Bird
Rest in Peace
Nothing to be sorry for. I was only guessing what might meet his needs best at a price he'd want to pay. He also might prefer what you posted.
Air compressor recommendation?
- Thread starter jymbee
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Nothing to be sorry for. I was only guessing what might meet his needs best at a price he'd want to pay. He also might prefer what you posted.
murphy1244
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I guess I took it the wrong way.
still don't know if he is looking for a portable or permanent mount
still don't know if he is looking for a portable or permanent mountHi Bird,
The old compressor that served us well for 15 + years was a Sears 2 HP 12 Gal Model. It was a portable horizontal tank type with wheels which I frequently loaded on a cart and took to inflate a tire, blow out lines, run an air wrench etc. The volume rating was 7.0 S.C.F.M. at 40 P.S.I / 5.6 S.C.F.M. at 90 P.S.I. which seemed quite adequate for anything we needed it for. It had a number of issues with leaks, rusted out drain valve etc.
Since posting someone recommended this in the current Sears line:
Sears.com
Seems kind of puny to me and not sure Craftsman is the way to go. I assume that smaller tank size means that the compressor would have to run much more often to keep pressure than a unit with a larger tank? Although it's used often I'd say overall it's for relatively light duty tasks compared to the twin cylinder type models you're using so I was thinking in the $2-300 range.
The old compressor that served us well for 15 + years was a Sears 2 HP 12 Gal Model. It was a portable horizontal tank type with wheels which I frequently loaded on a cart and took to inflate a tire, blow out lines, run an air wrench etc. The volume rating was 7.0 S.C.F.M. at 40 P.S.I / 5.6 S.C.F.M. at 90 P.S.I. which seemed quite adequate for anything we needed it for. It had a number of issues with leaks, rusted out drain valve etc.
Since posting someone recommended this in the current Sears line:
Sears.com
Seems kind of puny to me and not sure Craftsman is the way to go. I assume that smaller tank size means that the compressor would have to run much more often to keep pressure than a unit with a larger tank? Although it's used often I'd say overall it's for relatively light duty tasks compared to the twin cylinder type models you're using so I was thinking in the $2-300 range.
Thanks for the input kenmac. If you note my response to Bird that may give you a better idea of the general type of compressor I was looking for. The Harbor freight model would definitely get 'er done but I might have a hard time getting my wife to roll that 170 pound model into a cart.
Bird
Rest in Peace
I guess you know that you cannot compare the hp ratings of current compressors with the old ones. They got caught and had to quite using the peak startup hp. But the psi and CFM are what you're interested in anyway. That twin tank model you're considering will definitely do what you want to do. The only question is how long it'll last, and it may last just fine with the amount of use you plan. I haven't looked recently, but I guess the Craftsman compressors are still made by DeVilbiss.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I have three air compressors right now and have owned quite a few more. My main one in my shop is an Emglo wheelbarrow electric one that's probably 20 years old. If it ever dies on me, I'll go to something bigger because of all the air tools I use for it. Sanding is probably the worse, but I also sand blast metal and that uses a lot of air too, and I currently can't keep up with what I have now. It's a great unit that will power a full crew framing a house, but it's on the heavy side for loading onto the truck.
My portable unit is also an Emglo. I've tried just about every brand out there for compact air compressors to take out on the job and this one is the only one that's lasted more then a year. I always bought compressors that you have to add oil to them because I've always read and believe they are better then oiless compressors. It's a bit on the heavy side, but I can handle it with one hand and load it easily enough. You still grunt when picking it up, but it has plenty of power for the framing gun and sprayer that I texture walls with.
Recently while building my gazebo and only having a Honda portable generator that only puts out 13 amps, I had to resort to buying a small Bostick oiless air compressor. It's not my favorite brand of tools, but it was the only one with a low enough draw that it would work on with my generator. It's worked great and I now grab it before my Emglo which cost three times as much. Its lightweight, easy to carry and it never throws a breaker at my clients homes. I don't know how long it will last, but for the money, it's going to be hard to go with anything else if it dies on me. I can run a framing gun on it and haven't had any issues with the texture sprayer. Anything will run a brad nail gun, so that's never been an issue.
As for filling tires, I've never used the small compressors for that. Same thing with impact tools. I always use my bigger Emglo in my shop. That was a $700 air compressor when I bought it. I don't think they are any cheaper today, but it's been awhile. An air compressor is one of those tools that is worth paying extra for, especially if you have things that break.
Eddie
My portable unit is also an Emglo. I've tried just about every brand out there for compact air compressors to take out on the job and this one is the only one that's lasted more then a year. I always bought compressors that you have to add oil to them because I've always read and believe they are better then oiless compressors. It's a bit on the heavy side, but I can handle it with one hand and load it easily enough. You still grunt when picking it up, but it has plenty of power for the framing gun and sprayer that I texture walls with.
Recently while building my gazebo and only having a Honda portable generator that only puts out 13 amps, I had to resort to buying a small Bostick oiless air compressor. It's not my favorite brand of tools, but it was the only one with a low enough draw that it would work on with my generator. It's worked great and I now grab it before my Emglo which cost three times as much. Its lightweight, easy to carry and it never throws a breaker at my clients homes. I don't know how long it will last, but for the money, it's going to be hard to go with anything else if it dies on me. I can run a framing gun on it and haven't had any issues with the texture sprayer. Anything will run a brad nail gun, so that's never been an issue.
As for filling tires, I've never used the small compressors for that. Same thing with impact tools. I always use my bigger Emglo in my shop. That was a $700 air compressor when I bought it. I don't think they are any cheaper today, but it's been awhile. An air compressor is one of those tools that is worth paying extra for, especially if you have things that break.
Eddie
vanguard
Bronze Member
I've had a couple of air compressors too, some of them are buying mistakes.
I'd ask myself what the "air compressor end game is". According to me, you want a 60 gallon unit, ideally with plumbed in drops around the shop as well as a 1-2 gallon compressor for nailing stuff here and there. That will let you do the big jobs in the shop and you'll have a portable unit for small tasks.
I personally have no use for the "in between" models. I've had them and they are so loud it's unpleasant to do any task with them. They are so big you wouldn't want to lug them to the upstairs kid's room for little tasks. For me, they had all the downsides of big compressors without the ability to do big compressor jobs like spraying and sanding.
Get a big one and a little one, skip the middle.
I'd ask myself what the "air compressor end game is". According to me, you want a 60 gallon unit, ideally with plumbed in drops around the shop as well as a 1-2 gallon compressor for nailing stuff here and there. That will let you do the big jobs in the shop and you'll have a portable unit for small tasks.
I personally have no use for the "in between" models. I've had them and they are so loud it's unpleasant to do any task with them. They are so big you wouldn't want to lug them to the upstairs kid's room for little tasks. For me, they had all the downsides of big compressors without the ability to do big compressor jobs like spraying and sanding.
Get a big one and a little one, skip the middle.
Last edited:
kenmac
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Well, l actually have 3 a Bostitch 2 HP pancake I bought about 2 yrs ago. A 80 gallon belair @ 25 cfm @100 (I think it is) and a 20 gallon 2 HP portable unit my wife bought me from sams club just after we got married 32 yrs ago. It is still working great !
Bird
Rest in Peace
Instead of multiple compressors, when I had the 60 gallon compressor in the shop, I also had a portable air tank that I could take to the field to air up a tire or such. But I've owned a few different size compressors. For a number of years in the '70s and '80s, I just had a 12 gallon compressor that not only aired up tires and such, but also provided the air to paint 4 houses; a couple of them twice. Then a full time RVers I carried a 2 gallon DeVilbiss oilless compressor. When we first bought the place in Navarro County, I bought a 30 gallon Craftsman oilless and after I tired of rebuilding it, I got the 60 gallon 230V compressor. Then when we moved back to town, temporarily in an apartment, I bought an oiled 2 gallon Craftsman. I gave it to son-in-law when I bought my current compressor.
Of course, as a teenager, I had a little experience with bigger compressors in the two service stations my Dad owned, but I don't remember brands and sizes.
Of course, as a teenager, I had a little experience with bigger compressors in the two service stations my Dad owned, but I don't remember brands and sizes.
farmer2009
Elite Member
My main compressor in the shop is a vertical Craftsman Professional. 1.9 hp 27 gal. 7.2cfm@40psi and 5.8cfm@90psi. It's only 2 years old and really like it has wheels so can be portable. Also has a dual voltage motor. Although out of you price range.
My portable compressor is a Porter Cable. Bought to run off the generator and move around for nail guns does fine job also. It's a 4 gal I think.
Have a bostitch tore down on bench. Needs brushes and can't get any anywhere. The shops around that rebuild electric motors say they are disappointed but those motors are disposable. They can't buy the brushes to fix them. Can buy the motor and pump for about 300. That's why I have the porter cable. Although it was my main compressor for 2 years before I bought the craftsman. Did good but didn't last with the use.
My portable compressor is a Porter Cable. Bought to run off the generator and move around for nail guns does fine job also. It's a 4 gal I think.
Have a bostitch tore down on bench. Needs brushes and can't get any anywhere. The shops around that rebuild electric motors say they are disappointed but those motors are disposable. They can't buy the brushes to fix them. Can buy the motor and pump for about 300. That's why I have the porter cable. Although it was my main compressor for 2 years before I bought the craftsman. Did good but didn't last with the use.
