Air Compressors

Charles L

Charles L

Joined
Feb 20, 2008
Messages
138
This is a little off subject but I used my old compressor to run several things in my knife shop. It finally burned out and I have to buy a new one. Since I know nothing about air compressors except what the salesman says, I was in hopes I could get some info here. Question is: If you had the funds available would you buy a 60 gal. 5hp single stage 15.5 cfm @ 135psi max, 18cfm @ 90 psi or would you buy a 80 gal. 7.5hp two stage 24 cfm @ 175psi max.
24.3cfm @ 90 psi? For a knife shop, would the 175psi, two stage really ever be needed? Is there much, if anything, that the large one could be used for that the smaller one couldn't handle? What do you guys think?
 
If it were me, I would get the bigger one. I have several automotive air tools that run better with a bigger compressor. While the hi pressure might be nice once in a while, the higher flow is what really is important to me. That said, the 5 hp is noisyer but also physically smaller and less expensive.
 
I vote for the larger comp. If you need it then you have it. Two stage is the way to go, especially if in the future you take up auto painting or like JT said sandblasting or other high volume air needs.
 
larger comp if you can afford it. then when you get set up to bead blast i will drop by and test it out ;). right now im setting up a bead blasting contraption using a scuba tank with a low preshure reg.
 
better to have the bigger one and not need the capacity, than to need the bigger cap, and not have it...
 
Go with the 2 stage if you can afford it.
BTW the direct drive especially the Sears and other brands by the same OEM should be avoided! I have a belt drive sears that I moved up to my house in Syracuse, which meant my shop in Ithaca needed a compressor, got the direct drive Sears, the thing is noisy as hell doesn't deliver significant volume (recovery times are agonizingly long and painfully loud) I hate the thing, and will probably build a little shed to park it in outside because of the noise problem. If at all possible see if you can actually plug in and listen to what you're going to buy to make sure it's something you can live in.


-Page
 
I'd say the larger one. I did the opposite and regret it to this day. Even small cut off wheel air tools use a ton of air. My little single stage can't keep up and I have to wait long periods for the compressor to catch up.
 
sunshadow has already said this, but . . .

Whatever you do, try to get a belt driven compressor to greatly reduce the noise.

Unless you use more than one tool at a time, you shouldn't need much more than about 12 cfm to run a die grinder (these require a lot of cfm).

Mike L.
 
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