Air Compressors

[RCW]

Hey guys - -

My little 25 year old Craftsman air compressor is giving up. It's a 15 gallon, oilless, 150 psi.

I've worked it very hard. I can't complain.

I've used it for stuff it shouldn't drive, but it almost always has been up to the task.

It's in my attached garage. Typical home-shop stuff; inflation, nail guns, impact wrenches/ratchets, die grinders, but I've gotten into more metal work with nibbler, shear, etc. I don't do any painting with it. Been surprised I haven't burned it up yet, but I try to be careful.

I'm thinking I want a portable, oil lubricated/belt drive, 30 gallon, vertical, 150 psi, 115v compressor?? However, these don't seem to have the CFM I want/need?? They seem to be only 5-6 CFM @ 90 PSI.

I can to 220/230v easily - I put a 220v dryer outlet in just for a compressor when I put a subpanel in this year.

Just not sure I want to dedicate the space a 60 gal stationary compressor will take up??

Been looking at Porter-Cable 30 gal at TSC, but also eyeballing the 60 gal Ingersoll-Rand there, too....

I'm obviously kind of lost here and looking for advice, so for guys in a similar spot, what do you use? Brand? Size? Happy with it??

Thanks so much!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I have both a 15 Gallon 110V portable and an 80 gallon 220V 3 cylinder.
They both have their uses but I really like the Shop one the best, it can keep up with just about everything I do.
Once you get a big compressor you'll wonder why you never had one before, it's kind of like owning a Kubota!

 

[Daren Todd]

I bought a 22 gallon harbor freight special that runs off 110 volt.

Used it to paint the tractor. Runs my impact good. Even my snap-on one that eats a bunch of air. Die grinder and air drill as well with out issues. Think I paid under $150 for it.

It's small enough to bring in the house as well for doing trim or running nail guns.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kbrothers]

Like you my 110 volt Craftsman bit the dust I went with an Ingersol 220 volt 60 gal quick recovery from TSC Ireally like it and in the corner of the shed it doesn't take up much more room than the vertical tank one it replaced Good luck with whatever you decide on Ken

 

[67Truckin]

I have the verticle 30 gal Quincy air compressor. Works great for most things but there are times I wish I had gotten the 60 or 80 gal upright. Some air tools like chisels and cut off grinders use alot of CFM which means I have to wait for the air compressor to catch up sometimes.

 

[RCW]

I went with an Ingersol 220 volt 60 gal quick recovery from TSC

Thanks, Ken. I'm in the same spot. We'll see....

 

[Tooljunkie]

I upgraded to a 60 gallon about 3 years ago.dont regret it at all.put it in a closet, ran an air intake line through wall to draw fresh air (cools head in winter)and it really gets rid of a lot of noise.

Ran a 1/4 nylon airbrake line out to my quonset, connected to another 60 gallon tank. Sandblast cabinet and tire changer work great. When blasting it keeps up not bad,and line is small enough that my compressor in shop cycles so its not running continous.

 

[RCW]

Man, I looked at the 60 gal I-R again this morning. Just don't think I have room enough.......[emoji30]

I think I need to stick with 30 gallon vertical portable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RCW]

I started this while back, and still looking.

Came across this IR 20 gallon portable at Tractor Supply for $499. Most prices are $550 plus.

It's only 135 PSI, is that a problem? I always figured I wanted 150 PSI...even though running 90 through the regulator.

More that 5+ CFM would be better, but just no room for a 60 gallon, and I put 220v right there for a compressor, too....

Gosh - the thing weighs 200 pounds - seems well-built. Looked it over pretty good this morning at the store.

Seemed much better made than the Porter Cable 30 gallon next to it for $429. The PC is 155PSI and same CFM, but can be had for $369 often.

Anybody have one? Reviews seem mostly positive. One guy set up 2 regulators - one for simple inflation, other for tools, etc. with filter. Kinda neat.

Advice?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200375221_200375221

 

[Daren Todd]

Your only talking 15 psi difference, and most air tools are service rated for rpms and strength at 90 psi. My portable compressor on the service truck runs at 135 psi as well, but since I only have one pressure regulator and every thing is run through said regulator for my oil pumps and air hose, I keep it set at 90 psi. Impact runs a little slow on the rpms, but still has the same breaking force. The trade off for it is the ram pumps for the oil tanks. At 135 psi, the oil comes out with so much force that it will splash 10ft into the air when pumping into a container Figured that one out the first time I used the oilers and bleed the air out of the lines

 

[Yooper]

You will be fine with 135 psi. That's all I've run for years with no issues.

Now to give you a headache. How about a 60 gallon tank outside with the compressor mounted inside up higher on the wall to save space? A friend of mine had three compressors that way that would come on at different pressures that fed a common tank. Had enough cfm to do sandblasting, which means he had enough to do anything.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

That is a really good compressor model!
And yes it beats the PC model to bits.
135 is good for just about everything and with a 20 gallon tank it will for a lot of tasks, I do agree with Yooper a second tank would be great, but if you just really don't have the room then this is a great alternative.

 

[RCW]

Your only talking 15 psi difference, and most air tools are service rated for rpms and strength at 90 psi. My portable compressor on the service truck runs at 135 psi as well

You will be fine with 135 psi. That's all I've run for years with no issues.

Now to give you a headache. How about a 60 gallon tank outside with the compressor mounted inside up higher on the wall to save space?

Well, thanks guys. 135 isn't a deal breaker....

Yooper - while a great idea, the external tank is a non-starter.

This is our attached garage, very tight, and the Mrs. will not go for an air tank hanging outside of our newly-sided house.

I'm still not sure if a 60 would fit inside. I have 220 right there, but it'd be tight...

 

[RCW]

Okay. Thanks. This is my spot. Both 110 and 220 there, but it's only 24" deep. Smaller unit just makes sense.

Maybe one will come home tomorrow...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Looking at the picture A 60 gal upright looks like it would fit in the corner quite nicely, but you would have to be the judge.
3 advantages to a 60 gallon, higher CFM, higher PSI , 220 volt run (cheaper), likely to cost a little to a lot more $$$.
2 advantages to the 20 gallon, portable, and cheaper to buy.

 

[groomerbuck]

Im really like my 20gal IR air compressor. Only had it a short time but it works very well and its fairly quite which is a plus. The compressor actually builds about 5psi more then the advertised 135psi. The built in regulator works nicely which i have set @90psi. I too wanted a smaller compressor for the attached garage for space reasons. I bought the air compressor and a clutch 3/8hose real from northern tool. I made a bracket to mount the real to the compressor to keep the package as portable as possible. Its a nice small compact unit that still packs a punch. So far It ran air impacts, air grinders and die grinder without a problem. Ill be purchasing a 60gallon IR version once i build my detached garage.

 

[RCW]

Looking at the picture A 60 gal upright looks like it would fit in the corner quite nicely, but you would have to be the judge.

Im really like my 20gal IR air compressor. Only had it a short time but it works very well.

Thank you.

NIW - I agree a 60 would fit, but I think too damn tight. Like I said, that's why I put another 220 outlet there. Now just don't think it's a go, but still want one to fit in there......

Groomer - Glad to hear you are liking yours. I was surprised to see this one at TSC, and at $499, looks like it's a better buy than most other places. Some are up to $650 or more.....

 

[groomerbuck]

Northern tool had them for 549 shipped and i used their 50 dollar online coupon. The hose real was also on sale. I paid less then 600 for both shipped to the house.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

I have a 26 gal 220v horizontal Campbell Hausfeld. Its nearly 20 years old and runs like clockwork with a 6hp motor. Of course, during the early part of my remodel, it was in storage. I had no 220v yet anyway, so I was getting by on a nice little 10 gal diaphragm Husky a friend had used for years and then gave me when he moved.

I had arranged for an entire framing crew to come over and tear out about 80' of exterior wall and replace it. A HUGE days work. At 8:00 PM the night before, the contractor who was loaning me his crew texted me and said their compressor had gone down. I would have to supply the entire crew with air!

I hit Home Depot that morning and it was the Saturday after Black Friday and they had some deals. I grabbed this Husky for $200 and hauled it home. That dadgummed compressor has been one of the best investments through this whole remodel. Its easy to move, fairly quiet for its size, it has a big 33 gal tank, and it re-fills fairly quickly. And, its footprint is about 18" x 18" while its over 48" high. Runs on 110v and I couldn't be happier. And, it ran the whole crew of ten guys (three air nailers going non-stop) all day and didn't break a sweat.

Here are the specs...

 

[Tooljunkie]

My compressor isnt much more than 18" deep. Moved sandblast cabinet into shop out of necessity. Gave it a little tune up and will blast at a pressure my compressor can keep up with. Until it gets hot. Then moisture becomes an issue.
Now i added a newer/uglier tire changer and it requires a few more psi for bead breaker to to work a little more efficiently. Runnig it at 125 psi, going up a few psi to get where i need to be.

My only advice is direct drive conpressors are loud and dont take well to running a long time.
A higher pressure compressor will make a difference on high demand thing s like an impact wrench,that runs intermittently.
So my 4hp 40 year old campbell motor went on the portable. Motor i had was 1/2 hp shy, so smaller pulley to slow it down. 13 and its still happy. Just gotta wait sometimes.