Need shop air compressor suggestions - NOW!!!

[ppeters914]

Debbie is going to rent a flooring stapler. Says it's $100/week for the air compressor. Seeing as how we'll probably need this 2 or 3 weeks, I figure buy instead of rent.

Now, I know all the standard how-to-buy....figure out what and how many tools you're gonna use simultaneously, then multiple 1.5 x the total CFM and go 10-percent higher on the PSI.

That's fine. How about someone saying I bought 'X' and it did the trick. I figure mostly carpentry plus a grinder/sander. Maybe an impact wrench and airbrush later.

Thoughts? Thanks.

[Dave]

I've got this little guy:

http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=547&p=4701

Had it for 4 years now. So far it's been bulletproof and has run flawlessly. It seems to take everything I can throw at it from impact wrenches to die grinders to HVLP paint guns. If you can afford it and have the hook-up, but a compressor that will run off of 240V. You'll pay more up front but you won't regret it!

[ppeters914]

You call a 60-gal tank "little?" Hmmm...hate to see what you'd call BIG, hehehehe.

Yeah, I'm sure it would do the job (and I have 240), but trying to keep it down below $300.

[RoadsterYosh1]

I got a Cambell Hausfield vertical 22 or 26 gallon, don;t remember off the top of my head, it replaced my less than one year Husky (Home Depo label) 25 gallon vertical. The CH works great. Maybe overkill, but overkill is good. My compressor is discontinued now but similar to the W6110.

Here’s a couple words of warning: get one with the compressor that looks like it has a real electrical motor attached to it and NOT the “pancaked head", who knows what is under the plastic cover type. The other is, I don’t recommend getting the “house labeled� brands. Company like HomeDepo (Husky) and Lowels (Kobolt) will not take it back for warrantee after 1-3 months and you are left with calling an 800 number to finding out who the original manufacture (depends on who is the low bid for that year) is and going through them for warrantee repairs. My less than one year Husky brand, died in 10 months and the guys at HomeDepo couldn't even tell me where to take it.

[Dave]

I agree with Yosh. Whatever you do, try to get a compressor that has the electric motor seperate from the compressor. If the motor ever dies on you, you can simply pull it off and have it serviced at an electric motor shop or head to a place like Grainger and just replace the entire motor.

Also, as Yosh said, get a reputable brand. If, for example, the compressor eats a crank bearing on my unit, I know I can simply take it to a Porter Cable authorized shop for repairs or order the parts from PC and do the work myself.

[ppeters914]

Yup. That's what I've learned during the past two hour how-to-buy-an-air compressor cram session. Problem is that it doesn't appear I'm going to be able to run a sander/polisher unless I get 6+SCFM@90 psi/60-gal, which means easily $400+.

To buy one today, I thinking this one from Sears will do the immediate job:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product. ... +Inflators

Advantages are that it's oil lubricated, has a cast-iron sleeve, quiet, and cheap. Of course, for the same amount of money, I can get this from Harbor Freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=47065

Of course, I've never heard of Central Pneumatics....

[Dave]

OK, OK, here's what you do...

Don't buy this one:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product. ... +Inflators

Why? Because it's way overkill for a flooring stapler (which is your original reason for wanting a compressor) and pitifully undersized for automotive things like die grinders and sanders.

Personally, I'd go for this guy:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=38898

Don't get me wrong, Harbor Freight air tools are less than great. But, for $99 you can own the thing for what it would cost to rent one for a week! It'll at the very least get you through the flooring job. If it completely dies after the job is done and you throw it away, you’re still coming out ahead! Chances are, for the little use it will see after the flooring job is done, you'll have it for years and it won't take up a lot of space. It runs off of 120V and you can easily drag it around behind the flooring stapler. It'll also work great for bringing out to the car to fill up tires, or for running a nail gun if you build a deck or get into woodworking.

When you have the money and can justify spending $500 on a shop sized compressor, do it. You won't feel bad about having 2 compressors because you only spent $99 on a portable one!

[Import_sounds-of-mid-GA]

i have one similar to the on dave listed.... it does good, but if you arent concerned about quality Biglots has 15gallon 5hp for $115.... does purdy good too!

[RoadsterYosh1]

I agree with Dave, that little Harbor Freight compressor looks like it will do the immediate job you want. If it survives your floor nailing, you could get a portable 10 gallon air tank to add some volume so you can run some of the other equipment you are planning. The big difference between using a large/small capacity tanks (running your sander/polisher/grinder) is with a smaller tank, you just have to take more beer breaks

[ppeters914]

Grrrrrrr.....wish you people were wasting time on the internet as much as me!

I already ordered the Sears unit, then got Dave's response. I can still cancel the order. Home phone busy, so still gotta confirm that Debbie is willing to drive an hour north to pickup the Harbor Freight unit. I'm thinking that saving $90 will be incentive enough.

[spl310]

Pete,

Here is an idea. GO to Sears. As I recall, they are clearancing out last years stuff about now. My wife bought me one a few years back - 6hp/60gal and it only cost a shade over $300 at the time. They had smaller units for loads less.

The Central Pneumatic units that I have seen are fine. I would not run an auto shop with them, but for home use, they are hard to beat!

[Blue Moon]

Pete,

I bought a Cambell Hausfield from monkey wards 20+ years ago, I've built two trucks, at least three cars I can thing of, numerous repair jobs, and painted my house. It is a 20 gallon 120psi max unit. nothing exciting. but it has paid for itself many times over. Maybe I'm brand loyal but it works and is downstairs now and it just keep on ticking.... Oh yeah it was well within your range, and still was last time I checked. Just my thoughts.

Denis

[esmeby]

My .02.
I got a Cambell Hausfield pancake style from a garage sale about 4 years ago. (similar to the Harbor Freight) It was $60. Thought it would do fine till I had the money to upgrade.
Still haven't needed to upgrade. The most demanding job has been using a cut off wheel. It was a small job and it took a bit of time, but it wasn't worth spending the money on a larger model.
Heck- I got a Chinese made electric grinder for $10.
I have however moved it around to various jobs numerous times. You may want both a portable and shop model. Start small.

[dbrick]

You get what you pay for especially at harbor freight. If possible get a belt drive compressorseperate motor and compressor head. the one piece direct drive units are ungodly LOUD.
I traded a brand new 5 horsepower Coleman to a friend for an old Craftsman with a bad motor plus cash. It was so loud I couldn't stay in the garage. I had to fabricate a motor mount and get a Harbor freight motor. It is so quiet and they last forever.
Draws almost 40 amps on startup, true 3 hp 120v motor, but was worth all the effort. All is good as long as the coffee pot in the kitchen isn't on.

A shop size compressor is something you only want to buy once.

Whatever you buy just mastch the air consumption to the biggest tool you would use, or get one with a big tank
You can also just buy it from Sears, return it when the floor is done, and then go back and buy it again after they mark it down and put it back on the floor for less money .

[dneuman]

Heck i've got a little Porter Cable unit that will work fine for the floor stapling that you can borrow. I bought it to run my pants cannon at burning man this year but I don't really need it right now. You coming by Oakland anytime soon?
One problem is that it takes almost no air to run a stapler/nailer and a small compressor can do it just fine. If you want to run real pneumatic tools you need a big 60-80 gal vertical unit which are not cheap.
PM me if you want to borrow it.