I need a good air compressor, but there are so many out there that I feel a little confused…one thing I think I need is a 2 stage, with at least 30+gallon tank. Speedaire seemed to come up alot in searches, but that may not mean much. I’m going to use it to spray gelcoat, roving, paint, air tools, everything! Another thig how good would it be to use a alternating compressor/vacuum? This is going to a bigger investment for me and I would like to get it right the first time, thanks.
It really doesn’t matter brand so much just the quality, do your self a favor and make sure the pump is made of cast irom, not aluminum. If you can find a made in USA one it will more than likely be little more money and a lot better quality than a chinese one.
BTW when buying a compressor it’s best to err on the big side, if you think you need a 3 buy a 5. you 'll be happier in the end.
Get an oil type as the oiless noise will kill you.
If you are here in So. Calif. area, a former adult student of mine (and a friend now too) had a good used 30 gallon horz. oil type single stage 120 volt air compressor for $50 just a week or so ago…but I told a racing friend that he also knows about it…?
Get a brand name one and first look for if replacement parts are available like at McMaster Carr or Grainger’s…some like Montgomery Wards (I still use my form 25 years ago…) are Speedaire and you can still get rebuild parts for them.
I can easy count that I have 4 or more air compressors around here working or near working and that is at a home no less…but I find them for free or cheap and repair them too.
I just got a old 80 gallon (also a massive stainless steel bouy too) 5 hp DeVilbiss from an auction for $250 (does it work, don’t know but I know I can rebuild it) but it is 3 phase and houses are single phase…
and I knew better. Oh well, more money for a phase converter or another 5 hp electric motor.
Get more than you need right now!
Below is cut and paste from eagle equipmentgols standard cmpressors. These are commercial quality units but the cheapest is like 1700.
http://eagleequip.com/page/EE/CTGY/AC
- Cast Iron head, cylinders, after cooler, intercooler and pump body
- 5 individual concentric disc valves
- Strict monitoring of Cylinder casting hardness complements the 4 Hastings USA rings
- Connecting rods are precision bored Steel not Cast Iron or Aluminum and have Japanese world class full compliment needle bearings
- Only Hastings USA machined steel piston rings. Tests show a 2-3 times longer life than Chinese made rings
- Automotive-type, precision grounded crankshaft
- Crankcase Breather Tube returns to intake so the compressor stays cleaner, better looking and quieter
- Deep pitch Flywheel results in a 10º cooler output temperature
- Non-asbestos Armstrong USA gaskets
thanks for your input guys, I’m out here in Southern Illinois BTW, and theres going to be an auction for some used equiptment this weekend, so I’ll check it out…thanks again.
Try and go early like a day to test any of them and look for the phasing too. But you can buy phase converters almost anywhere…
Even a non working one tank can be extra air storage and gotten cheaply or “freebie”, as they say on Monster Garage!
Good luck!
good idea, I’ll do that.
I use an 80 gallon Snap On compressor. Motor is 7 or 8hp, don’t remember. Since it’s a belt drive, it’s fairly quiet that i can use it late, or just work around it while it’s running.
It’s important to get a large tank, to avoid the compressor running while you’re spraying. A strong motor will also allow it to reach peak PSI quicker. Mine runs on 220v, but the smaller ones i think can run on normal 110v.
Just makes sure you have the space and hookups for whatever you’re getting. Another important thing is to get the largest size hose you can use, along with the oil/air filters for the lines.
The compressor I bought at auction is a real beast, built in the 1950’s, 60 HP, 600 volts 3 phase.500 gallon tank, 2 cylinder water cooled all cast iron, (weighs over 3000#) 4 rings per cast iron piston, 8.5” bore, 7.5” stroke. It fills the 500-gallon tank form 0 to 100 psi in less than a minute; it can keep full pressure with a 2” open pipe. Costs about $6 an hour for electricity to run though, it don’t sound like much but multiply it by 8 for hours a day then by 20 days a month and you will see why my electric bill is always 4 figures a month. Let me tell you though there aint nothing better than a ton of air when you are sandblasting rusty stuff.
…dang! Just buy a modified ACVW engine :eek: that uses 2 cylinders as an air compressor!
I’m not kidding ya…
I know I saw that back in the 70’s. I used to have a bunch of ACVW’s, Problem is they all rot away up here in the land of snow and salt covered roads. Those “hot” air channels didn’t last long once attacked by saltwater. The last ACVW I drove, you could only open one door at a time ar else you had to jack up the middle of the car to close them, Beside half a acvw (1600) engine is about 50 cubic inches for a compressor, Mine is 850 cubic inches, yup 425 cubic inches per cylinder.
bricklin, your crazy man! thats alot of air compressor:eek:
Dang…such a BLOW heart!
That is sooo big, you could supply the whole industial complex with that thing!
Let’s see a picture of it…huh guys? Doesn’t everyone here want to see that Monster! I do! Place a ruler, measurement tape or stand next to it to get size comparesen too!
I need that much air for about 4 hours a day, I then shut it off and run on what is left in the 500 galon tank for the rest of the day. There is no such thing as too much air. I am actually looking at getting another compressor as I may need a little more volume if I get the next contract. The tank alone (compressor off) can run a DA sander for about 1/2 an hour.