Air Compressor
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 346
From: SE Iowa
Ingersoll Rand is good. Quincy is better, but expensive. Stay away from oil-less compressors. Get the largest belt driven compressor you budget can handle...and the power capability of your garage. You can get a new 7.5hp IR for around $1800-2000. A 5hp around $1300-1500 depending on how well you shop. Also make sure the 90psi CFM rating matches the type of tools you plan to use. Impact gun and HVLP paint guns use very high CFMs, as well as sandblasters. Let us know your plans and we can probably get more specific. Also do a search, this topic has been discussed many times.
Stryder
Stryder
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
I'm pretty impressed with the Eaton that I got, pump displacement of 25 CFM and 19.5 CFM @ 100 PSI should get the job done. Better than the IR for about the same price. Heres a link to the one I got:
http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catal...747/172993.htm
http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catal...747/172993.htm
Last edited by proeliator; Jul 13, 2006 at 10:55 PM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 346
From: SE Iowa
I was going to mention Eaton, but I have one issue with their compressors...parts. Dont get me wrong, I've only heard great things about them and their service. Both IR and Quincy have built there reps on being able to buy parts for older/obsolete models. With Eaton, they are new enough, who knows if you can get parts 10yrs down the road. I rebuilt the Quincy pump my grandpa bought new in 1964 from parts that the dealer had on the shelf. Only thing I had to special order was the 0.010 over pistons, but I could still get them. Just my $0.02
Stryder
Stryder
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 2
From: MI
Originally Posted by stryder
Ingersoll Rand is good. Quincy is better, but expensive. Stay away from oil-less compressors. Get the largest belt driven compressor you budget can handle...and the power capability of your garage. You can get a new 7.5hp IR for around $1800-2000. A 5hp around $1300-1500 depending on how well you shop. Also make sure the 90psi CFM rating matches the type of tools you plan to use. Impact gun and HVLP paint guns use very high CFMs, as well as sandblasters. Let us know your plans and we can probably get more specific.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 346
From: SE Iowa
Originally Posted by Crash687
Ill second that but your prices for the compressors seem a bit high, more around $900 - $1100 for a 5hp IR.
That's the price range for the single stage models. I was quoting the 2-stage models, which at Nothern Tool, are $1250 and $1700. All depends on your CFM requirement.
Stryder
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,259
Likes: 0
From: Florida Hill Country
Eaton has been around 30 years. There is no guarantee that any company including sears will be around in 10 years.
Trending Topics
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
That was my thought as well....thirty years is a long enough track record (32 years to be exact) and who knows what the future holds for anybody. One other thing I like about the Eaton is that its a good deal quieter than a comparable IR. Don't have any compartive experience with the Quincys...just because I don't know anybody who could afford one of the big ones.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 5
From: Running Springs CA
It depends on the application. The average homeowner does not need a 7.5hp $1800 compressor. I have done everything I need to do with a 30 year old Sears 1hp (real motor hp, not the stupid "peak" ratings they use today) belt driven two cylinder single stage with a 12 gallon tank. Sears or CH are just fine, just dont get the "oilless" ones.
I run impact wrenches, have sprayed all kinds of paint, and am now using an air drill and rivet gun to build an airplane, with that same compressor. The only limitation is that the impact wrench sometimes requires me to pause a few seconds between bolts for it to keep up, not a big deal.
Jim
I run impact wrenches, have sprayed all kinds of paint, and am now using an air drill and rivet gun to build an airplane, with that same compressor. The only limitation is that the impact wrench sometimes requires me to pause a few seconds between bolts for it to keep up, not a big deal.
Jim
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 0
I've got a 60 gallon Husky upright that I've had for about a year and a half now. It provides about 10 cfm at 90 psi which is more than enough to drive my impacts and air grinder, although the grinder does cause the compressor to run almost non-stop while in use. Despite that, the pressure in the tank never drops below 90-95 psi. I'm pretty pleased with it for what I do.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Kansas, USA
Being your average Homeowner DIY'er, I've used a Coleman Powermate 4.5 HP, 26 gallon tank that runs on 120 volts. For 10 years now, it has been problem free and handy for loosing stubborn nuts, and lugs for tire rotations. I paid $318 for it at a large box store that no longer exists. One of its most useful functions is the air wand for cleaning dirt and oily crude off my Garden Tractor, especially when I'm doing maintenance on it. If I was more involved in mechanics, however, I'd get one of the 220 volt big ones. This is a belt drive model with specifications of 8.4 cfm @40 psi and 6.9 cfm @ 90 psi with a 120 psi max.
Last edited by tigerman; Sep 9, 2006 at 12:35 AM.