Compressors recommendations

[He Man]

Im looking for a new compressor.

Does anyone know of a good compressor for under $300 bucks? Not sure whats the max CFM's i can get for that kind of money, but id like it to run the occasional air tool and a sandblaster. looks like something around 8CFMs will work.

i saw this one over at HF....http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=55996 not sure if the brand is any good. WIll need to run 220v up to my garage though.

[Grampa]

Im looking for a new compressor.

Does anyone know of a good compressor for under $300 bucks? Not sure whats the max CFM's i can get for that kind of money, but id like it to run the occasional air tool and a sandblaster. looks like something around 8CFMs will work.

i saw this one over at HF....http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=55996 not sure if the brand is any good. WIll need to run 220v up to my garage though.

I would check craigslist for used ones. with all the small business closing, I bet there are lots of newish name brand used ones out there for cheap

[He Man]

tried that cant find any, theres a bunch of diesel powered 80CFM compressors though. lol

[redial]

i have this one from ingersoll rand, i bought it mainly because of the good reputation of IR.

$600


but i was also considering this campbell housefield

$400. the one you are looking at a refurb, which saves u 80 bucks

They are both around 3.xhp and 60 gall. so far the IR works flawlessly (also runs on 220v) for all the tools ive used so far, but i have not yet gotten the
chance to do heavy sanding and painting, which are the most demanding jobs. the compressor is loud but at 60gal its hardly ever one. Id say after working
with an impact wrench, hammer, and air ratchet the motor clicks on after about 2 hrs IME


My grandfather uses a smaller horizontal rolling campbell, which he says he likes. He uses it on the bike and cars, the only issue is that it runs on 110v
and it apparently trips the breaker on startup fairly often

CH is a pretty reliable company. They are better than a craftsman from the reviews i have read. They are however not the top of the line. IR will send a tech to your house if they cant help you
trouble shoot your compressor. It also comes with a 3 or 5 year warranty. There may be a reason CH sells refurb units, and IR does not (they fail less?) both are probably fine choices

[red baron]

Sandblasters gobble up air.

If it's occasional it will be fine.

Plumb the air lines proper and you'll get extra storage capacity.

Use as big a pipe as you can afford.

1-1/2" would be ideal for painting/blasting.


For $300 it sonds like a good starter.

[redial]

btw i have gotten different opinions on whether my compressor can handle a paint sprayer, but for large paint jobs get one with over 15cfm. for small bike parts u may be able to get away with less and a smaller sprayer

[ducpainter]

Sandblasters gobble up air.

If it's occasional it will be fine.

Plumb the air lines proper and you'll get extra storage capacity.

For $300 it sonds like a good starter.

ain't that the truth...

My compressor is 17 cfm at 175 psi.

It runs constantly when I blast.

Occasional blasting...a minute or two

and blasting occasionally...once a month for hours...

are totally different things.

[64duc]

   The amount of air needed to sandblast is a function of the size nozzle you use. I can't figure out how to scan a phamphlet put out by Lindsay, a company that makes sandblasters,or you could read for yourself. Since I can't here goes.
   
3/32 in nozzle uses 10 cfm
60 to 90 lbs. Abrasive/hr
Blasts 1/2 sq ft/min

1/8 nozzle uses 16 cfm
150 to 175 lbs/hr
blasts 1 sq ft/min

3/16 nozzle uses 50 cfm
275 to 400 lbs abrasive/hr
blasts 2-1/2 sq ft/min

If you use ceramic nozzles (the least expensive) they quickly become larger.

After 35 years in the industrial supply/rental business, I can assure you that the manufacturers estimate of compressor output is optimistic to say the least.  Especially on these little homeowner units. While I'm at it I might as well tell you that air compressor cfm is stated as cubic feet per minute at 0 pressure, Free air. Tool cfm is stated as cubic feet per minute at whatever operating pressure is recommended, usually, and in the case of sandblasters, 90 psi. A whole lot of difference.


Both of the units pictured are single stage pumps. Not very efficient over 125 psi. If I had one, I would set the switch for 125. The one Ducpainter is talking about is probably a two stage 5 or 10 hp industrial unit.

[ducpainter]

Yep...

5 hp 2 stage Quincy. It's an older unit, but runs great.

I used to use a single stage 5 hp Sanborn sold as AMP (Air Moving Products) I would have to stop regularly for the thing to catch up.

Another thing to keep in mind when you pick a compressor is duty cycle. The 'homeowner' type units are not built for continuous running.

[64duc]

Yep...

5 hp 2 stage Quincy. It's an older unit, but runs great.

I used to use a single stage 5 hp Sanborn sold as AMP (Air Moving Products) I would have to stop regularly for the thing to catch up.

Another thing to keep in mind when you pick a compressor is duty cycle. The 'homeowner' type units are not built for continuous running.

Those old Quincey pumps are pretty good. One of the few with pressure oiled lower ends.

If you ever need parts talk to ACS (Air Compressor Sales) in Macon Ga. They sell wholesale to anyone with a credit card.

[ducpainter]

Those old Quincey pumps are pretty good. One of the few with pressure oiled lower ends.

If you ever need parts talk to ACS (Air Compressor Sales) in Macon Ga. They sell wholesale to anyone with a credit card.

I'm not positive this is a pressure lubed model, but I don't know for certain. Looks like any other pump.

I wish I knew that before...I bought a replacement dipstick for it. They didn't use any lube when they billed me... that's for certain.

[64duc]

I'm not positive this is a pressure lubed model, but I don't know for certain. Looks like any other pump.

I wish I knew that before...I bought a replacement dipstick for it. They didn't use any lube when they billed me... that's for certain.

I'm not positive about smaller models like that but I know the 15 hp are.  Pressure guage on the opposite end from the drive belts. 
ACS can supply parts for almost any compressor ever made.

[corndog67]

I would stay away from the Harbor Freight jobs if you are going to use it a lot.   I bought a 33 gal. Sears Craftsman on sale, I think it was discontinued, but it has 6hp peak and pumps all the air I need to run a 1/2 in. impact.   Haven't tried a spray gun, but I'm sure it will run a smaller touch up style gun.   It was about $235.   I believe it retailed for $329 last year. 

[Langanobob]

tried that cant find any, theres a bunch of diesel powered 80CFM compressors though. lol

Hard to believe you can't find smaller used compressors on CL.  Aren't you in a big city like NYC?  I tried searching the NYC Craigslist tools section and got 59 hits, most all of them smaller shop compressors.  A good used real compressor fro $300 is a lot better than a new $300 compressor.  A compressor is one of the most useful shop tools you can get, if you get a good one.  If you get a little POS it's just frustrating unless all you want to do is fill tires with it.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/search/tls?query=compressor&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max

[He Man]

smaller used compressors on CL

im looking for bigger better. i already have a little POS thats frustrating me, cant even run my air grinder for more than 8 seconds on full power. 

Put in $300 max and you get 39 hits. of those 39 hits, 1/3 of them are comparable to the 2.6cfm i have, the other are only slightly more powerful. the last third arent even air compressors, just tools that use compressors.

overall, ive never been pleased with HF stuff unless its downright cheap things that you woudlnt care if they broke. corndog, which model do u have? 6hp sounds like it can supply more CFMs then i need ATM.