Need shop air compressor recommendations

[bwcobra15]

Well, after about 28 years of faithful service, my old Sanborn portable air compressor is going kapoot. Its developed a rust hole in the bottom of the tank and leaking air. I've used this thing for everything imaginable - framing nailer, trim nailer, cut off wheels, die grinder, impact wrench, DA sander, spray painting, and more. It pretty much took everything I gave it. Its 115v 2.5hp, 22 gal tank.

Now I want to upgrade to an upright stationary 230v compressor, that can support both my garage and woodworking shop. I'll install rapidair compressed air line system in both shops with the compressor in the middle.

So I'm looking for something in the $800 budget range, that I can pick up here in north Texas - Home Depot, Lowes, Tractor Supply, etc.

What feature should I be looking for? single stage vs. 2-stage (not sure what that means), 1, 2, 3 pistons, horsepower, tank size, CFM, etc?

I'm building a cobra replica this time (duh!) so I need it for that - everything from impact wrench to cut off wheel to DA sander for body work...

What brands should I look for, and stay away from?

Thanks in advance....

[cycleguy55]

Buying guides - will answer your questions:
- Home Depot: How To Buy an Air Compressor*at The Home Depot
- Northern Tool: Air Compressor Buyer's Guide | Northern Tool + Equipment

Some ratings / recommendations: Best Stationary Single-Stage Air Compressors - Top-Rated & Best-Selling Single Stage Compressors

[Tim7139]

The 50gal Sears stand up models have been quite reliable. I've owned both the 115V and 220V models and they will go right up to 100PSI+ for 1/2" impact work.

[Karl Bebout]

My Husky 7HP, 60 gal, that I bought at Home Depot several years ago has served me well. In my wanderings, I've noticed that pretty much all the 60 gal. units now are rated at much lower HP. Don't know why. Maybe its like the old octane measurement numbers and is now calculated differently. No fault of the compressor, but if I could have, I'd certainly figure out a way to have it well away from my work areas. The noise when its running is aggrivating. "feels so good when it quits". I think the "phase" designation has something to do with electrical usage, but not sure. Bet there's more than one sparky out there than can 'spalin.

[1795]

Bob,

I am looking at the same thing and am leaning towards the Sears 60 gal upright. It is about $540 and is oilless. Do you already have a 240 line?

[bwcobra15]

Originally Posted by 1795

Bob,

I am looking at the same thing and am leaning towards the Sears 60 gal upright. It is about $540 and is oilless. Do you already have a 240 line?

I do not have the 240v line yet - I have plenty of room in my breaker box to expand though, and I will already be adding another 240v outlet for MIG welder.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by 1795

Bob,

I am looking at the same thing and am leaning towards the Sears 60 gal upright. It is about $540 and is oilless. Do you already have a 240 line?

I have a smaller oilless compressor and they're noisy as hell - those diaphragm pumps will deafen you in a way no piston compressor will. I secretly wish it would die so I could buy a real one - with pistons and oil.

With the exception of something small, (relatively) light and portable, I would never buy another oilless compressor.

[razerwire]

I have went through compressors of all types and brands. I have found I use my air tools less and less, battery powered tools have taken over. If you wand to buy once, cry once I have a screw compressor that has been running 10 to 11 hours a day min, 5 days a week min. for over twelve years at truss plant. It has been so trouble free I put one in my home garage, but I find it easier to use battery tools. FWIW

[Bobcat]

You might check out Campbell Hausfeld . I got a reman unit from them some years ago with a new compressor warranty for about 56% of the cost of the equivalent new one . Cast iron cylinder walls , crankcase etc .... no liners . Last I heard , most of their stuff is still made in America .
BTW , I called them and asked about what they had in reman stuff .
Bought it direct from them and picked it up at the trucking company .

[jwoodard]

I went through this a while back while I was assembling my SPF. I did an old Ben Franklin comparison of many of the units out there.
I compared Peak HP, Running HP, Tank size, CFM @ 40 psi, CFM @ 90 psi, CFM @ 135 psi, MAX psi and price as the major factors. I choose a Kobalt K7060HFV, which was/is a 240v unit, from Lowe's which had the highest Running HP, CFM @ 40 psi and CFM @ 90 psi of the 7 units I compared. I was very happy with that unit and used it extensively for doing brake jobs on all the Corvettes at TDE before we had a place to work on them at the Speedway, along with all the work we did on mine and DB's Cobras.
Be happy to send you a copy of the spreadsheet.

[Bill D]

Quincy or Ingersol-Rand

[Ralphy]

I scoured Craigslist and found a very good used industrial quality compressor for a reasonable price. The guy used it in the back of a truck to spray insulation. It's a Quincy 5 HP 30 gallon, paid $600. Really quite!

Quincy Air Compressors @ Air Compressors Direct

Ralphy

[madmaxx]

As far as you mig check out the hobart 220mvp. it is dual voltage, 110 and 220. already set up for aluminum spool gun. the hobart 140 is excellent but good to 1/8 or 1/4 with beviing, as far as running on 220v the mvp can get 3/8" in single pass.

I have a husky 5hp 26 gallon compressor. home depot sells the 60 gallon, i would go with the 60 gallon. Oiless can be loud vs a traditional oil bath compressor. I prefer the traditional style and since it 60 gallon you won't be moving it and weight is not an issue.




QUOTE=bwcobra15;1338014]I do not have the 240v line yet - I have plenty of room in my breaker box to expand though, and I will already be adding another 240v outlet for MIG welder.[/quote]

[A/S65]

Do yourself a favor and stay away from the oil less compressors. After rebuilding mine twice, I stepped up to a 5 HP 60 gal Craftsmen. I now have a 7.5 HP 80 gal IR with the 3/4 rapid air system.

[bwcobra15]

I appreciate all the comments. There is a lot of good information to digest here.

[Shootnride]

For a shop compressor that will see quite a bit of use I would recommend a unit with a belt driven, cast iron compressor, 60 gal tank, minimum 10cfm @ 90psi. I would not recommend a direct drive, oil less compressor as they are generally much noisier and have a shorter life expectancy. Quincy, Ingersoll-Rand, Kelloog, DeVilbiss and Campbell Hausfeld are all good brands.

Ted

[jeffnolan]

I have a Husky 60 gallon compressor that I installed about 8'ish years ago and it's still going strong. I use it with automotive air tools and in my woodworking shop, nailers of all types, an air sander and my HVLP spray gun. For the price, I have no complaints... I have it installed in an out-building adjacent to my shop and hard piped in with 1/2" copper.

[mdross1]

The bigger the tank the less the compressor has to run. 30 plus years ago had to step up to a Quincy 5 hp 80 gal polishing aluminum using die grinders really demands a lot of air. Any compressor you decide on keep it maintained they will last a very long time good oil and air filter.

[lippy]

Search Garagejournal.com for great tool reviews and recommendations. I use it all the time.

I have a cheap 22g Craftsman I've been using for about 12 years. Works fine for light duty but it's noisy as hell. I usually use earplugs, just like the Cobra. For what it's worth, I hear Quincy and Champion are two of the best.

[Derald Rice]

Originally Posted by bwcobra15

I do not have the 240v line yet - I have plenty of room in my breaker box to expand though, and I will already be adding another 240v outlet for MIG welder.

A suggestion if your shop is attached to the house (mine is attached) :

My wife used to complain about me leaving the compressor on through the night, and it would cycle on, waking her up. It really never bothered me, I can snore through anything.

Then I had my compressor circuit wired through a relay from an overhead light circuit. When I turn the lights off, the compressor cannot cycle on.

It has worked flawlessly, and wife is much happier now.

As for a compressor recommendation, stay away from the oil less, and get as big a unit as you can fit or afford.
I have a 80 gal IR, it is going on 15 years with no issues.