Looking Into Buying An Air Compressor For My Garage. Is It Worth It To By The Craftsman Professional, Or The Regular Red One? Also What Is The Average Price To Expect? Right Now Thr Regular Is 299 Plus Impact, And Ratchet, And The Pro Is About 399.

 

The question should be- which compressor will deliver my needs?

Besides that- Is one an 'oil-free" and the other an oil type, where you need to keep check on the oil level?
Long term- the oil type will outlast an oil-free. The design isn't quite right yet on the oil-free.

 

I work for Sears, and own the compressor that comes with the tools. It isn't bad. True, the technology in the oil free models is not up to par with the "good" (think $1000+) oil lube compressors. But for the money, not a bad compressor at all. Now as for the free tools, they're ok. They are common designs like you would find at Harbor Freight, Grizzly, ect. The impact wrench is kind of awkward, the trigger on the hammer is mounted a little low, I do like the ratchet. The yellow coiled air hose is worthless. It will leak out of the box. Craftsman club is running a good sale on 50ft of the red hose for $9.99. As for the compressor itself, I like it. It is loud, but it dosen't really bother me. Ask the salesman to plug it in for you, we do it for our customers.

The pro is the better compressor though. 175 PSI, two stage, 25 gallons. A whole lot quieter. Worth the money if these features mean much to you. But if your just looking for a good starter compressor with tools, the 33 gallon 9-16870 is worth considering. If you use the tools alot you'll quickly outgrow them, but it isn't a bad introductory set at all. Air tools are great, I've got a few Ingersoll-Rands and they are awesome (shhh, most of the craftsman professional air tools are made by IR). Feel free to PM me with any other questions.

 

like they stated, oil lubed compressors are better than the oil-free counterparts. they are quieter and will last longer with proper maintance. depending on use once to twice a year. If under light use(couple times a month) and changing once a year, change in the spring when the weather remains above 60 degress if kept in an unheated garage.
one tip on changing oil, extend the drain port off the compressor body over the edge of the mounting plate slightly and elbow it down, will make for a cleaner change. if the body of the compressor hangs over the mounting plate use a street elbow. most compressor use 1/4" pipe threads for the drain.

 

I have the regular red one. The ratchet and the impact that came with it went right onto ebay. I already had these tools and didn't want/need spares, so I can't offer an opinion on their quality. The compressor does the job well, but I don't have a huge demand for air in my garage. It's loud when it kicks on, but I got used to it. And if you use a die grinder, IT WILL KICK ON...ALOT, so be warned. I'd have gotten the oil lubed compressor, but money was an issue when I bought mine. Overall I'm very happy with it, but when it goes, I'm sure I'll replace it with an oil lubed unit.

Matt

 

i need to get a new one this summer.
Mine works but it is messed up. It's only 3yrs old.
its a 25 gal Campbell
I'm looking at getting an IR 80gal

Well the one i have the regulator stopped working and it would stop at like 50psi. so i removed it and got a blow off valve from the junk yard off an old semi and installed it in the output from the tank. The valve works like it should. But i removed the regulator and bypassed it so i could just run the compressor constantly and watch the guage. But it comes on and off when it wants. It has a 240V motor but it runs off of 120V and has a transformer or something.

I'd like it to just keep running when plugged in. But it runs when it wants

why?

 

Nature of the beast.
Compressor can only hold/take so much air pressure.
Unless you equip it with a much lower pressure activated pop off valve.
But you'd be spinning your wheels, air pressure normally held ready would be drained off, compressor would be continually trying to build it back up. Don't know why you'd want to do this.

 

it's just till i get a new one. i know it's not safe but i only use it 4-5 times a month.

I would think that with the cut off bypassed because of it being broken that the electric motor would run regardless of the blow off valve opening?

 

But it comes on and off when it wants. It has a 240V motor but it runs off of 120V and has a transformer or something.


Hey DT466! This sounds like you have wired up your dual voltage motor for 240v and are running it from 110v and the internal Overload Relay is tripping, then cooling off and restarting only to overheat again and trip.
If you want to run that motor from 110v you need to change the internal wire connections of your motor to suit the lower voltage.

Running your compressor constantly and exhausting excess air to atmosphere is OK but wastes lots of energy. I would get the pressure switch fixed soon.

 

why did the manufacturer do that?

I'll probally move the Big electronic do thingy(i know where it is, i think) to an area with better air flow then.

I'll get a picture of the do thingy.

 

The bottom pic is of the transformer thing. on the Bottom it says' 250V

There is an extra wire in the motor that is not hooked up.

 

DT 466Man,
That's quite a set up. What kind of electrical plug does it have?
Is that an exposed 'cooling' fan or some new style bug (and knuckle) zapper.

 

i took the shroud off to show the motor.

It has a standard 3 prong 115V plug.

I'm going to put a card in it for fun now that i took the cover off.

My grandpa has a huge 1940's 120 gal compressor it's light blue. He bought it new after WW2 as he was a mechanic still looks and runs like new.

My buddy has a really old craftsman 25 gal. Two stage that thing is awsome. He got it for FREE from his dad's friend. He doesn't even use it cause it's 220 and he's to cheap to wire one in. so i offered him 20 bucks for it and he said he'll use it one day.

I wish it had a Bird Zapper. Crapping every where. i told my mom i'm going to start shooting them. but she likes birds,"they keep the bugs down" Were in the boonies and the bugs aren't that bad. are they hardly even seen.

I waxed my truck and those darn birds crapped all down the door!!! Had to re do it cause i'm stubborn.

Sorry i had to vent.

DT

 

dt, that compressor is only 120 the white thing is the capcitor to startup the induction motor it provides a high starting amperage and the 240 marking is the max allowable limit of the capacitor not the whole unit so don't try wiring it for 240 because it does not even have a way too.

 

ok

thanks..

DT