Shop compressor recommendation

silver_pilate

silver_pilate

Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
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Hey gang, my wifey wants to buy me something for our anniversary which is coming up next month (sweet lady :) ). Anyhow, I've never had a compressor at the shop, and I figure it's time. This would be for occasional use, and portable is needed because I can't really run air lines around this shop (rented 20x40' unit with 20' ceilings and metal walls). Most uses I can anticipate would be for an air nozzle, impact wrench, die grinder, etc.

Anyhow, locally we have a Sears, Lowes, Home Depot, and Sutherlands. I'd rather stay away from HF compressors as I need this to last. Any recommendations in the $300-$400 range?

--nathan
 
I bought a craftsman compressor about 5 years ago. oil-less teflon piston. its an upright and on 2 wheels. its still going with no signs of slowing down. at first I was skeptical of the oiless design, and bought the extended warranty because I was sure I would need it.
well that was wasted money. it has never so much as hiccuped. I cant remember if its 1.5 horse of 3 horse (I have it in a cabinet to reduce noise) but I've never lacked for air. I run everything from impact wrenches and die grinders to you name it, and it was only about 200 bucks ( 5 years ago)

if you have a bigger budget you should also look at Emglo compressors, (they make compressors for Dewalt) and they are very nice

hope this helps
 
Hi Nathan

I would go by tank capacity and capable pressure . Large tank and hi pressure . Remember all the horror stories with blast cabinets and too small of tank size and pressures . Get a long hose ( 50 ft at least ) and several fittings for future tools .
 
ONeill said:
Hi Nathan

I would go by tank capacity and capable pressure . Large tank and hi pressure . Remember all the horror stories with blast cabinets and too small of tank size and pressures . Get a long hose ( 50 ft at least ) and several fittings for future tools .
Click to expand...

..not tank size
...and as we know air compressor Horse Power ratings are complete BS
http://www.truetex.com/aircompressors.htm

Use SCFM to compare compressors
some small pancake construction type compressors have a much much higher output than the stationary tank types.

You can always get a used out of service 100gallon propane tank as a cheap surge tank
 
I was looking at some Campbeel Hausfields, but there are terrible reviews online for the two I was looking at. Multiple reports of failed compressors after the first one or several uses.

--nathan
 
I use air tool for almost everything in my shop and am on my third compressor. The rating that means the most to me is cfm (cubic feet per minute) @ 90 psi, this is how much air the compressor makes. Air tools generally list the air requirement needed to operate both in cfm and psi. More is better just ask a girl.
 
I have the 33 gallon model Craftsman from Sears and it does pretty good.
It won't run a die grinder for more than a minute or so before needing to refill, but did good running my framing hammer and sheet metal tools when I was putting up the ductwork in my house.
 
From my shop experiences, I would NEVER recommend one of the Direct drive/oil-less compressors. Everyone that I have ever purchased or used has gone "Tango-Uniform" within a month. I once purchased 6 of them for our unit when I was in the military.....all we ran were small items, and all 6 went out in the first month.

For long life and durability, you simply cannot beat a tank/compressor/motor setup. I personally have an Ingersol-Rand 60 gallon, with a 2 stage compressor, running on 5 hp motor. It's been in place for nearly 12 years, and in all that time the only thing I've replaced is a head gasket (my fault for blowing the first one), and have changed the oil twice. If you do get a larger model, put a rubber mat under it and bolt it down. Also, make sure that prior to putting it in place you plumb the drain for easy access. Moisture is an enemy to compressors...drain the tank often, and well...if you do it will last for many years.

Think of the capacity you THINK your going to need, and go one step above that. If you have a blast cabinet, or ever get one, it takes a LOT of air, both pressure and CFM to run it. My compressor will do for a couple of blades worth, but beyond that it can't keep up....I SHOULD have gone biggger, but like you, my Mrs. purchased it for me as a gift....so I wasn't about to squawk! ;)

Finally, if you plumb air throughout your shop, spend the money on a good pressure regulator/Air Dryer combo....nothing makes more of a mess than to pull the trigger on your bead blast cabinet, and it squirts water into the cabinet! (Yep, I pulled that one!) :o
 
I really like piston type compressors. You know, old school, cast iron, oil, cranks, pistons etc. They're quiet and last forever. The new oil less high speed diaphragm pumps are loud and I don't think they hold up as well.

I had been keeping my compressors in a little building out back and ran the air up to the shop in an underground air line. Keeps the noise and heat out of my working area. I developed a leak in this air line which stressed my main compressor (one of those crappy oil less things) and it threw a rod. Metal shrapnel and ball bearings on the floor. I was in the middle of a run and couldn't stop so I pressed an old piston compressor into service and it seized up too. By this time the leak was obviously pretty bad.

My lathe and the mill I was using both require air to run, for air valves etc. Won't work without air, dead in the water. So I went to Lowes and got a Cobalt twin piston air compressor for something south of $400. It looks like this:
AAAAAn6yNaQAAAAAAMYajw.jpg

I put in down there, half expecting it to die, and it ran nonstop for a couple 8 hour days until I got finished and I could give it some attention. I changed the oil in it, and because it is so quiet, eventually installed it up in the shop. It is kind of portable (handle and wheels) and I'm really happy with it. Build in USA, works, cheap.
 
Nathan, I looked at that very compressor this evening in the local Lowes. It seems to have good reviews, and it looks to be built well. I think that may end up being the ticket for the stuff I need right now in what I can get locally. It's a 30 gallon tank and the compressor puts out something like 5.3CFM at 90psi at 155psi max pressure. Likely not enough for sand blasting, but good enough for the stuff I need. Thanks everyone!

--nathan
 
If you want a lot of air for occasional use you can't beat the gasoline engine powered piston style compressors. I have one that is a two stage 175PSI unit and I can run anything including a sand blaster.....
 
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