Air Compressor & Air Tools

[cobra de capell]

Could someone provide input as to how an Air Compressor & Air Tools would compliment working on a Cobra or cars in general?

I've been looking at securing some tools and I've noticed all the ads relating to Air stuff, but with no background or expertise in the mechanical area, I'm not sure that Air is the way to go. I realize that having Air to work with tire pressure and lug nuts would be a plus. But, are there other interesting/valuable uses?

Also, is there an idea tank size, etc. (or even brand) to look at?

Any input would be appreciated.

[Ibr8k4vetts]

As for size 60gal. 5hp. min. brand I would say Ingersol Rand (sp.) is about the best but price is up there . If you plan on doing your own body work it's a must have. Mike

[Satanpez]

I don't care if your only filling up tires, do NOT buy an oilless unit.

I received a very nice no-oil Craftsman for free. 6 hp, 33 gallon. TOO NOISY. For anything. It's rediculous. I can care less about changing oil in a compressor. I do it in everything else I own with a motor. It didn't cost me a dime, but I'm considering buying a new one.

Go with 220V if you can. You'll end up with a much better compressor. You don't want to end up in a position where you want to use a cut off wheel and you can't because you didn't buy a good enough compressor.

-steve in nj-

[Jack21]

Agree with Satanpez wholeheartedly on the oilless compressor, or anything else that normally uses oil!!! Bad idea! It's a shame too, because it takes a good idea, polymer coatings on high friction surfaces (like piston skirts) and turns it into a looser (if less is good, than none is better).

For occasional air tool use, not painting, there are some decent 110V compressors at HarborFreight Tools in the $200 price range. Home Depot and Lowes are also good sources for small contractor size air compressors, accessories (dryers, oilers, fittings, hoses), and air tools.

Sears Craftsman sells good tools and equipment. For hand tools, they're first rate and worth the extra cost. For power tools, shop Harbor Freight, Home Depot, or Lowes. As Sears doesn't make any of the tools or appliances they sell, you can get the same quality as Craftsman for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of Craftsman. Hey, somebody has to pay those 6 digit salaries, bonuses, and perks of the folks working in what is now the tallest building in the country, right? Why shouldn't it be us?

[G.R.]

Like everything else depends upon what you want it for and how much you want to invest. Probably top of the line is 220v Ingersoll-Rand models--if its for use on rare occassion you could get by for a lot less dollars--oiless are noisy because the cycle so frequently, if you plan on doing lots of body work, etc the noise, and lack of consisent power to the tool will drive you nuts unless you wear ear plugs, or sound muffs.
If you are just going to use one to install a piece of equiptment,or put on or take off lugnuts a smaller unit would work.

You building a automotive garage--or just a car hobby one in your two/three car garage?

But what the heck do I know I've only worked with the smaller ones in Construction for 35 years--and the small 6gal Cambell-Hausfield has been the best I've had for a number of years--used on construction sites from powering framing guns to finish nailers and on occassion filling a low or flat tire--and breaking loose parts on a car or truck

[misfit41]

I would advise ,if your just going to air tires,,blow off your mower,and an occassional painting/sanding job,a single stage 5 or 6 hp unit ,usually 60 to 80 gal tank will do,,300 bucks or less at sams club or tool stores.
If you invision doing more work,painting,air tools,{grinders,sanders,inpact wrench,sandblasting,etc} I strongly recommend a two stage unit,about twice the cost,but they recover much faster,provide twice the volume of air ,and make more pressure,, 150-175 psi versus 100-125.
A good idea is to ck the ait cfm and pressure requirments of tools you may want to aquire in the future,and compare to compressor ratings.
A good compressor is like a pickup,once you have one ,youll never be with out one,, Tim

[cobra de capell]

I appreciate all the input.

[rdorman]

I am buying one soon. This is for the home garage and will see limited use. Primarily for impact and ratchet use with some grinding and light sanding. No painting. Budget is $300. Not $301!

How about these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=54463

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00916555000

Any other SPECIFIC recomendations?

Thanks
Rick

[cobra de capell]

Originally posted by rdorman
I am buying one soon. This is for the home garage and will see limited use. Primarily for impact and ratchet use with some grinding and light sanding. No painting. Budget is $300. Not $301!
How about these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=54463
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00916555000
Any other SPECIFIC recomendations?
Thanks
Rick

Rick - no recommendation from me, as I'm looking also, but relating to the url to Sears - it goes to a 30 gal. unit, but right below that unit is a 33 gal unit for the same price (on sale with a kit) - I'm I missing something that has you more interested in the smaller unit? The 33 gal unit is horizontal - is that a factor?

[rdorman]

The floor space is the considertion when choosing the vertical over the horizontal.
Rick

[zipzip]

Buy big flow capacity! You'll spend more up front, but as you find uses for the tools, you'll need the extra oomph.

Mine is a 220V, 6.5 hp (DeVlibiss) and I wish I had more! If I recall correctly, it's around 9 or 10 cfm @90psi. Buy extra capacity! Remember to factor in the losses in the hoses! I was running a right angle die grinder with those funky coiled 1/4" hoses and kept stalling it. Switched to the 1/2" rubber hose and got better performance. I agree on the oiled versions too.

I'd say in general, the tools are cheaper, but with anything, they have their specific uses. You'll still want the cordless drill, the circular saw, etc. If you ever need to roof your house, build the kids a tree house, blow out sprinklers for the winter (except for you southern folk...), etc., the compressor is mighty handy.

Did I mention buy a big one?...

[G.R.]

Originally posted by rdorman


I am buying one soon. This is for the home garage and will see limited use. Primarily for impact and ratchet use with some grinding and light sanding. No painting. Budget is $300. Not $301!

How about these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=54463

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00916555000

Any other SPECIFIC recomendations?

Thanks
Rick

Rick
I looked at the Sears unit last week when Christmas shopping (always have to go through the tool section when going to the mall ) seems like it would do what you want--FWIW
Gary

[Double Venom]

Two Stage-Two Stage...TWO STAGE!
Sears are mostly single stage! They may have 80 gallon tanks, rate their motors as high as 6 HP, but if it aint a two - stage compressor run away!

Seriously, single stages are for flat basketballs, and that's about it. If you run any kind of air tool, a single stage compressor just wont keep up with it.

The numbers you want to see are CFM. Check the tool consumption then make sure the compressor supplys at least that!

Overly simplistic, just remember two stage and CFM and you will love it! Air grinders, air buffers, air saws, air rachets, air rivertors, air caulking guns, paint guns, air drills, air cut off tools, air powered brake and clutch bleeders,and, and, and, and....

DV...CFM-Two stage! Test tomorrow

[G.R.]

Dv
I've run single stage compressors all day long driving up to three framing nailers off our big compressors--8 hrs a day, 5 days a week--Campbell-Hausfeld, Sencos, etc., also use them for air caulk guns, concrete chippers/hammers-- maybe in automotive work they aren't enough on a daily basis--but for occassional use they'll drive an impact wrench just fine in my experience-
but what do I know

[Tom Wells]

Hi Rick,

Just got the vertical Sears unit you posted. Works fine.

It IS noisy, so if that bugs you, looking elsewhere may be the thing to do. I have mine near a door I can open, so it's a little less obnoxious!

Seems like a good unit for the dollars. I don't trust the Chinese/Harbor Freight units

Regards,

Tom

[Double Venom]

GR,
I agree! but the nailers only take "surges" of air. It's the tools like sanders, file boards and grinders that can drain even a 6 HP 80 gallon 2-stage compressor to the brink of never shutting off.

For example, I kind of voluntarily took over my sons brand new Sears, single stage 6 HP compressor because it couldn't handle even a small HVLP spray gun on a semi-continous basis. Nothing like being in the middle of a paint repair job and having to stop and wait for the compressor to re charge!

Single Stage compressors work people, but if you are using tools that use a substantial CFM just make sure you pick the right compressor. Lowes and Home Depot both have a nice 2-stage stand up compressor, 110V that works great for the home owner.

DV...all statements I make must be considered "mine", unless of course I deny them!

[rdorman]

It is helping.

DV, I checked Lowes online and was unable to find the two stage 110 unit you where refering to.

Obviously I don't want a REALLY noisy unit that is running all the time. It seems that the direct drive unit are noisier than the belt drive units. True?

Two stages, from what I have found, are outside of my budget of $300.

Are there benefits from getting a twin cylinder pump over a single cylinder pump?

HELP!!!!!!
Lets say I push the budget a bit and get a 240 volt unit as has been suggested. If that is the case I need help in the wiring department. I am a household electical wiring idiot so help me out here. My garage is 125 feet from the house. I have two 20 AMP circuit running to the garage. Each wire has FOUR conductors. When I buried the line I thought why not! One curcuit is for lights and the other for outlets. So how do I get a 240 outlet in the garage without loosing my light and 110 outlets and without running another electrical line?

Thanks
Rick

[Ibr8k4vetts]

Originally posted by Tom Wells


Hi Rick,

Just got the vertical Sears unit you posted. Works fine.

It IS noisy, so if that bugs you, looking elsewhere may be the thing to do. I have mine near a door I can open, so it's a little less obnoxious!

Seems like a good unit for the dollars. I don't trust the Chinese/Harbor Freight units

Regards,

Tom

I hope you have better luck with your, mine made it about 5hr. of uses and one month past the warranty! I don't trust sears!
Mike

[Lowell W]

Don't buy Chinese made GARBAGE!!! I don't know how they manage a 5HP rating on some of these little compressors but they make some of 'em sound like a lot more than they are. DV is right: if you're going to do any amout of work a two stage compressor is a necessity and so is 220V. I have a 5HP Champion which I bought locally but they're available from TIP Tools, who also handle the Quincy line (www.tptools.com). I have a medium sized bead blast cabinet and can run it continuously at 100psi, as well as a small pressure-type sandblaster. If I could do it all over again, I would buy an even bigger compressor, but I only had a 220V/40A service to the garage at the time I installed the compressor. I'd also probably buy the upright model instead of the horizontal I have. I'm very happy with the quality of the compressor and the size is adequate for my needs. I'm also a big fan of TIP tools. They're great folks with whom to do business. In addition to the sandblaster and bead blast cabinet, I also use air for an impact gun, small angle grinder, air nailer, air powered jack and probably some other things I can't remember at the moment. I also have an air gun with a long wand which is great for blowing dust off things and out of places without getting all the dust in your face.

[rdorman]

But how do I deal with the electical issue?????????????

HELP!!!!!!

Rick