I'm looking at buying an air compressor in the next week or so. Have been searching around for something with enough capacity to handle air tools and painting cars in my garage. I've heard some people say use a 30-gallon, some say 60-gallon, some say more. This is my home garage, and will pretty much only be me using it, so there won't be more than 1 tool being used at a time. My concern is oiled compressor or no? I found a good deal on a 60-gallon oiled compressor but have heard this isn't good for painting. This 60-gallon is the same price as a new 30-gallon, so I'm tempted to just go ahead and buy it, but I don't want to step on my ****. Any help is appreciated...I gotta get one quick so I can start my bodywork on my 2 trucks. Thanks!
i have a 60 gal 5hp 220v one and have had no problems painting with it. only thing is if you use it for a long time (continuiously) it gets water build-up....keeping the water in the line down is the trick. i'm using a 2hp 8gal compressor at my mom's to do repair work..............
Take a good look at the SCFM rating before you buy. Die grinders, sanders, and the like use a ****load of air. I've got a Craftsman 5hp 30 gal. It's rated around 7 SCFM if I remember right, and I get about 10 seconds worth of use outta my die grinders before the compressor kicks in. My D.A. sander will go about 30 sec. before it quits turning, it ****s the air out of the compressor so fast. My buddy's got the same compressor but with a 60 Gal tank, and it's not much better. I've sprayed cars with his compressor, using a Devilbiss HVLP gun, and the compressor kicks in about once per quart of paint sprayed.
don't even THINK about getting an oiless compressor, even for painting. a proper filter will remove any oil in the air from the pump. i just dropped a fair chunk of change for an Eaton compressor, i'm waiting very anxiously for it to arrive!
I just got my first brand new compressor, and stole it to boot as it was the last Coleman compressor that are Costco would carry, and was marked down because it was the display model. Nothin at all wrong with it but a bunch of fingerprints on the glossblack surface. 60 Gal., 3.6 "running hp", oiling, upright 220 volt. Got it home, and then realized it was meant to hard wire , so one of our own from the HAMB, came over and got me set in no- time. Thanks "scott". I painted a buddies cycle parts just last weekend and it worked great. The other thing i did right a way was make a trip over to Harbor Freight and picked up a $20.00 regulator/oiler so i don't have to drain the water **** everytime i use it. I'v already started work on a pvc pipe air supply system to the middle of my garage so that i can hardline my sandblaster, and have several quick disconnect plugs so i can have several tools hooked up at once. Now if i could just get in the garage.
First thing to check is the scfm rating usually listed at 90 psi. You want at least 10 scfm (standard cubic feet per minute) at 90 psi. Any less and you won't be able to run a sandblast cabinet, sander etc. You may not have these tools yet but you don't want to limit yourself. Or if you do I have a slightly used 30 gallon I'll sell ya! Also get a good filter/regulator unit the filter will pull the moisture out for painting. Also if you want get a dryer to really "clean" the air.
Please reconsider the use of PVC for your hard lines. Over time (sometimes long periods of time) there are things that will break down the PVC. I believe OIL is the main offender. While there will naturally be those who are on BOTH sides of this topic I would suggest that you talk with the MANUFACTURER of the PVC you are using. After all who would know better than "him". Good luck with your new compressor.
I have to agree here, 100% Get the biggest compressor/tank combo you can afford, I think you'll find there's not a BIG difference in price from a 30-60 gallon tank when you look at what you're spending. A 220 unit is also more desirable, some can be wired to 110 or 220 though. Spend a few bucks on a good regulator and water trap / filter and you're in business. Just my 2 cents, good luck.
Get more compressor than you think you will ever need. It still won't be enough. I use a 6hp 2 stage with an 80 gal tank rated at 26 cfm at 90 psi. There are times when I wish it had more capacity.
Go for the highest C.F.M. rating you can afford. Typically this is synonymous with higher H.P. ratings but be cautious-there's a lot of s--- in the game when Air compressor mfrs sell Horsepower. Look for at least a 5 H.P. unit where the motor is rated at 1725/1750 R.P.M. A 5 H.P. motor at 3450 R.P.M. ain't the same and a compressor so equipped will not produce the same amount of air as the the one with the slower motor. The problem is that the fast one runs its (smaller) pump faster and produces hotter compressed air which then cools off in the tank and has less effective pressure. A 5 H.P./1725 unit will need 220 v. supply but you will be happier in the long run. I notice that recently compressors for the home market are being marketed based on "running horsepower" which IMO is just another ploy to get you to buy less than you bargained for.
Ray is right! Oilless compressors are a complete waste of $$$$$$$$$ Worthless as ***s on a boar hog. I'm thinking of rolling mine out to the curb for bulk pickup day
get as big a compressor as you can. the bigger the better. stay away from the oil less ones, they're really loud.
I have learned a lot in last few years about compressors-- Any of the chain store, brand name type ones, ,sears, home depot, lowes,tractor supply ..are all junk As a matter of fact,the mfgs of all of these types of units, lost a cl*** action law suit for overating their machines... Don't waste your money on any of these -- My friend owns a biz www.greenvalleycompressor.com Please check with them for the facts, Mike will be the point of contact for most of the sales work .. John knows the tech side , they can and do ship nation wide -- They service and stand by everything they sell 100% .. Before you waste money on junk, please at least contact them and ask questions -- PS. Don't use PVC pipe to plumb your system, very dangerous
60gal, 6.5hp Campbell Hausefield...Harbor Freight back in '98...$430. It's never used a drop of oil(**** the junk "maintenance free" ones), I can run die grinders and tools all day long. Slap a regulator and a filter on it to do paint work. This thing is remarkable. I'd get something comparable to it. And I want to say that the SCFM on it is 11.5, so it recovers quickly.
DITTO Get a 2 stage bigger than you think you need today. Think long term. I have an 80 gal 5 hp upright. A tool not a toy.
Sounds good, I'm going to try to get it this weekend. It's a Craftsman 60-gal, 2-stage, 6.5hp, 11.5 scfm @ 90. Thanks for everyone's help.
how does it compare to this one, Eatons cheapest unit: http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catalog/item/504747/172983.htm i shopped everywhere before ordering mine, i got a slightly bigger one, their 5hp 2 stage for $1100. they now include even more "freebies" on this unit than listed on their site. http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catalog/item/504747/206949.htmyeah it's a chunk of change, but when you look at their specs, NOBODY else is building a similar unit built for long life...that a home builder can afford. these things look to be bulletproof, super slow cast iron pumps, big powerful motors, magnetic starters, tons of features you just won't find on lesser compressors. the hard thing about shopping them, is when you look at the next larger compresser they have, you go "ooh, ooh, that ones only 200 more and has a lot more features!" i had a hard time not getting an even bigger one. i know i sound like a salesman for them, but i've heard nothing bad about them.
I plumbed everything I needed in my garage with about $50 worth of copper from Home Depot. Its just not wrth risking it with PVC. I boutght the coupligs that already had the solder in them. You paint on the flux and heat it with propane torch until you see a little solder dreep out around the joint. Don't risk your safety for a couple of $s and just slightly more effort.
Nice try Hemi! I agree with you, no PVC. But "HIP" is very hard headed and he likes to learn things that hard way. He should know better to since he worked here at our facilities maintenance shop for sometime, we never run PVC for air lines. Satin
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