Need Air Compressor advice

[Gotcha6]

Look around for other outlets on IR products too. Saw several of their units in the Monroe Tractor Supply today. All were upright belt drive units & looked like they could do some serious work.

[scsmith42]

IR stuff is top notch - you won't go wrong there.

Re which compressor to get, for a 1/2" impact you don't need as many CFM as long as you have a significant amount of storage. 60 - 80 gallons is a pretty decent amount.

However, longer term do you anticipate getting any more air equipment, that may demand more CFM than the impact? I have a glass bead blasting cabinet, and it requires in the neighborhood of 20 CFM to keep it happy.

All compressors are relatively loud; if possible, locate it in a place where you can contain the noise.

Large air hoses (such as 1/2" ID) will make a significant difference in the performance of your air tools, as opposed to the standard 1/4" that most folks use.

Personally, for automotive type work I'd consider one of the 240V IR models. A two stage is nice if you can swing the $. IR makes a nice 18 CFM single stage 240V compressor that Northern Tool sells for $889.00

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w..._211720_211720

Scott

[Glennbear]

[quote=Charles Lent;159106]Michael,

The others have given you very good advice. I would like to just say that just like clamps, you can never have too much compressed air. When you have it available you tend to find new uses for it really fast. I'm now on my third compressor, and I finally think I have one big enough to hold me for a while. It's a 5 HP 240 volt 80 gallon unit from Ingersol Rand. Before this one I had started with a pancake contractors style. It ran a nailer great, but was REALLY LOUD. I then had a 2 HP 240 volt Sears unit given to me but it had bad reed valves and Sears wanted more for the valve plate than I could buy a new compressor for. I subsequently replaced the compressor keeping the tank, regulator, and controls. This unit kept me happy for about three years before it couldn't keep up with my needs. Then I added a second tank to it (a modified 100 lb LP gas tank). This let me have more air for the high consumption needs, but I had to take frequent breaks for the compressor to catch up. Then one day I came across the Ingersol Rand at a good price (Tractor Supply) and decided that I had to have it. Well, it maxed out the credit card and I had to add on to my woodshop for a place to put it, but I'm not regretting it's purchase one bit. I finally have enough air to sand blast, paint, run nailers, and impact wrenches without having to wait on the compressor every few minutes. It has been one of my smarter purchases ending many years of agravation. I doubt that I'll live long enough to out grow this one. It hurt to buy it but that pain went away quickly when I started using it.

Charley[/quote
I need to add air storage capacity and was thinking about using a propane storage tank, was it much of a hassle to convert?

[Charles Lent]

Adding air storage capacity, for me, was relatively easy to do as it was only intended to be "temporary". I took the valve out of an old (empty) 100 lb propane cylinder and then installed the appropriate adapters to allow installation of a male airline fitting. Then, using a short standard air hose with the quick connect fittings on each end I connected it to one of the outlets on my 20 gallon 2 hp air compressor manifold. After it filled up (and the compressor stopped running) I had a significant larger reserve of compressed air to work with (was sand blasting at full pressure). A word of caution though, don't disconnect this air line until you have bled off the air pressure in the system as there is nothing to keep the air in the LP tank when the hose is disconnected from it, and it will surely blow your hat off, and maybe worse. Another word of caution, don't use the first two fills of this tank on any project where there is an open flame or sparks as there may be enough LP gas left in the tank to make things really exciting. A more permanent and safer connection is highly recommended if you plan on leaving this tank permanently connected. A better way would be to put a tee fitting in the line running between your tank and regulator and then connecting this tank permanently to this point.

A friend uses two of these 100 lb LP cylinders for the air storage in his garage/metal shop compressed air system. They are mounted on the outside back wall of his garage upside down and connected with permanent plumbing to his compressor, which is an old refrigeration compressor (big old one). He has a 240 volt valve under the tanks that energzes when he turns on the compressor, closing a vent. When he is finished working for the day and turns off the compressor, this valve opens and purges the air, and all of the condensate, from the entire system. This all works great. You just don't want to be out behind his garage when he does this. It will drop you to your knees.

Charley

[Woodman2k]

Just for general info,the unit that Scott linked to ,the SS5L5,I can get for $745-shipping included.I don't know about sales tax although you will pay that just about everywhere now.The next unit up on the food chain is the 2340L5 and its a 60 gal 2 stage that goes to 175 psi and its $999.That is what alot of people in work have bought for themselves.A 2 stg 5 hp/240 volt unit will last forever with the most basic of PM.The offer is and will be on the table but I only can do this once in a while so everybody that is on the fence lets create some gloats.

By the way,$889 does not include the start up kit,the $745 does!

[scsmith42]

Wow - $745.00 for that compressor - with a start up kit - is the deal of the year.

Greg - I just wish that I needed a compressor so that I could take you up on your great offer.

Unfortunately, I'm "compressor poor" right now - i think that I have something like 5 of them - the largest is a 27CFM 2 stage unit.

You're right - a high quality compressor - with minimal PM's over time - will last a lifetime for a home shop.

Scott