Hey all,
I was thinking that the next step in my home "auto shop" is to start using impact wrenches, etc. Seeing a lot of different types of air compressors out there and read all about how horsepower means nothing and it's all about the cfms. I plan to continue using electric tools for woodworking, but need the impact stuff primarily for auto applications. Any recommendations?

 

My suggestion is to purchase a compressor that has oil filled case. These new high performance oil free air compressors have pretty decent cfm numbers, but the noise is terrible. If you live around other houses and use your air compressor it will bother the neighbors.

For my shop i purchased a Kobalt 35 gallon stand up single stage oil bath compressor. it has pneumatic tires on it and a handle to move around where you need it. Would need two people to load it up in a pickup. Its only running 110 right now, it will keep up with all my pneumatic tool with the exception of a large grinder. Its nice and quiet, so quiet in fact that you cant hear the compressor running if you are outside of the shop. Thats with the doors open.

 

I Have the Sears V-twin oiless, 33 gallon tank,,,have had it 10 yrs or so now,,this last yr,,it ran and ran,,,,did not shut off,,,hmmmmmm,,,it has reed valves in the head,,,one of them broke,,,OK,,I have the parts manual,,,Freakin SEARS,,Discontinued the parts !!,,I did find parts,,on the internet for it,,It's actually a "Devillebis" (?) design.
It has been a decent compressor,,,it's 220 V,,for you to be happy with it,,your prob gonna want a 220 V compressor !

Like slowr w/o blower said,,find a decent size oil filled compressor,,usually belt driven,,,They all seem to be loud though,,need a closet or other room to install them in, with an air intake,,then they would,nt be so irratating.,,,,,,Mark

 

What air compressor you get really depends on what you plan use it for. If you ever plan on doing media blasting, DA sanding, or HVLP painting then you need to get a fairly decent 220V, 60-80gallon, 15+ CFM compressor. I use all the tools I listed and I have an Eaton 220V, 80gallon, 19.3CFM @100psi, V-twin single stage compressor.

 

At home I have an Ingersoll-Rand 60 gal. SS5L5 upright,
at the shop I have a 120 gal. laydown of questionable heritage 10 Hp 3 phase.

 

How much should I expect to pay? I guess that's the bigger question. Sounds like I can't get away with one of those smaller compressors.

 

Yes, you need to learn about cfm. You need to see what the requirements are for the tool(s) you intend to use. And you keep that minimum requirement in mind as you think about air compressors. You can go online with Graingers, and you will see the cfm requirements for many tools.

As usual in life, you get what you pay for. And, if you can spend a little extra now, you will get more enjoyment out of it than if you only met minimum requirements.

220V makes things better, if you can swing it.

I'm kinda scared about buying some things from Sears, etc, so I looked for name brand. Belt driven, oil filled, repair/rebuild parts readily available forever. I just yesterday picked up the smaller HP version of ArdWrknTrk's home compressor. I have the IR SS3L3 60 gallon upright. I would have loved the 5HP machine, but I'm also buying a little Miller MIG welder, etc, ... and the credit card is feeling hot to the touch.

I bought the tried and true IR 231C impact gun from Amazon for $105 --- free shipping, no tax

For impact sockets ... again, I don't know what the heck is going on with Sears and their tools, but I had a Sears gift card. And, by chance, they had 50% off with my Craftsman Tool Club (or whatever you call that thing), on 12 piece, 1/2" drive, deep, made in USA, impact socket sets. So, I bought a metric and an ASE set for $50 each. We'll see.

Good luck.

 

ironmine is right.

You need to decide what you MIGHT want to do with it, then figure out how many CFM you'd need to accomplish that.
Glass beaders, sanders and such might be in use for prolonged periods of time and this is where you really need the CFM. A large receiver (tank) will cycle less but for continuous use the compressor has to keep up.
You'd only be using an impact gun for eight bursts at a time, and then you can wait for your compressor to catch up if need be.
I'm a carpenter/ installer by trade and none of those type of compressors stand a chance.

 

i dont know where you are located but there is a place called grainger that sells stuff and i bought a nice Speedaire one there for about a hundred bucks.. the thing was damaged so i warranteed it through the company and got the parts for nothing to fix it its worked with car tools and air nailers and once or twice an air chisel and a orbital sander

 

Other option is to buy a well maintained used compressor, even if it needs a minor rebuild (new seals, rings, etc) becasue you can get yourself a really nice piece of equipment for much less dollars than new.

With a lot of things these days, I've found that older often is better made and can be rebuilt to it's original specs fairly easily, and will outlast the garage you put it in since you won't be running it 14 hours a day like the shop that had it before you.

While there are a lot of good brands old and new, I'm very fond of quincy because their compressor heads are VERY quiet.... instead of a blat-blat-blat at an incredible volume, it's more like a soft putt-putt-putt. With a quincy in a closet you could stand outside the closet while it's running and have a normal conversation - they're typically that quiet depending on the size of the unit.

There's also nothing wrong with "rolling your own" either to reduce costs and have a bit of fun if you're so inclined... an air compressor is nothing more than a tank, a compression head, two pulleys, a motor and a belt. I got a clean 60-gallon tank last year in trade for an old desk (which is so solid it's great for a workbench or welding table), and also in trade with another guy I got an old two-cylinder quincy head and pulley, which I rebuilt for about $55. I got off ebay for $7 plus $40 shipping (have to love no-reserve auctions) a 240V baldor motor new in the box - It's 8 HP I think. All I need to do is fabricate a base to mount the compressor head and the motor on, and fangle up a way to adjust tension on the pair of belts (double pulleys both ends).

Was it a bit of work? Yes. But I have myself a 25cfm rating @ 160psi... certainly more than I could ever use in my garage. And if you add up what I've paid (approximately) it's by far less than what I'd buy a new compressor for with those specifications.

Just some thoughts....

 

Roll your own

I did the same thing with what I have. It started life as one of those Crafstman Pro v-twin oil less, pitched a rod, pitched the replacement rod, so I replaced the whole top compressor assembly with one I got off CL for $30. Not a bad deal overall.

 

Alright Frederic!
This is the route I went w/ my laydown compressor. I lucked out in finding a head and receiver in good nick with a burnt out motor. It was left behind in an auto shop slated for demolition.
Due to the decline of manufacturing around here 3 phase motors are worth no more than the price of scrap.
Mine's rated 30cfm @175

Carl,
What do you want to do?
If all you care about is occasionally changing your tires and filling them, maybe an air ratchet, I'd think a little 3 horse w/ a 20 gal. tank from one of the Big Box stores would serve just fine for you.
BUT Air is addictive......
Grainger has something like 400 locations nationwide and the Speedaire brand is good generally, but they only sell "to the trades", do you know someone with an account?

$?
My IR SS5 cost me about $1400 to setup w/ all new supplies. Wiring (breaker, conduit, service disconnect), Snubber hose, vibration isolators, line dryer, regulator ect. I did everything myself.
How resourceful are you?
These threads keep popping up.....
Without specfics of your needs and expectations there is no way any of us could make a well reasoned reccomendation.

 

Well, there's no way I can spend $1400. Essentially I need it for working on my truck and girlfriend's car - primary for air wrenches etc. air wrenches etc. I have a 220V hook-up right now, but I'm living in a rented house and can't be sure the next place I move will have that set-up, so I'm hesitant to buy something that can't switch back and forth. It sounds like rebuilding a compressor might be the way to go, but I have no idea what I'd be doing. I found a cheap one on Craigslist the other day. I'll post the link in a little bit (I'm at work right now) and maybe you all can give me your opinion. I think it's a 30-gal tank but needs new motor. For $100.

Carl

 

What about this? Brand is Central Pneumatic:
Description: air compressor - vertical, 21 galon 115V,3.5 scfm@90psi, 8.8 scfm@40psi, hardley used. 1.5yr old like new.
includ 30' air hose. $125

 

Or how about this one? Brand: Husky


http://baltimore.craigslist.org/tls/596156994.html