Hook Together 2 Single stage 60 gallon compressors or One 2 stage 60gal compressor?

[goodoleboy]

I was thinking for the same money I can buy the same brand (puma) comressors for $860..Specs are 60 gallon single stage regualtor shuts off at 135psi..

Or for $899 I can buy one two stage Puma 60 gallon, an 80 gallon for $999 ..Both of these higher priced 2 stages shut down the Regulator at 165psi..


I would like to hook two of the cheaper ones together to run a sand blaster and other consumption use air tools..Instead of buying one compressors.. I like the idea of 2 compressors where "all my eggs are not in one basket" if one breaks..

Plus this would only be for a few high use items basically the sand blaster, not used all the time..

Plus if things get bad financially or dont need both at some point I could always sell one and keep one..

Any ideas? What would you do?

 

[hr3]

How do the CFM compare between the 2 setup's ???

 

[mbrule]

hr3 is right compare the rated cfm at usage pressure with each set up you need a lot of air to sandblast.

Second consider the duty cycle, not all compressors are rated for such hard use and will get real hot making a lot of water that you will need to filter out.

I used to sandblast using a very old (rebuilt) Kellog 2 stage compressor, connected in parallel with a $500 single stage 60 gallon compressor. I used a 3/32 nozzle (very small) and fine sand. I had the pressure switches set so the old compressor would run continuously and the other would kick in when needed. Pretty much killed the $500 unit!!! The old Kellog could run forever, nothing like old stuff built to last!

I now have a $1500 2 stage, IMC brand (I think), I can run a larger nozzle (1/8 or worn 3/32), and it keeps up well, I can't let the nozzle wear much past 1/8" though.

This is with a pressure sandblaster....

I also have a cabinet with a siphon feed blaster, that, on the old setup had to run all small nozzles and air jets, making it very slow and constantly plugging. Now I can run larger and it works much better, set it up with a dust collector too, but that is another story....


In summary, unless you are going to do VERY limited sandblasting and have access to finer grade sand (I use "50", must places carry 00 I don't know exactly how to explain the numbers, but 50 is finer, running 00 through a 3/32 nozzle results in a lot of plugging) you will likely want more compressor than you are currently considering from a cfm and duty cycle point of view.

Sorry for rambling and I hope it helps!

Matt

 

[LD1]

By hooking the two single stage ones together, I am assuming you mean to do it to increase volume, and NOT try to get up to the 165-175PSI right???

And if thats the case, I dont see any problems with it. But the only hurdle you may have to cross will be with the regulator (or whatever its called) that tells the pump to kick back on when the PSI drops to a certain point. They aren't "exact" enough to kick the pumps back on at the "exact same time". One may start running well ahead of the other. And if that happens "right" before you take a break from blasting, you may end up with one pump running WAY more hours than the other.

The easiest way around this that I can see would be after you connect the two tanks together, just use the one regulator to control BOTH pump/motor units.

 

[Western]

I worked for a guy that ran a set up like you are thinking primarily for sand blasting with a 200# pot, it ended up being a PITA. What he ended up doing was buying a nice used Curtis 100% duty cycle with I think 80 gal tank, then a large separate tank that was probably 100 gal+ or so. That system worked real good, we blasted parts probably 3-4 hours a day. 1 pump 2 tanks better CFM.

I also have used cheaper compressors for my own blasting and haven't had much luck, what I've ended up doing is buying an old Leroi 120 pull behind ( $500 at auction) for my 100# pot and we also have a 185 IR ($2400 from rental fleet) pull behind for the #300 pot. I would never go back to a shop type compressor for blasting.

 

[mbrule]

I worked for a guy that ran a set up like you are thinking primarily for sand blasting with a 200# pot, it ended up being a PITA. What he ended up doing was buying a nice used Curtis 100% duty cycle with I think 80 gal tank, then a large separate tank that was probably 100 gal+ or so. That system worked real good, we blasted parts probably 3-4 hours a day. 1 pump 2 tanks better CFM.

I also have used cheaper compressors for my own blasting and haven't had much luck, what I've ended up doing is buying an old Leroi 120 pull behind ( $500 at auction) for my 100# pot and we also have a 185 IR ($2400 from rental fleet) pull behind for the #300 pot. I would never go back to a shop type compressor for blasting.

"1 pump 2 tanks better CFM" That is not so, the pump will make only so many CFM! An extra tank will provide more volume so an inadequate pump will have a bit of a head start. But once it falls behind, you will be no better off....

 

[Western]

"1 pump 2 tanks better CFM" That is not so, the pump will make only so many CFM! An extra tank will provide more volume so an inadequate pump will have a bit of a head start. But once it falls behind, you will be no better off....

You are right, I worded that wrong. We had a more consistent cfm with one pump vs the set up with 2 pumps he had previously.

 

[SPYDERLK]

goodoleboy, pls answer post #2. 2 stage compressors are more efficient, and deliver cooler air due to intercooling between the stages and better valving. They are vastly superior at pressures above 90 because the combined 2stage compression ratio is huge compared to that available in a single stage.
larry

 

[kenmac]

"1 pump 2 tanks better CFM" That is not so, the pump will make only so many CFM! An extra tank will provide more volume so an inadequate pump will have a bit of a head start. But once it falls behind, you will be no better off....

I agree. I had to purchase a $1500.00 (several years ago) compressor to get my sand blaster to perform.. You need alot of air to operate a sand blaster

 

[mbrule]

I agree. I had to purchase a $1500.00 (several years ago) compressor to get my sand blaster to perform.. You need alot of air to operate a sand blaster

And that is about the minimum (in my opinion) if you do any amount of blasting at all.