Hello,

I have been looking for a new compressor and need to "poll" you folks.

I will be moving in early 2006 and therefore need a portable (115V) compressor for my mechanical work here at the old shop/garage. I will not spend the money on 230volt conversion over the short term. I'll wait until I move and do the new shop properly.

I have narrowed the field down to two models:

Porter Cable CPL6025 (6.8scfm@90psi - 25 gal - 135psi max - 115volt)

and

Coleman Powermate CL0504013 (5.7scfm@90psi - 40 gal - 130psi max - 115/230volt)

Both are belt driven, oil lube.

I would need to utilize the usual assortment of "continuous use" tool requirements on the high-end (grinding, cut-off tools, sanding etc). I'm leaning towards the Porter Cable due to the scfm rating (and it's $50.00 cheaper).

Would the 40gal capacity of the Coleman outweigh the scfm difference?

Any additional comments or advice would be most welcome?

Thanks,

Gil

 

Get 'em both and manifold together, that would equal 1 pretty good compressor. I did this with 2 220v units for a sandblasting job that needed LOTS of air..

 

check craftsman compresors i bought 25 gallons portable with honda gas engine it claims that it flows 10 cbf at 100 wchich is good better than emglo that i own so far i put 1100 hours on it for 650 dollars cant beat it

 

We just had this discussion. My 2 cents: anything but IR.

 

I'd say the porter-cable. 25 gallons is plenty, and it does have the higher scfm rating. Also, in addition to the higher scfm rating, it has a slightely higher max psi rating, but I would take those very lightely as I have gotten my craftsman portable (no tank, just for tires and floats and mattresses) up to 160-165. that has a max PSI of 125. It doesn't sound good doing this, and I wouldn't do it for long, but the fact is that it can do it if needed.

 

can't speak about either of those compressors individually, but we have a coleman compressor at our small engine shop, and have had no problems with it yet...but it is only two years old. Porter cable also makes very good products, either would do just fine.

 

Don't let storage capacity fool you. Get the one with the highest CFM rating. The Porter Cable one with 6.8 cfm would be my choice. Although 6.8CFM is probably only 1.5 HP, Pretty small for shop work. If you can spring for the bucks I would recommend 3 HP. That shound give you around 12 CFM and will keep up with any tool but a sandblaster. It will probably pull around 20 amps @ 115v.
Hope you find a good one.

 

yeah, what he said. it comes down to the capacity of the compressor, the storage tank only slows the cycling down.
There is nothing wrong with Ingersol Rand compressors. Just slighly overkill for most consumers.

 

I Got a good deal on a coleman about four years ago and it's still working perfectly
I just change the oil once a year (or as needed).......................
My compressor is a 60 gal. 220v.......But still it's a Coleman.
My 2 cents!!!!!!!!! JC

 

Hello,

Thanks for all the great (and creative) advice. How did I know there would be at least one guy that suggested buying both and creating a hybrid!

It seems the concensus is to go with the higher CFM.

The Porter Cable has the highest I could find on a 115v at 6.8CFM. All others were around 5.7 - 5.9. Craftsman makes a unit that is equal to Porter Cable but research shows it is the exact same unit. Both are manufactured by DeVilbiss and branded by both companies. That particular Craftsman unit is a US model and not available up here in Canada (that is why I'm looking at Porter Cable and did not include Craftsman in the discussion, my apologies to all Craftsman fans out there).

Does anyone know of a 115v unit that delivers higher than 6.8? (I'm looking at you fixnair - 115v @ 20 amps?)

Gas units? There must be limitations on where they can run ie. ventilation? Gas units deliver much greater CFM although they are more expensive. Any other downside to gas units in a small home-shop?

230v is the way to go when I get the new shop up and running. Then we can discuss the merits of all the 60gal and 80gal units.

Thanks again,

Gil

 

N.T.I.N.S. (Now this is no S#%&) or a reference to a true story vs a fairy tale which begins with "Once upon a time........."

I volunteer on a WWII Memorial Submarine (yep it used to go under water and come back up.) in Baltimore Md. We don't have capability for 250V. D.C. power so couldn't use or overhaul the 4 stage 3000psi Hardy Tines compressors that are on the boat.

So one of our guys went down to LOWES in DEC 1999 and got a 6.5hp 65gal compressor (I can't remember who built it, but it's an ALUMINUM cylinder unit. ). We use it to press up 2 of our air banks (each air bank has between 6-8 individual tanks measuring 15'long by 4ft. diam.) to 115# to maintain our potable and flushing water, tools, salvage air, ships horn (mothers just love having 5 year olds ripping pantyhose on the way up!!!) and other sundry items onboard.

Anyway back to the compressor. We change our oil at monthly intervals (nukes can be so **** at times!!!!), and run it at 15min on 20min off when running an aircharge (our run time per day is on average of 6-8 hours total. Saturdays only). We also have an aux cooling system (sheetmetal ala VW with a 150cfm fan) onboard.

I would recommend if you plan on using it continously, look for one with a CAST IRON Cylinder setup. We've been seeing a fair amount of shavings in the oil for the last few months, so it's probably time for a new head unit.

Larry

 

I re-read some of your postings and did some more research (ie. visiting tool sites on the Internet when not surfing for ****).

Emglo was a name mentioned by one of the fellas (above) and I found a unit by Dewalt/Emglo (the D55585 model) which boasts 8.4cfm at 100psi. This 2HP unit runs on 115v (20amps) or converts to a 230v (10amps). Comments made by "fixnair" made reference to units with 2HP motors drawing 20amp providing higher cfm ratings.

I would assume I would need to wire a dedicated 20amp household curcuit for this unit if one doesn't already exist. Either that or tell the wife not to use anything in the kitchen while I'm running the compressor. That may not go over well. If I rewire my breaker box for a dedicated line I may as well go 230V.

Any comments on the Dewalt/Emglo product or any other 2HP units that draw 20amps?

Gil

P.S. I'd like to know what unit larry is referring to

 

Gil; Here's the specs as I can remember them from this past saturday.

6.5HP Single stage compressor (aluminum head unit) 65 gal tank. Made by Devilbiss and sold by Lowes. Ours was bought in Dec. 1999.

 

I have the Porter Cable model you listed... It works great. The use of my compressor seems to go along the same line as yours. Have fun!

 

Thank-you (71-4R3SONS) for the feedback. I'm saving my pennies. I'll wait until spring to get this done (Canadian winters!). I will go with the PC unit, sounds like the best for the money.

Larry, I like what your saying but I can't get a unit like that up here in Canada (we don't have Lowes).

Apparently Devilbiss makes many of these units (including the Porter Cable unit and the same unit sold by Sears under the Craftsman name).

ALSO...

Does anyone know the merit (or downside) of coupling a 60 gal tank to any of these smaller units? Would the extra storage be worth taxing the motor on the smaller unit?