Air compressor recommendations?

Aggie93 · Aggie93's Garage

I’m looking for an air compressor and after researching them a bit I found myself being walked up the cost curve. I found recommendations for at least 5 cfm, then found that oil lube and belt driven is better. Compressors with these features push the price to $500 and up and are much bigger units.

I first started looking one because the small tankless POS one I have just to blow up tires died. I just got a hobby car (’87 930) and thought I might as well get one that can handle air tools. Could some of these specs be relaxed thinking I can upgrade later if I need to. Or just bite the bullet and get one that fits future needs?

peppy · 12-06-2011, 07:55 AM

Do you have 220v? If you do not I would just get a decent portable compressor. To keep up with air tools you need a big tank and a two stage compressor, about 9cfm.

Aggie93 · Aggie93's Garage

220, 221. Whatever it takes.

No. Don't have 220, but looks like i'll be having electrician out to finish last month’s project.

Burnin' oil · 12-06-2011, 08:30 AM

I have a 220v Campbell Hausfeld with a 60 gallon tank that puts out double digit cfm at 90 psi. Works great and keeps up with every air tool I use. Retail is a little over $600, but I bought one on sale for $350. I looked at a lot of much more expensive units and am very pleased with my choice.

LakeCleElum · 12-06-2011, 08:42 AM

Everyone I know that bought a new compressor in the past 5 years had it fail in the 1st year. Buy an old one off Craiglist.

The Craftsman I bought in 1977 is still running like the day I bought it (Bought it used)...I had figured it would be dead by the time I was done building this house from using nail guns continually. Hell, I had already painted 9 cars with it over the years.

So, I bought a 220 Volt used Craftsman to replace it.....Now I have both. Not sure they will ever die?

anotherblack944 · anotherblack944's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aggie93

Could some of these specs be relaxed thinking I can upgrade later if I need to.

That was the approach I took. I found a ~27gal, belt/oil, steel twin cylinder, 110v on CL for $150 (came with hose, trap & reg) Spec'd at ~5.7 @ 90. You have to watch the usage required for the tool though. It runs my CP impact just fine but can't push my son's I/R 2135 enough to even take off a lug nut. I've even used it for grinding/cut-off and painting with no problems. I just can't go continuous, and will have to stop occasionally to let it catch up a little.

I plumbed the garage with two feeds/reels using just hose running in 3/4" pvc for protection/mounting. I suspect if I used ~1-1 1/2" iron pipe it would work a little better?

rfuerst911sc · 12-06-2011, 02:48 PM

Ingersol Rand.........enough said.

Zeke · 12-06-2011, 03:15 PM

+2 for used. I bought that same iron pump 20 some gallon belt drive for $90. It replaced a noisy one of the same kind that I had run since 1970. I gave it to a friend who bought a new upright from Lowes and can't stand the noise. My old noisy clunker is quiet to him. Still going.

schamp · 12-06-2011, 03:43 PM

I went with an Eaton made compressor in my shop. I doubt I will ever need another. They have smaller units as well. Check them out. I called late one Saturday and a guy answered the phone. After about 20 minutes I figured out he was the president of the company. When I had the extra money for a compressor Eaton was my one and only call. I think they also go by Polar Air.

rnln · 12-06-2011, 04:02 PM

Can I jump in for a related silly question?

I have been using a craftman maintenance free from Sear for years. Everytime I turn it on, I afraid the neighbor complain, even during the day. I also had my hands on the little tiny one from lowes, same loundness. Now, you know that I wish I can work in my garage at night sometimes, but I couldn't.

I always heard you guys talk about oil and belt driven but never experience one. Once, I went to Draco's place to play with his car at night. Close to midnight, we needed the air compressor and he turned it on. I was so supprise that I couldn't hear anything, even standing close to the garage door, outside and door closed of course.

Question is, are all the belt driven and oil feed air compressors that quiet, or it's still depend on brand/model/type?
Thanks.

Zeke · 12-06-2011, 04:05 PM

The cast iron helps and the intake filter can actually be a noise suppressor.

TimT · 12-06-2011, 05:05 PM

5 CFM is nothing.....you can hardly run some tools continuously with that rating...

If you need to burp a impact once in awhile you might be ok.... running a DA or trying to spray something @5CFM you will be stopping and starting often....waiting for the compressor to catch up..

Most of the compressors you see in Home Despot or Blowes suck moosecock..except for the big $ 220V units...

Search Craigslist or Ebay shops going out of business..... etc..

cmccuist · 12-06-2011, 05:39 PM

I bought a Campbell Hausfeld 2 stage off Craigslist for $100. The pump had seized up. It was old! Had an 80 gallon tank and a 3 phase motor. Anyway, I found a CH dealer who wanted to buy the pump from me for $600!! They rebuild them and sell them for $1,200.

I just bought a set of reed valves ($200), a new check valve ($30), and a variable frequency drive for the motor ($200). That sucker puts out more air than I'll ever use.

Point is, look on Craigslist for a quality unit. If you're willing to do some work, you can get a huge amount of air for cheap. The tank on that thing has an ASME code stamp!

Gordo2 · Gordo2's Garage

I the choice partly depends on how long you plan to own it, and the max CFM (SCFM) that the tools you plan to use draw.

Myself, I was looking for something that would last a lifetime, with CFM output to support a bead blaster.

I narrowed my search to older, used Champion, Quincy and Ingersol Rand (T30) compressors with 5-7hp electric motors and 60-80 gal tanks. After searching for a deal for about a year, I latched onto a Champion compressor that I'm confident will prove to be a great lifetime compressor.

Best of luck,

Gordo

look 171 · 12-06-2011, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnln

Can I jump in for a related silly question?

I have been using a craftman maintenance free from Sear for years. Everytime I turn it on, I afraid the neighbor complain, even during the day. I also had my hands on the little tiny one from lowes, same loundness. Now, you know that I wish I can work in my garage at night sometimes, but I couldn't.

I always heard you guys talk about oil and belt driven but never experience one. Once, I went to Draco's place to play with his car at night. Close to midnight, we needed the air compressor and he turned it on. I was so supprise that I couldn't hear anything, even standing close to the garage door, outside and door closed of course.

Question is, are all the belt driven and oil feed air compressors that quiet, or it's still depend on brand/model/type?
Thanks.

Try Thomas compressor. I think think they are still made in this country. that's not the reason I buy them. They little compressors are quiet and long lasting. When it comes to a tool, I have no issue paying for something that will last. Nothing like having a tool go down when you need it. Again, they are known for their whisper quiet and quality.

944Larry · 944Larry's Garage

Getting harder to find the old slow turning compressors used. I've been looking for years. To get the CFM up nowadays they turn them up so fast I don't like to get too close to one. I got a Black Max from Sams quite a few years ago and it still works but I hold my breath when I switch it on.

desertt5 · 12-07-2011, 07:43 AM

My Dad gave me the old Sears/Craftsman 30gal/ 6hp/ double feed(?)/ 220V that we had in the garage 30 yeas ago. It has had the starting cap replaced once. Still woks for all my needs. But it is loud.

rnln · 01:56 AM

Alright, I scored an old small belt driven one, for real cheap. Brought it home, replaced the hose and it's going well. I can turn it on all night in the garage and it can NOT be heard from outside

. It says it can get up to 100 PSI but I can only pull it up to 90 max. I tried to shoot some nails and it went well. Now, I can't find any place to replace or refill oil. Any one know about this air compressor?
It is a Magna Force. SCFM is between 4 to 7. Model number is 64A150-14. It looks just like the pic below. I searched the net but can't find manual.

rfuerst911sc · 12-29-2011, 03:05 AM

In that second pic it looks like there are two caps. The top should be the " fill " and the bottom the " drain ". Remove the fill cap first and just take a look in there you should see oil.

Joeaksa · 12-29-2011, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnin' oil

I have a 220v Campbell Hausfeld with a 60 gallon tank that puts out double digit cfm at 90 psi. Works great and keeps up with every air tool I use. Retail is a little over $600, but I bought one on sale for $350. I looked at a lot of much more expensive units and am very pleased with my choice.

Same here and it works very well. Got mine at the same price. Its an upright 60 gallon unit and sits right in the corner of the garage.