It was 16 years old when I got it, but had never been used, it was still in the crate. Outside of a persistant oil leak, it has never had a problem.

48builder · October 09, 2006, 12:28:27 PM

Quote from: 1FATGMC
Quote from: "48builder"My next compressor will for sure be a two stage even if it is a $750 one from Sam's club. If you can get into a 2 stage for $300 more I would sure do it and you won't ever regret it.

c ya,

Sum

There is a 2-stage I/R at the local tractor store for $750. Also a 2-stage at Lowes for $780. I was thinking about stepping up. Maybe I'll look at the 2-stage at Lowe's on my way home.

1FATGMC · October 09, 2006, 02:10:35 PM

Quote from: "48builder"
Quote from: "1FATGMC"My next compressor will for sure be a two stage even if it is a $750 one from Sam's club. If you can get into a 2 stage for $300 more I would sure do it and you won't ever regret it.

c ya,

Sum

There is a 2-stage I/R at the local tractor store for $750. Also a 2-stage at Lowes for $780. I was thinking about stepping up. Maybe I'll look at the 2-stage at Lowe's on my way home.

I don't think you will ever regret it and I'll be envious :cry: . Try and get cast iron cylinders (not sleeves).

c ya,

Sum

kb426 · October 09, 2006, 07:27:59 PM

Take a look at this before you spend any money.
http://www.asedeals.com/air_compressors_copy.html

48builder · October 09, 2006, 07:57:30 PM

Quote from: "MrMopar64"I bought that one from Lowes. (well the wife bought it for my B/D)
3 years ago. I used it to build and paint the Rambler never had any problem with air supply

MM64

Well, based on MrMopars recomendation, I ended up with the smaller one. Plus I stood and looked at the two at Lowes, and the bigger one (not 2-stage as I earlier thought, but 2-cylinder, as is the one I got) was just too big to put it where I wanted it to go. I hope I made the right decision. It is 3.5 running HP. I was just looking at the Belair site, and they look nice. Oh, well. The deed is done. Now I have to plumb some lines and hook up a regulator and filter. I have a Campbell-Hausfeld filter I bought a few years back. Any recomendations for regulator? I have some black iron fittings left over from when I ran the gas lines in my house, so I'll probably use black iron pipe as well.