Air Compressor

LostHusker

Ok guys, my hand me down air compressor is shot, need to go look for another one, like to here what you are using. I can go to HD, Lowes, Northern, Tractor Supply. Just would like to hear what you all are using. Needs to be good all around one, big enough to run air tools, and maybe a nailer.

Mark

BGW

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Katshot

Nailers will run on all but the smallest, cheapest compressors since they use very low volumes of air (low CFM). Depending on what kind of air tools you intend to use, and how you intend to use them, you may be able to get away with a mid-range compressor. So, what tools will you be using, and how will you be using them?

LostHusker

Impact will most likely be the biggest one, the old one could barely keep up but it would work, other than that just airing up tires, and using the compressor the clean the shop.

seacrets

Sold them for 35 years. Take a look at Grainger's catalog for home/garage use. Strongly recommend a lubricated one and not oil-less. Better cooling and less wear. Good luck.

LostHusker

Kewl, thanks for the info, there is just so many to choose from, need a place to look.

monkey-1

We have several compressors from a small 1 gallon (for airbrushing) all the way up to a 220 volt 60 gallon upright shop compressor. Probably the best all around size (big enough to use for larger jobs, yet small enough to be portable) is a 5.5HP 110 volt 30 gallon upright Craftsman. Just my .02.

DOOmsman

Mark, look around and maybe find an older comp that has a 1700 rpm motor. The new ones with the 3300 rpm are just plain nasty loud. The old thumpers are easy to rebuild if need be. Be careful a lot of the used ones for sale are 3 phase electric.

LostHusker

Thanks for the heads up!!

Katshot

The reason I asked what air tools you'll use, and how you'll use them is this; cheap air compressors, generally have small tanks and relatively low CFM ratings. These units are NOT a good idea for the use of any type of high CFM shop tools. As you mentioned, they can't keep up with the tools very well. If you intend to only use low CFM tools, then virtually ANY compressor will most likely work for you. If you intend on using high CFM tools but only for short duty-cycles, like maybe spinning some lugnuts occasionally, you can probably get by with the cheap compressor as long as you don't mind waiting for the compressor to build the pressure back up during the process. IF, you intend to use high-CFM tools for relatively long duty-cycles, like using air sanders or die grinders, then you will NEED better performance than the cheap compressors will offer.
My suggestion is this;
Option 1: Do a little research on the tools you intend to use. Know their CFM ratings. Buy a compressor that can keep up with those CFM requirements.
Option 2: Find yourself an old (or new) air tank from a compressor (or any one rated for the proper working pressure), and plumb it into your existing tank. This way, the compressor doesn't NEED to be able to keep up with the CFM of the tool, since the capacity of the tank(s) will supply all you need.

LostHusker

thanks for all of the input on this.

Mark