I need to buy an air compressor but can't really decide which one to get. I am a paint and body guy and have a lot of snap on air tools and air sanders that use quite a bit of air along with my paint gun (SATA jet 3000 hvlp). I have looked at quite a bit but not really sure what I need. This is for home use, not for a shop. Also I would like to be able to run a sandblaster, not for really long periods of time but for cleaning up hard to get to areas and smaller parts. Anyways I was thinking about getting one of these ingersoll rands but don't know if I really need an 80 gallon http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200318501_200318501 or if the 60 gallon http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200318461_200318461 would be fine. Then I started looking at this one http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200350475_200350475 which seems to have higher ratings and a way longer pump life but still don't really know what to buy. I don't want a compressor that is constantly running and loosing air pressure, but do I really need an 80 gallon? Any help and info would be appreciated. I'm young and don't know a whole lot about them. Thanks.
It's all about CFM and tank size Detirmine your needs and then get a bigger one. A 2 stage will usually be more than enough for all but the most demanding shops. Figure on spending at least a G note! Good Luck KK
When you have enough to get that big compressor you are looking at , take a couple months and save some more money for the biggest one you can get your hand on ! the bigger is the better when it comes to air compressors ! Retro Jim
May want to look on local classifieds as well.. I got this one for $550. 80 gallon 2 stage single phase 220v.
Two-stage, for sure. They run at a higher tank pressure (generally), so given the same tank capacity, there is more stored air, at the same delivery pressure/rate.
I have the IR single stage compressor with a 60 gallon tank, 14 to 15 cfm at 175psi. Home use, I paint a lot, use lots of air tools, and use a bead-blaster. It has yet to run out of oomff. Sand blasting (large sandblaster) needs way more air (cfm) than any of those 3 kick out. But for home shop use, 14 to 15 cfm at 175psi should be plenty fine. Storage capacity (gallons) only affects how often your compressor needs to kick on. CFM is the biggest feature to focus on.
That IR 2 stage 80 gal in your first link is a good one. I have one but I got mine at Tractor Supply for $999 instead of the $1399 Northern wants
Check the farm and ranch stores in the area as they usually have big capacity compressors at good prices like Dontiac picked up at Tractor Supply.
I bought a IR Type 30; which had a 80 gallon tank. It was an air compressor out of a car wash. I paid $300 for it and replaced the 3phase motor with a 5HP single phase motor; which cost me another $300. Buy the biggest air compressor you can find, you won't be sorry.
You should go over to the Garage Journal and look around. Lots of good advice there. Something to watch out for is the brand of motor. Baldor is the best, some guys were having trouble with the cheaper Emersons found on some of the IRs. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples when pricing. Also, look for one that runs at 1700 rpm instead of 3400.
The Quincey is the best on the market. They turn slower and produce more CFM which is what you need. The cheaper models that say 5HP run faster and are unbearably noisy. You have to live with this for a long time. Thik about it. Pat
Don't be fooled by the Horse power game. Many claim high hp, but it is "peak" hp, meaning the hp just before it blows up. The only things to be concerned is the rpm,low is best, the Cubic feet per minuit and the duty cycle (the amount of time that it can run per hour with out over heating) I bought a 6000 lb winch from Harbor Fright that has only a 5% duty cycle. (thats 45 seconds in 15 minuits!) The duty cycle statement was inside of the sealed box.
I've heard good things about these they say they're not loud also . I'm thinking about selling mine and getting one of these. http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catalog/item/504747/9380985.htm
I bought a Quincy from Northern Tools about three years ago and it works great. 60 gallon tank, 2 stage cast iron pump and runs on 220VAC. they are made in America.
And yet another vote for Quincy. My 10 hp 3 phase 2stage pump machine is one hell of a thing. I can run a sand blast cabinet with a high volume nozzle and have someone running a die grinder at the same time and the machine still cycles. My 5hp 220v, 2 stage Speedaire would choke and die if I tried that.
You can never have too much air. I started with a 2 hp. I added a 3 HP and used them both. Next came a 20 hp and I used all three at times. Then I bought a 30 hp screw comp that was enough, for a while... Next was a diesel 145 cfm to keep my sand blaster going and the shop ran on the 30 hp. I have a 10 hp and a 5 hp as spares now to back up the 30 hp and the diesel. Without air you have to close the shop.
We have a 3 cylinder Eaton at our shop with a 5 hp motor on it. But the motor isn't like one of the motors you see on the typical Home Depot compressors, it is so big it has a lift ring on top and we used our engine lift to move it around. The shaft on the motor is something like 1 1/8 inches in diameter. I already had an 80 gallon tank so I just bought the compressor unit and the motor from Eaton, and I built a steel platform for them to mount on. It supplies all the air we need, and Eaton has been great to deal with. These are also made right here in the USA. Over the 5 or 6 years we have had them we have had a motor and a compressor unit die, but Eaton sent us two brand new units at no charge and they paid the shipping costs. So I have to say only good things about them. Don
I've got a 3 cylinder Puma i've had for at least 10 years, out runs any thing i run with it, plenty of air for painting or sanding, and i use the hell out of it
Well I think I'm going to go with the Quincy 60 gallon 2 stage. Think that will be enough for air sanders, grinders and painting? I would like an 80 gallon but its 400 more and I can't really afford it right now. I was going to get the ingersoll rand 80 gallon 2 stage but have read a lot of things about either the motor or compressor going out. Figured I should get something that's all American made.
start witha 80 gal tnk the find a blown up 60 gal and hook the 2 together for 140 gal should run most air tools
If there is a used industrial supply place near you, check it out. You can also look into woodworking machinery consignment places, I got a giant IR for less than a third of a new one. Better than the new ones too. I've done just regular maintenance, nothing major at all. It was ten years old when I got it, I've put 15 years plus on it!
I'm running a C'air with a 7 1/2 hp 3 cylinder 80 gal tank. It is the largest single phase motor they make. I can run 2 air tools at once, and run a primer gun with a 2.0 tip with ease.
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