Air Compressors??

[blueriver]

I went with 6.5 hp gasoline engine twin tanks low profile (the pump has two cylinders)

My fields are spread out and it sure is nice to have it on the service truck ..
Kinda Heavy so I use the pallet forks if and when i have to offload it ... which is very seldom.

Not saying thats an option just works for me ...

 

[CurlyDave]

Someday, I would love to have a 220V "real" compressor for my shop.

But, for the past 40 years I have lived with various cheap 120V air compressors and I have never really felt compressor deprived. Every couple of years I have to take a tire & rim off a vehicle, but my IR air impact does that if I wait a few minutes between lug nuts. When I put it back on I use anti-seize and torque the lug nut so I can get it off by the side of the road in a rainstorm if that situation arises -- don't need an impact wrench for that, and in fact you don't want one.

A great big air compressor sure would be nice to have, but I just got a Rigid from Home Depot for ~$250 that will power two nail guns at once and is light enough to carry to the job.

 

[joes_427_vette]

I bought a five hp Quincy compressor back when I built my shop. They are pricey but work tremendously well. I have a pancake style oil less I bought for roofing and mobile projects. Both do the job intended. I love the five hp models they sell for 600. The motor is the size of a 3/4 hp standard motor... yet its 5 hp? I understand there is a couple law suits going on reference this advertising.

 

[k0ua]

The motor is the size of a 3/4 hp standard motor... yet its 5 hp? I understand there is a couple law suits going on reference this advertising.

Yep I have one of them "5 HP" motors on my chintzy little Campbell Hausfeld oil less compressor. :laughing: If you look it up, I think about 2 HP is the biggest motor you can run on a standard 117V outlet before the breaker trips. And a real 5HP motor is pretty good sized and needs 240V. I dont know where they get their motor sizing ruler, but it would make a good addition to most anglers tacklebox:laughing:

 

[Soundguy]

it's all in how you measure it.

It likey says 'peak' hp....

be kinda like saying your wall outlet was 340vac Peak to peak.. or 170vac peak.. or.. what we all see.. 120vac RMS ( root mean square )

soundguy

 

[Bird]

Of course, as a teenager, I worked in my Dad's service stations where we had big air-compressors, but I don't even remember the brand or size of either of them. But after I was grown, married, and a home owner, I think I started with a 7 gallon, then up to a 12 gallon, then a 20 gallon compressor for home use in town. When we sold the house and became full time RVers, I carried a little 2 gallon DeVilbiss oilless, 1/2 hp compressor (my first oilless). When we first bought the place in the country, I made the mistake of buying one of those Craftsman, 30 gallon horizontal, 4.5 hp, oilless compressors by DeVilbiss. But since I use a compressor so much, it had to be rebuilt every 6 to 8 months, so I finally bought a 60 gallon vertical, V-twin, 230 volt, 6 hp Puma compressor for my shop. Of course that 4.5 hp in the Craftsman and the 6 hp in the Puma were the old phony ratings. The dealer from whom I bought the Puma even told me they called it an "imitation" 6 hp and showed me one of their true 5 hp compressors (much bigger motor, of course). When we sold the farm and moved back to town, temporarily in an apartment, I bought one of the little Craftsman 3 gallon, direct drive, oiled compressors.

ALL of those compressors went to a maximum pressure of 120-125 psi. But 5 years ago, when I bought this house, I bought an Industrial Air (by Powermate) 30 gallon verticle twin, 120 volt (can be converted to 230) with a 1.8 "running" hp motor with a working pressure of 125 to 155 psi. It's amazing how much different that addtional 25 psi makes when using the blow guns, which is the majority of my use now. I do have a 3/8" ratchet, a 1/2" impact, a one qt. paint gun, a siphon gun, and an angle die grinder, but the 4', 2', and very short blow guns are used regularly.

 

[Soundguy]

look at that extra PSI at that volume.. lotsa air power there!

soundguy

 

[cruzer]

Take a look at http://www.about-air-compressors.com/ I recently needed a compressor for work and did a bunch reading on that site to get some ideas.

Stew

 

[Storm56]

I have a 60 gallon 5 HP Sanborn single stage that just died. There was a pinhole by the drain valve on the bottom of tank that I welded about 5 years ago. I made the decision not to put any money in a 25 year old compressor so I just ordered a 60 gallon 5 HP Quincy two stage. Have wanted a two stage for years anyway. Looking forward to trying it out! I have a small twin tank Central Pneumatic that I use for nail guns and to pump up the odd tire etc. It was a cheap compressor but it has help up amazingly well.

 

[ray66v]

Yep I have one of them "5 HP" motors on my chintzy little Campbell Hausfeld oil less compressor. :laughing: If you look it up, I think about 2 HP is the biggest motor you can run on a standard 117V outlet before the breaker trips. And a real 5HP motor is pretty good sized and needs 240V. I dont know where they get their motor sizing ruler, but it would make a good addition to most anglers tacklebox:laughing:

There is a simple way to tell if it is actually a 5 hp motor. At 230 volts, it will draw 20, or more amps, at full load.

This is why a "real" 5 hp, or larger, compressor requires a magnetic starter.

If it does not have one of these: Square D 8536SCG2V03 Magnetic Motor Starter, it's a pretend 5 hp.

When you look at the better 2 stage compressors, in HD, or Sam's Club, etc, they come with a mag starter prewired, and hung on the unit.

Lawn mower engine makers have been engaging in the same baloney.

 

[k0ua]

be kinda like saying your wall outlet was 340vac Peak to peak.. or 170vac peak.. or.. what we all see.. 120vac RMS ( root mean square )

Good Points!
James K0UA

 

[David7]

Are you sure you need to go the pneumatic tool route?

Pneumatic tools remove sparking/electrocution hazards in flammable or wet shops.

If these conditions aren't a factor, electric tools are more efficient and convenient with no need to run a big compressor.

In my shop, I get by easily with a small 120v for tire pumping, blowing and paint spraying needs, and use electric for the tools.

 

[Bird]

electric tools are more efficient and convenient

I think I'd have to disagree with that. Generally speaking, electric tools are cheaper, but heavier, more awkward to use, and less powerful. Yes, I know you can find an exception to every rule, but they really are the exception. I've owned two electric half inch impacts and that's just fine if you don't have a compressor, but they were considerably heavier and less powerful. There are some electric drills that are very powerful, but also heavier, and I know of some pneumatic drills that are far superior. I've also owned electric angle grinders. They'll do the job, but the pneumatic ones I've used were so much nicer.

 

[David7]

Bird,

You're right on the power to weight and ease of use of pneumatics - if the compressor is big enough. They are nicer.

But by electric tools being more efficient, I mean for the homeowner / part time shop user, the overall cost of electric is much less. More efficient use of your dollars. Also it's more convenient in that you don't need 220v if it's not available, a big tank taking up garage space or have to wait for pressure if it hasn't been used for awhile.

For professional, daily shop use, or someone who needs the best and has the cash, everything pneumatic, yes. For most homeowners, it's not needed.

Another possibility too, is combining both electric and lower consumption air tools like the impact tools, with a smaller 120v compressor. They take less air than the air motors like grinders. A smaller 120v compressor will handle a 1/2" impact wrench. Personally I just wouldn't go with a big 220v compressor unless I worked in the shop more fulltime.

 

[Bird]

OK, David, I agree.

 

[radioman]

I had a 3 hp hotdog devilbliss compressor for 9 years until the brushes finally burned up. I used it for everything, impact wrench, rachet, blowgun, fill air, touch up spray painting, air chisel. Granted I have to keep waiting for air, but once I got the air needed, I was able to use it in short bursts. It did fine as long you had the patience. I ended up with largest kobalt 120v twin pumps. and its so much better then before. I agree that you should buy the largest one you can afford, it will giv eyou less aggravation. Granted I wont be able to sandblast contiunously, but at least I'll have a semi portable unit on 120volts. I think it all depends on your current needs.

 

[ray66v]

Another possibility too, is combining both electric and lower consumption air tools like the impact tools, with a smaller 120v compressor. They take less air than the air motors like grinders.

That's what we do.

The big air grinders will really tax even a good size compressor.

They cost more, have less torque for the money, get really cold, cause the compressor to make a lot of water, and need expensive high volume piping, hoses, & fittings, for best performance.

Get 2 or 3 guys using one at the same time, and a 10 hp, 2 stage compressor falls behind.

Bigger than a 5" disc grinder, or buffer, I prefer to use electric. So do 9 out of 10 guys I have worked with.

I currently have a Hitachi 18 amp, 9" electric grinder that only cost $140. It's incredibly powerful, you cannot stall it. Your going to pay most of that for a good 1/2" air hose, and high volume fittings. And, you still have to buy the grinder.

 

[Soundguy]

sanders, drills and angle grinders I like electric.

impact gun and a die grinder I like air power.

soundguy

 

[Bird]

Bigger than a 5" disc grinder, or buffer, I prefer to use electric.

When I was repairing air tools, one of my customers had several Sioux 7" 1285 grinders; pneumatic, of course. They were far out of my price range, and of course, bigger and more powerful than I ever needed, but WOW! Talk about fine tools. I could repair them and check them for proper operation with my 60 gallon 230 volt V-twin compressor, but that would not have been enough compressor to work much with them.:laughing: