advice needed on new air compressor

[KWentling]

I just got a Polar Air from Eaton Compressor a month or so ago. It's a 5HP 2 stage with an 80 gallon horizontal tank. From my experience with air tools, (and I have a whole drawer full of them at work) is they take more air than advertised to be fully effective. I haven't had much chance to try this one out yet, but it should do what I need. It runs at 73db if I remember correct. I also considered Quincey but wanted the horizontal tank so I could put it in the limited headroom of my loft. Eaton will configure them any way you want. Like was said above, you want a slow speed belt drive to be as quiet as possible.

Kim

 

[Chilly807]

A lot of the new impact guns use significantly less air than the older ones did. I've got an Eagle compressor (2 hp, about 4.5 cfm @ 90 psi) that's worked well for me. It'll run an impact gun long enough to loosen bolts without cycling on immediately, and recovers fairly quickly for the next fastener. Most of us don't need a bigger compressor, though we all want one. Funny, hmm?

I'd recommend an oil-lubed compressor every time, though they are heavier.

Anyway, check out the Eagle brand, they are supposedly made in the US or Canada.

Sean

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. can't imagine NOT using oil lubed.. especially in a big unit..

 

[JoeBuyer]

Oil lubed. Oil free compressors are toys in my opinion. Not that they don't have a use for many people but I like more industrial equipment if I can swing it.

 

[Soundguy]

deffinately quieter too.

last longer as well.

I know of plenty of 20 and 30yr old oil lubed units. I've seen plenty of junked oiless..

 

[Turbys_1700]

Just a thought...
I've had real good luck purchasing two air compressors on Craigs List...
About 6 or 7 years ago I purchased a 30 gal 6 HP oil cooled air compressor with little use for $250...
It was stolen a couple years ago and I scored a 60 gal 6 HP oil cooled air compressor that looked like new for $250...
My 30 gal unit put out around 5.5 CFM @ 90 psi...
My 60 gal unit puts out around 9.8 CFM @ 90 psi...
I have no problem running my 450# rated impact wrench...
I was just lucky to find these two units close to home for a really good price...

 

[Tollster]

Those are very good prices! May have something to do with being stolen though.
I have been trying to sell an 80 gallon verticle, 6.5 horse 2 stage, 230V for a week now.

 

[CurlyDave]

I would look at a "contractor's" air compressor. It is a huge step up from what you have, but is still in the portable category, where you take the compressor to the job instead of mounting it permanently in a shop.

Go down to Home Depot and look at the Ridgid brand air compressors. When I last looked, they had two in the under $300 range that were interesting. An oilless with twin horizontal tanks, and a oil lubed one in a "wheelbarrow" configuration for $10 difference.

I got the oilless one and for two years we turned it on every morning and didn't turn it off until the end of the day. Never a problem. It probably won't last forever, but so far it has 4000 hours building a house, and maybe another 1000 in general duty stuff. I makes a racket that would raise the dead, but that is a side effect of oilless compressors.

It is heavy, but has a handle and most guys can move it. Put it in a wheelbarrow or on a dolly for moves of more than a few feet. It can power two nail guns at the same time.

I don't think a Ridgid will last as long as an Emglo, or even a DeWalt, but it won't put a huge dent in your wallet either.

 

[kuzcotopia]

I have sold air compressors for almost 20 years. Large industrial units from 25 hp up to 350 hp. 100 cfm to 1800 cfm. The loud comes from the piston style compressor. The only way to get away from it is to sound insulate, go to a large slow running unit ( I have a 10 hp old cast iron unit that runs about 550 rpm and is very quiet...you should try to find an older heavy compressor rated for higher speed and slow it down by changing pulleys) or change compression technologies. There are now scroll air compressors that are pretty quiet, but expensive. how to make your compressor last: an air cooled consumer or light commercial compressor needs to sit for 1 minute out of every minute it runs. Meaning, run it for 10 minutes, let it cool off for 10 minutes. The heat of compression must be removed from the compressor, or you'll ruin the valves, oil, piston rings and soon enough the bearings. A cool running compressor is a happy long living compressor. You should even consider installing a small fan to cool the compressor when not running to shorten cool off times. If you want to avoid the noise of a compressor altogether....what about the newer electric impact tools?

 

[Scooby074]

Ditto to everything Ray said in this thread.

Slow speed is very good. Slow speed, belt drive and oil lubed means (usually) a quiet compressor.

I'd watch that quincy you posted earlier.. That APPEARS to be a chinese pump.. If buying a US compressor matters, I'd confirm with Quincy. There industrial line I believe is all US made.

For me, I'm pretty sure my next compressor will be a Devair. The industrial line (HDI line) is cast and assembled in Canada (cheap line isn't however, Canadian assembly with chinese pumps). Very heavy units. They are based on the 60? year old Devilbiss Canada design with some updates. H Series Pressure Lubricated 5 to 30 HP

As mentioned there is no replacement for displacement. Currently I have almost 19CFM @90PSI and i need more. Air sanders and sandblasters are air pigs. I'd want to have about 28CFM delivered continuous to really be happy.