What is a good size compressor?

p.e.i.vw · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:57 pm Post subject: What is a good size compressor?

I am looking to buy myself a compressor to run a sander and maybe a hand held sand blaster for my garage. I want to do a little body work on my van. I was wondering what would be a good stup for the first time hobbyist.

spook · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 5:57 pm Post subject:

as much cfm as you can afford.
I have worked with a pancake ,
I would not recomend it
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blarneyman · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 5:57 pm Post subject:

The bigger the better! With sanding and painting in mind, I wouldn't go any less than a 5 hp dual stage with a 60 gal tank. I'm sure there are some guys here that know more than me. Eh?

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Jowlz · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:25 pm Post subject:

There's a huge price jump when you get to the $800 mark with compressors. The next step up seems to jump to $1500-1600. Go with the biggest you can afford.
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i_want_a_pre_49_ratbeetle · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:33 pm Post subject:

you will be suprised to find out how much air tools really consume 1 of my portable compressors is a 6 hp 220 volt 33 gallon tank & it can barely keep up with a professional DA sander i have tried 2 small compressors hooked together..
my main compressor is something i threw together.. i picked up a vintage 80 gallon tank in good shape made from heavy gauge metal 5 hp motor & a 4 cylinder pump...
& im personally debating about a pancake compressor to leave in the vehicle for running impact wrench & inflating tires & possibly air drill or die grinder
if you want to sanblast & use a DA & other high consuming air tools try to get something close to 20cfm at 90 or better... just an opinion.. but it will make life easier & you wont work compressor to death & it will reward you with longer life & you wont be wasting time waiting for compressor build up
Randy

Jason C · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:55 pm Post subject:

I bought a 20 gal. and I wish that I would have gone bigger. It's nice that it is some what portable, but it just doesn't keep up with the bigger tools (D/A sander, cut-off wheel,etc.)

harryset · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:05 pm Post subject:

I've had the eyeball out on a 7hp (peak), 60 gal unit that is on sale at home depot. $449, can't quite make the $800 market.

i_want_a_pre_49_ratbeetle · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:25 pm Post subject:

when i was growing up a friend had a weird homemade 1 it used a water pressure cut off set for 80 psi washing machine motor & a compressor from a 18 wheeler belt driven & it was hooked to a 18 wheeler air tank...... hated that thing but it worked fine for light duty work.. also have been into shops that have picked up a few extra cheap compressors that had blown motors & hooked them up to their good 1 for more air storage...
it takes longer to pump up yes but longer to run down & will let you go longer between stopping to wait till pumps up
i have seen many home made ones.. but get a correct pressure switch & good quality gauge so can set pressure
craziest set up i seen is guy had compressor under his workbench.. but no tank i go behind his shop & he had like 10 propane tanks hooked together for volume he had his shut off set for 125psi... which should be dangerous but he got by but im not condoning doing this.. i also seen freaon tanks used but they are really not safe

like i said i built mine but i used good parts i bought a used 4 cylinder pump freshly rebuild for $275 a 80 gallon tank old style way thicker than new tanks cant dent with hand would break your hand...for $50 & 5hp electric industrial 220 volt motor for $100 forgot how much i paid for switch & gauge & belt been a few years.... & also plumbing from pump to tank
Randy

p.e.i.vw · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:29 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info, I didn't quite know where to start!

renderit · Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 5:04 am Post subject:

I got a 2 stage "black" Craftsman "professional" last year on sale. It is decent and quiet but to be honest it is not big enough for a lot of air tools. Shoots paint fine but even a rachet gives it fits.
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Jowlz · Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:55 am Post subject:

jwvert · Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 6:43 am Post subject:

I have a Craftsman Gold 6hp 25G. Works well for most things but the sandblaster needs way more air than it can make. Sprays well with HVLP but as has been said before, I would buy larger in hind sight.
I also bought the PC 7424 6" sander, great machine. Team that with a good 4" RO palmsander and you have all the sanding capability you need.
JW

Campy · Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 8:50 pm Post subject:

Don't buy an oilless air compresser.

southmaincustoms · Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 9:39 pm Post subject:

I have a 8.5 horse 80 gal. Ingersol and that can't even keep up with two DA's. I think you should look long term. This is a tool, that if you buy the right one, will be with you until you die. Like every one else said Buy BIG! and don't buy oilless....If you can't afford at least an $800 one, save your money and buy an $800 one (at least) The rest is garbage if you have any kind of real auto use for it. It won't last. I know, I burnt out a few.
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i_want_a_pre_49_ratbeetle · Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 10:08 pm Post subject:

couple ideas.. look for air tool rebuilder in your area... see if they will throw a compressor together for you.... they always seem to have extra parts laying about & possibly can rebuild the parts & make you a very good deal.. that is how i got my big compressor.. & he was a neighbor of 1 of my good friends
also put an ad in paper.. my new job they just picked up a 10hp 3phase 120 gallon tank & im excited to see what it will do he paid $1000 just got it wired in couple days ago now got to plumb it...
& as far as electric da sanders.. yes they work pretty good i have the porta cable brand somewhere.. still prefer the air models though but for a homeowner not doing much work they would do fine. air da sanders are 1 of the biggest air consumers i know of besides sandblasters
Randy

marklaken · Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 6:30 am Post subject:

my 60 gal 220v single stage compressor has a hard time pushing a DA..i use an electric orbital sander...takes a little longer but its quiet (no compressor running constantly)...the compressor does okay with my 40 gallon sandblaster (i need to let the compressor catch up a couple times/tank of media)...the compressor has no problem keeping up with me when i do primer work (there are lots of stops in my painting work)...
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Jowlz · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 9:08 pm Post subject:

partonkevin · Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 8:24 am Post subject:

My dad has a couple of air compressors. The 60 gal 10cfm unit for $450 =/- paints well. It will run my D/A all day. Just when it starts to give out, it's time to change the paper. I never notice it struggling. Runs a cutoff tool pretty well. Especially when you consider all the repositioning you will likely be doing. Sandblaster? well...it struggles. Small parts in a blast cabinet is okay. If you are trying to do a whole car you can rent a gasoline powered compressor that pulls behind a car. One day and some abrasive and you can do a lot of damage!

I couldn't afford the $1300 compressor I really wanted, so I was eyeing the $550 and below. I picked up a used one for $275. If I can run across another one I'm thinking of sitting the side-by-side and connecting the outputs through check valves and shutoff valves. 2x10CFM=20CFM and that should be enough and I could just run one for smaller projects. I'm already halfway there Wink

gabe321 · Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 1:32 pm Post subject:

Hey I've sand blasted and painted my 66 beetle with a 8 gallon Cambell air compressor which I bought at Walmart for $225 on sale past Summer. It did the job and it did it well, just had to wait to reload but it wasn't a big deal. Cool

Dusty1 · Samba Member Joined: April 16, 2004 Posts: 1756

I've got a couple biggies, old three phase dual stage Ingersoll-Rands, good stuff and stupid-expensive!

If you're not sandblasting you don't need that much air, don't let the guys who do this all day every day scare ya!

For around $400 buy a 5 horsepower 30 gallon single stage portable, that's about the biggest compressor you can run on 117 volt single phase power. I really like a good portable to run off a generator at the track plus on more than one occaison I've done "house calls" with it when the customer had the body off the chassis over their place or something.


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