Air compressors

rockford33

rockford33

New member
I am sure many of you guys have had or still have air compressors. I currently have a little 2 gal. Campbell Hausfeld compressor. I am looking to upgrade to something larger (15-26 gallon). Anybody have some thoughts on size, brand reliability, etc.? I will most likely use it for working on the car (impact wrench, air ratchet). I doubt I will ever be painting a car, but it is a distant possibility. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
This is a loaded question. Before you buy you might want to check on the tools you plan to use. Most of them, NOT all of them require a fair amount of CFM's @ certain PSI. In a 15 to 26 gallon compressor you will probably only find 110V units. At 90 psi, you might get some where between 4 and 5 cfm's. A good 1/2" impact wrench may require more cfm's then that. Most people, not all that are using air tools usually use a staionary 220v air compressor. Something else you should look at is if you want an oil or oil less piston. Oil less seem to start easier (especially in the cold), but don't last as long as oil. I would first check on the tools you want and buy the air compressor to fit them.
 
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OI812 said:
This is a loaded question. Before you buy you might want to check on the tools you plan to use. Most of them, NOT all of them require a fair amount of CFM's @ certain PSI. In a 15 to 26 gallon compressor you will probably only find 110V units. At 90 psi, you might get some where between 4 and 5 cfm's. A good 1/2" impact wrench may require more cfm's then that. Most people, not all that are using air tools usually use a staionary 220v air compressor. Something else you should look at is if you want an oil or oil less piston. Oil less seem to start easier (especially in the cold), but don't last as long as oil. I would first check on the tools you want and buy the air compressor to fit them.
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Thanks for the reply OI812. It is somewhat of a loaded question because I don't quite know eveything I will be using it for. I did look on TP Tools website to get an idea of what various tools cfm requirements were. You are right that a 1/2" impact wrench requires a decent amount of cfm, but the 3/8" require less and look to be doable. I don't have a 220v outlet in the garage, so I am stuck with a 110v unit. Probably going to go oilless since it will be easier to maintain and the compressor will not be used daily (or even weekly probably). so far, I think paint sprayers and sanders have the highest cfm requirements of any of the possible tools I have looked at using. Any thoughts on good brands? Coleman, Campbell, Craftsmen? Any I should definitely stay away from? Thanks.
 
Get one of the belt driven ones (the ones where the elec mtor and block/piston area seperate), oiled. They are much quieter and will last longer. Even though HP means nothing, a 5-6 HP model should be good. The smallest belt driven (real) compressors I've found start around $400.

My $200 craftsman 3hp, 15 gal is ok for light gun/ratchet use but it WAY too loud because it's oilless and over driven (no belt drive)
It goes from 150psi to 90 after holding the trigger on an impact gun for about 1 minute straight.
 
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It has been a long time since I bought an air compressor. I own a 5.5 HP 20gal Sanborn unit. It is oiled, and is over 15 years old. My only complaint with this unit is starting it in the cold. I also own a 1.5HP Rol-Aire pancake compressor. This unit is also oiled, but does seem to start easier in the cold. I have been looking at a couple of Craftsman units, the ones that go to 175PSI. I can see some advantages, and the main one is for a blow gun (I have one that is not restricted). I think by law manufactures of blow guns are suppose to limit the PSI they put out. Towards the impact wrench, be careful on the 3/8". Although it is small and will work with smaller compressors, you are giving up torque (ft/lbs). If you are going to be working on old cars with rusty bolts, well I think you can see where I am going. Good luck and I hope this helps
 
The cfm issue will come up more than you think. Get a compresser that will pump the max possible on 110. I've been sorry a few times that I didn't spend an extra $100 and get a more versatile tool. It would be nice to be able to power a block sander or ro sander or???????? I don't think the name brand will make that much difference. Look for a sale at Sears, Lowes, Farm King, Tractor Supply etc.

I also wish I"d bought an upright model. Mine just takes up too much space. The Sears upright 26 gallon model looks good to me and I'm tempted!....except I don't know what I'd do with the one I've got.
 
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The biggest problem I have at the moment is figuring out exactly what I might be using it for. I looked at the requirements for various air tools (impact wrench, air shears, nibblers, sanders, buffers, and spray guns). The sanders and spray guns had the highest requirements (spray guns went up to 10 cfm @ 90 psi). while I would love to get a compressor that could measure up to the spray gun, I seriously doubt I will ever be painting anything, nor can I justify the cost of one since it is not something I will probably even use weekly. Most everything else had a requirement around 5-6 cfm or less. I am looking at an Iron Force unit (Campbell Hausfeld), direct drive (supposed to be quieter due to external air filter), 22 gallon. Puts out 5.1 cfm at 90 psi. I think the size and cfm output will be adequate for anything I might need it for, plus it is a vertizontal unit, so I can save some space by having it upright.
 
It's funny you bring that up about what you might use it for. When I bought my first compressor it was for a blow gun, and filling tires. 3 compressors later and a lot of attachments, I'm still not sure I have a big enough one. I have one compressor that I have 4 framing nailers attached to. When I bought the first one, I never figured on that. I do think the vertical ones will save space. Towards painting, you may want to go to a HVLP (High Velocity Low Pressure) gun. From what I have read and heard, you put more paint on the project then with high pressure air. I have HEARD, but am not sure if it is true that automotive repair shops are starting to go to HVLP. But once again HVLP's are expensive for good ones.
 
I would suggest a belt driven compressor. Being in the construction biz we need atleast 4cfm at 90psi to run a nail gun to sink the nails and we have about 3 or 4 running at a time. Plus they are are pretty quiet . I would also suggest getting a name brand because this is something that quality counts in. It all really depends on what you want to use with it. That is the main thing. That is just My 02
 
probegt said:
Being in the construction biz we need atleast 4cfm at 90psi to run a nail gun to sink the nails and we have about 3 or 4 running at a time.
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You know what I am talking about.
 
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