I've got an old (50's) one lung air compressor,without even a pressure regulator, and it's time to move up. Mostly, I use the one I have now for for filling tires and cleaning off parts, but it would be so nice to have an air hammer,chisels, and even a sander. I understand I should be looking at CFM at 90 psi as a way to compare different compressors,not horsepower or maximum PSI. And I read I'd need at least 5cfm @90psi to run a sander,which I'd like to do,I think. So Craftsman has a good looking one on sale, but it's only rated at 4cfm @90 psi. Lowes has this one for only $25 more and it's rated at 5.4. But I see it's also not UL or CSA(?) rated. What do you air guys think? Thanks. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=203680-70-D55168&lpage=none
I have the craftsman one, and it's barely adequate. It's great, but I wish it had more output because it can't always keep up.
"Efficient high pressure motor allows the compressor to be run with an extension cord (12-gallon or heavier, 50' or less) due to consistent amp draw requirements of the compressor" Maybe the company that created the website doesn't know the UL status as they obviously don't know how to size extension cords. Do some investigating on it, usually the store brands are built by the big names. I opted to buy a bigger one because I knew I would push the limits of the small one if I bought it. Turns out that because I bought the bigger one I am pushing the limits of that one, I knew I should have purchased an industrial one
Mine is a three cylinder PUMA and it is great. 24 CFM at 90 psi runs anything i got with out any problem at all .American make and as i recall it didn't cost an arm and a leg.
I bought a 60 gallon upright from Lowes on sale for less than that price.\ I think I'd shop some more. They stopped carrying Kobalts in that size. I paid 290.00 right after Christmas.
Get a two stage and at least 12 cfm at 90 to be happy. Any of the single stage crapsmen or husky (like mine) are loud and take for ever to fill and won't run a DA or a blast cabinet etc.
I'll second that. Single stage motors are loud and annoying as hell and you'll be praying for it to hurry up and fill so it will shut the hell off (so will your neighbors). A nice big two stage motor that just puts along is the way to go.
i got my eye on a two stage 220 compressor at home depot... not sure of the brand, but its got a SCFM rating of 11@90psi...
i just got a craftsman on sale around christmas but im 99% sure its still on sale...its a 33gallon/150 psi....really nice
Fiddy, check that out again at Home depot. They have a Husky brand 60 gal twin cyl but I don't think that is a 2-stage. I could be wrong though, if I am PM me a brand and model number because at that price I might upgrade mine.
I would advise you to stay away from the *oil-less* type compressors.....they run very loudly, they generally can't keep up with air tools, and they break down much sooner than a good cast iron with oil pan compressor..........I have a 60 gallon upright Kobalt from LOWE'S with a 7 hp motor that runs quietly and it never has to run hard to keep up with air tools.......paid $420 for it on sale about 2 years ago........ Repeat.......do not get an oilless one...........I was sorry...twice..... Brucie
Craftsman Aircompressers Have a bad habit of capacitors going bad and tripping breakers. Mine did. Direct drives are very loud buy a belt drive much better. If I could launch my craftsman in to space I would I have heared nothing but good things about Cobalt compressers though.
Do not get an oil-less period. I am a contractor and have tried the husky with the 30 gal tank . It would last 4 months and i would have to return it. [ it also came with a tool kit impact gun / air ratchet / air hammer / die grinder] I never reutrned the tool kits so i have four of everything. I would only run 2 nail guns and it would still not last. I finally got tired of returning them and bought a small Hitichi and use the 30 gal tank for volume. MY opinion is get a twin tank roll away emglo and get a large tank for volume. Nail guns dont use alot of air but sanders / spray guns / body tools piss through air like crazy. As mentioned belt drives are quiet and that is a BIG plus. Spend more money and get a good one it will last more then twice as long. I have had great luck with Emglo. Zero luck with husky or off brand stuff. Those store brand pumps are cheap for a reason . chineese crap. If you get an emglo and use it on weekends or maybe a little more it will last the rest of your life. For a little tiny pump , the Hitachi is a worker , but loud , I keep mine in my truck so i dont have to listen to it while working. The twin tank Emglo " wheel barrel " unit [ has handles and one small wheel in the front " is the most quiet compressor i have ever seen , It recovers fast and can be set to run continusiously and the pump kicks in when needed or the electric motor can be set to come on and off [ which tends to blow breakers] All of the 60 gallon tanks @ home depot are 220 V and need to be hard wired and not portable. SOmething to consider when buying a pump. Portable is nice.
Not sure about your area, but the Dallas craigslist frequently has some decent industrial compressors for sale in that price range. Just make sure you don't get one with 3-phase power unless you have 3-phase in your shop. I had a single-stage 60-gal Campbell-Hausfield from Lowe's before they started putting the Kobalt stickers on them. I think it was rated at 10.3 cfm @ 90psi. It worked pretty good, but you could tell it was struggling to keep up with my DA sander. It was pretty loud, too. I've since picked up a used Ingersoll 2-stage and I'm much much happier with it.
A couple of times I've exceeded the capacity of my floor mount compressor and had to hook up my portable with a T connector . Don't dump your old one use it in line with your new one to add to the capacity .
pretty much a waste of money/the oilless run very noisy and more heat means more moisture and they have alot shorter life span// good for inflating tires and pnumatic playmates is about it
So esentially what is the differacne between a single and a 2 stage machine...and do all 2 stages need one of those magnetic(?) aux starters to get em goin??
I will probably get creamed for this, but simply it will have 2 compression cylinders, where the first one pumps into the second one and the second one into the tank. A single stage will have the compressor(s) pump directly to the tank. By aux starter are you thinking of a capacitor start? Again I am not totally sure about them but it is a common thing on heavy duty AC motors.
In a nutshell one cylinder (stage) feeds the next stage and, simply put, they result in higher pressure. Only the the bigger motors need mag starters. My 25 year old 5 horse/30 gallon 2 stage compressor has always worked fine with just a capacitor start motor. My new 5 horse/80 gallon Curtis needs a mag starter. The motor is physically much bigger, and it has a lot mor compressor to spin, even though the compressor freewheels on startup. Paul '56 Nomad
The 2-stage compressors usually have one cylinder slightly larger than the other. They are also usually arranged in a "v-twin" fashion rather than an inline. As previously mentioned, one cylinder compresses the air and sends it to the second cylinder, which further compresses the air before sending it into the tank. The "v-twin" models usually have some type of plumbing going from the head of one cylinder to the other. There are many compressors on the market today that use multiple cylinders, but are still single stage. If you are looking at new ones. a two-stage will say so on the tag/label.web site, etc. If it doesn't say something about being 2-stage, it probably isn't. The ones with the separate starter are usually — but not always — 3-phase electricity (if you have 3-phase wiring in your shop, you already know it.) The magnetic starter helps high-torque motors get going without tripping the breaker. Once they have enough inertia, the motors don't pull nearly as many amps.
Got the same compressor, had a wore out 20 yr. old single stage, went to buy a 2 stage, the salesman talked me into buying a 3 cyl. Puma, had it about 6 yrs. now, and it's all that. I have a small 1 man shop, and don't run multiple air tools, but this compressor can easily keep up with any air tool I use. It's American made pretty cheap, around $600.00, and quieter than most other compressors Iv'e been around.
Thanks for the info guys ...sold my old single stage cause I didnt wanna drag it half way across the country when we moved.Ordered an 80 gallon 2 stage last week from Home Depot 13 cfm @ 90 psi 7 HP, a little less cfm than the old single stage 60 gallon might be a little slow for sand blasting than the other...cant wait to find out...havent even welded anything in almost a year,gettin severe withdrawel!!
I started with a single stageand then got my 1955 Erie 13cfm 4 hp, I won't need anything else I think it will out live me. OLD HEMI
An air compressor is one of the most important equipment purchases you will ever make. BIGGER is better and size DOES matter. A two stage is the only way you can get it. 15 CFM is just adequate, at least 20 to 25 CFM is just right. If you ever run a DA, inline sander, bead blaster cabinet or sandblaster you will regret a smaller, lower CFM compressor. Another thing to watch is the RPM the pump and motor run at: lower RPM = less wear, longer use, less heat, less noise. Its good if the pump runs at 1000 RPM or less. Look for the heavy cast iron pumps, stay away from the aluminum ones. I am using a 1 Campbell Hausfeld 27.2 CFM at 90 psi 80 gallon tank model and have been very satisfied with its performance for the last 12 years. I paid $1299.00 for it back then at Tractor Supply. Here is a good website to compare different air compressors: http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/catalog/shopbycfm.php If you are near a Tractor Supply Store they have a good selection and they may give you an additional 10% off if you push them. http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp...y_10551_10001_111026_14169__14151|14152|14169 They have one for $1149 that's 15.8 CFM at 175 psi, which would probably be good for 18-19 CFM at 90 psi. http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp..._____14151|14152|14169|35688?listingPage=true
I purchased an industrial Campbell American 80 gal. 3 phase on ebay for $400, barely used. I then purchased an three phase inverter, rarely used, for $400. Runs quiet enough that I can talk over it, and has almost endless pressure. I'd shop harder if I were you, as I almost did what you are thinking of...
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