Air Compressor-big enough??
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Senior User
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Air Compressor-big enough??
Sears has a good price on a 33 gallon portable compressor. Its 6hp though 1.5hp running (whats with that??). Just wondering if its big enough to do some chassis painting & a bit of sand blasting???
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Riverside, So Cal
The painting should be no problem, especially if you go with an HVLP setup. The sand blasting is another deal. I haven't done any of that so others might be able to tell you. I understand that it takes a lot of cfm.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: NM
Personal opinion, unless it's the cast iron-lined two cylinder reciprocating pump, and rated at least 9 - 10 cfm, it will burn up trying to keep up with a sandblaster. Even at that you'll have to let it catch up quite a bit. The "oil-less" diaphragm type pumps just don't have it and won't last. My son's Sears is like that and has a sticker that says it's not rated for exactly such things as blasters.
I think the dual ratings for HP are starting conditions and running load.
I think the dual ratings for HP are starting conditions and running load.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,119
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From: Southern New Hampshire
Sears oiless compressors are garbage. The 6.5hp is a PEAK rating and totally useless and misleading info. The real hp is around 2.5-3.
You can find good deals in the local classified magazines. Or check out Eaton compressors on Ebay and their web site. They have a graet tutorial on compressor ratings and the scams some sellers use.
You can find good deals in the local classified magazines. Or check out Eaton compressors on Ebay and their web site. They have a graet tutorial on compressor ratings and the scams some sellers use.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Friendswood, Texas
You can get a small sandbaster to work if you can get 7-8 SCFM from the compressor. It will be a load on the compressor and will be pretty slow going with the blasting. I haven't read Earl's World in a while but George describes his experience with sandblasting the frame and some other items. I do seem to remember he burned up a compressor but I don't remember what size it was or how old itwas, condition, etc.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Harpswell Maine
Sandblasting is the biggest user of air that the home hobbiest will need. Running a 1/8 nozzle (smaller starts to experience some plugging) you will need 15-20 cfm. This will require a minimum of 5 HP running,. Check the motor nameplate. It should draw over 20 amps at 220 volts to be a true 5 hp. I am still using an old model A block (actually a B) with a Smith Gorden head that runs on #1 and #4 and compresses on #2 and #3. I have been looking for a new shop compressor which would also take over sandblasting needs and will not buy less that a good all cast iron compressor 7 1/2 HP 2 stage like an Ingersol Rand. This should draw over 30 amps at 220v.
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Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Central Illinois
When I was setting up my home shop I called Quincy to have their customer service guy give advise specifically on blasting. I was told that I needed at least 5 hp two stage and he suggested an 80 gal tank. That's what I bought. Baldor motor. I don't remember the cfm off the top. I've teamed it with a 24x48 syphon cabinet and never run short of air at 100 psi through 1/4" fittings. Stu
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Durham NC
No 115V or direct drive compressor will keep up with a sandblaster or many continuous use tools such as sanders and die grinders. You'll need a 220V dual piston 2 stage with belt drive and a large reserve tank to do serious work. Sorry, but too many people end up buying a compressor twice because they bought too small the first time!
If you have 220V at at least 30A available, watch the local papers for a service station going out of business, there are a lot of them turning into convenience stores.
If you have 220V at at least 30A available, watch the local papers for a service station going out of business, there are a lot of them turning into convenience stores.
Last edited by AXracer; Nov 13, 2005 at 09:21 AM.
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Senior User
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Originally Posted by 49willard
Sandblasting is the biggest user of air that the home hobbiest will need. Running a 1/8 nozzle (smaller starts to experience some plugging) you will need 15-20 cfm. This will require a minimum of 5 HP running,. Check the motor nameplate. It should draw over 20 amps at 220 volts to be a true 5 hp. I am still using an old model A block (actually a B) with a Smith Gorden head that runs on #1 and #4 and compresses on #2 and #3. I have been looking for a new shop compressor which would also take over sandblasting needs and will not buy less that a good all cast iron compressor 7 1/2 HP 2 stage like an Ingersol Rand. This should draw over 30 amps at 220v.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
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From: Durham NC
An engine is nothing more than an air compressor. I have built aircompressors out of lawn mower engines. The deal with using a 4 cylinder engine is with the crankshaft timing needs to be such that it will run on two cylinders and the special head or modified intake manifold to separate the two compressor cylinders from the two running cylinders so the CCs are drawing in fresh air instead of gas. It would be simpler to drive one engine set up as a compressor with another as the driver. I don't know their output, but you might investigate the compressors found on 18 wheelers to drive with a gas engine.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Klamath Falls
For what it's worth....I've got a 3hp Speedaire cast iron comp that's 15 yrs old. I've sandblasted 2 frames and painted 5 or 6 cars with it. I'm a hobbyist so I don't have to be concerned about speed. I used a pressure washer before sandblasting and it took probably 8 hours and a few bags of sand to complete each frame (complete with suspension). I'd love to have a real commercial comp but I'd have to have enough room for it and I'd still need a portable unit.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Harpswell Maine
I am not aware of what other companies build a head setup and governor to use a more modern 4 cylinder engine using two to run and two to compress. The old time setups were Smith Gorden or Schram (sp). Schram built a setup for the flathead engine that I have seen that ran on 4 and compressed on four. The model A setup works very well. I bought the parts at Hershey about 25 years ago and rebuilt a B block that I had. Back then I rebuilt the short block for light money.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: NM
One possible issue with converted gas engines for compressors is that they certainly do not produce oil-free air. Especially for sandblasting you need to clean/dry/separate the air thoroughly or your sand will start clumping in the head. (True with any recip compressor)
Most commercial (serious) sandblasting outfits have a 50 cfm compressor or even larger, that draws serious power. Most homes won't have the juice to run one and the cost would be huge to buy one. If time is an issue, rent a towable gas-powered one, like a Gardner or I-R.
Most commercial (serious) sandblasting outfits have a 50 cfm compressor or even larger, that draws serious power. Most homes won't have the juice to run one and the cost would be huge to buy one. If time is an issue, rent a towable gas-powered one, like a Gardner or I-R.