Blue2golf is right. Get a compressor that you can afford now and save up for the compressor you want later on. My first compressor was a Speedaire 2hp-20 gallon 120/240volt unit that I bought in 1979 for 279.00 and still use it today. Maybe someday I'll get a Quincy 2-stage. Someday. But for now it's the Speedaire.

 

Absolutely, exactly what I've been thinking/planning, it works great for now...

Isn't it nice to finally have a decent workshop? This is my first real decent workshop, we just moved a month ago.

 

Darn tootin'! After I "left the nest" some 15 years ago, I had to rely on a combination of Mom & Pop, the Quickie Lube joints and, once I got married, the In-Laws, simply to get my oil changed! What a pain and it almost cost me an engine(that's a story for a different thread - look for Wal-Mart vs. my own shop.) Now I can do my own work in my own space on my own time. This may sound lame, but a perfect Sat. morning for me is an oil change, a cold Vanilla Coke and Click and Clack(the Tappet Brothers) on my stereo.

 

I'm impulsive. The compressor dilemma:

I need a compressor now. Why? To install my baseboards.

Small pancake compressor $100-$300

Will need a bigger compressor for other jobs.

Bigger Compressor $300. Oilless... loud... underpowered... and so on.

Better Compressor $377 Home Depot. 5HP, 26 Gallon, Oil, Cast Iron, Belt Driven, Cast Iron. Great... $377 nice comressor. All I need.

Except for the 60 Gallon tank, 7HP, oil, Cast Iron, Belt Driven for $50 more. I will never ever need another air compressor again for the rest of my life! And now after installing 220V outlet, new hose, and regulator I'm going to spend $500 on an air compressor and the great thing about it is... I HAVE TOTALLY JUSTIFIED IT WITH MY FIANCE!

The funniest thing is that I'm spending all this money on my garage and my Damn Bronco doesn't even fit in my garage and my driveway is such a slope that its a pain to work on anything. BUT... I'm going to have a sweet compressor! My next house is going to have a sweet garage!

 

Almost seems like it's worth it for $50 more. Mine makes more CFM's than the $377 one and I still would like a 60 or 80 gallon 220v one. You are getting the cast iron compressor and all but you're not getting a very big tank and not many CFM's for that money.

 

get the bigger one, even if you end of selling it later, you'll get more out of it. And the noise is REALLY an important issue. I had the 30gal oiless Sears, and my wife suggested I never turn it on again.

I sold that one to a friend with NO compressor and bought the Lowes/Home Depot/CH Husky 60gal/220 belt driven. I was afriad before I turned it on.. but once on you couldn't even hear it in the house!!...

Sam

 

i have a 20gal 5hp sears oil-less. hummmmmm, i wonder if i could find a sucker (friend) to unload mine on...hahahaha

 

I've got one of the ~$300 5 HP 25 or so gal Craftsman (DeVillis sp?) compressors and have used it relentlessly for 5+ years without a hiccup. There are a few tools, such as sand blaster and cutoff tool, that are air hogs and put much strain on this small unit. My next compressor will be at least 60 gallons and have at least twice the air flow of my current model.