Notices
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Dentsides Ford Truck
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Moser

Air Compressor Question..........

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 20, 2012 | 09:37 AM
  #1  
taneum's Avatar
taneum
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Black Hawk,SD
Air Compressor Question..........

I have a 5hp 15gal craftsmen compressor. Minus body work, will this be sufficient in my truck restoration? The only thing I can think of roght now that would use a considerable amount of air would be sandblasting and from what I have hear thus far, my compressor may not be big enough.
 
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2012 | 09:47 AM
  #2  
gfw1985's Avatar
gfw1985
Cranky Old Guy
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,562
Likes: 6
From: Raphine, Virginia
Compressors are rated by cfm output. Check usage of any tool you wish to run off of it. That will tell you what you can do with it.
 
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2012 | 12:13 PM
  #3  
HIO Silver's Avatar
HIO Silver
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Originally Posted by taneum
I have a 5hp 15gal craftsmen compressor. Minus body work, will this be sufficient in my truck restoration? The only thing I can think of roght now that would use a considerable amount of air would be sandblasting and from what I have hear thus far, my compressor may not be big enough.
15g is too small for a sand blaster. The motor will run all the time and the capacity unable to keep up with the outflow. Ya'd need to step up to at least a 220v 60g version.

A better option may be to deliver it a commercial facility to have it sand or bead blasted.
 
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2012 | 02:00 PM
  #4  
taneum's Avatar
taneum
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Black Hawk,SD
Understood......thanks.
 
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2012 | 08:19 PM
  #5  
jgavac's Avatar
jgavac
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 32
From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
Sandblasters require huge amounts of air. Especially the large ones. If you have a small, stand alone blaster, you can use one similar to what HIO Silver suggested. Just make sure you get a twin stage (which is NOT the same as a twin cylinder) compressor. They are designed for continual use, whereas single stage compressors are better for small tools. All depends on the blaster


Jameson
 
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2012 | 10:07 PM
  #6  
hasteranger's Avatar
hasteranger
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 10
From: West Virginia
you can't go gallon size either, I have a 10 gallon air compressor that does 13 cm at 100 psi...

lol

its one I made, but still.

honestly what you have will do just fine for 90% of use, if yorue using something air intensive like a line sander then you may have to pause to let the tank fill back up... if you get into something and your compressor isn't up to snuff or it craps out from the heavy duty cycle, wait till then to upgrade. no sense spending money just to spend it. as fun as that is.
 
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2012 | 08:26 AM
  #7  
DeepRoots's Avatar
DeepRoots
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 0
From: Douglas, Georgia
IR has a compressor for sale at Tractor supply, 15cfm, 60 gal tank in the $700-$800 range at this time.
 
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2012 | 01:32 PM
  #8  
lostonmonday's Avatar
lostonmonday
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Rapid City, SD
Right now Sears usually has pretty good sales on larger compressors. I spent a month shopping for a 60 gal or bigger last year, and Sears had the best bang for the buck.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Dec 21, 2012 | 06:27 PM
  #9  
dlburch's Avatar
dlburch
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,309
Likes: 364
From: Kansas
when I was doing construction many years ago, the compressor we used was 302 v8 running on 4 cylinders...the other 4 pumped air. If I run across a free 302 I'm going to sit down and figure out how to convert it.
 
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2012 | 06:32 PM
  #10  
jgavac's Avatar
jgavac
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 32
From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
Originally Posted by dlburch
when I was doing construction many years ago, the compressor we used was 302 v8 running on 4 cylinders...the other 4 pumped air. If I run across a free 302 I'm going to sit down and figure out how to convert it.
I picked one of those up this summer to power my sandblaster. A Grimmer-Schmidt 302 monoblock. Pumps 125 cfm, which is perfect for my blast cabinet.



Jameson
 
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2012 | 12:14 AM
  #11  
taneum's Avatar
taneum
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Black Hawk,SD
On my truck restoration, I am figuring on hiring out most of the body work (i think), if so, what else would I need a new, larger compressor for? Just trying to justify the compressor cost vs. sand/bead blasting the frame. What does frame work like that usually cost if I take it in?
 
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2012 | 12:21 AM
  #12  
jgavac's Avatar
jgavac
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 32
From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
If you just want to sandblast the frame, I would suggest you find someone local to do it for you. It would be much cheaper than buying a compressor and blaster plus media, for just that one job


Jamesom
 
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2012 | 05:57 PM
  #13  
Blue and White's Avatar
Blue and White
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,553
Likes: 10
Sometimes compressor hp ratings are "peak" hp not true running HP. They can be misleading.

As posted, CFM ratings are better. For general bodywork (DA, painting, light blasting) 15 CFM @ 90 psi is enough. A compressor this size will draw 20-25 amps at 230 volts. No 110 v unit will do it.
 
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2012 | 09:42 PM
  #14  
lafermedavid's Avatar
lafermedavid
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,170
Likes: 101
From: darlington
Club FTE Silver Member

grimmer-schmidt

nice score on that Jameson,I like to find one with a blown motor I have a nice 302 waiting in the wing,perfect place for that dave
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cbzdel
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
2
May 23, 2012 08:21 AM
82airborne82
Paint & Bodywork
10
Nov 9, 2010 07:15 PM
v8xploder
Paint & Bodywork
6
May 22, 2007 12:35 AM
Oaktree
Paint & Bodywork
4
Apr 15, 2007 12:55 AM
BIG-COUNTRY
Garage & Workshop
4
Dec 24, 2005 01:05 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:46 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE