The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Nuther air comp.question

I have been looking at two air compressors at Tractor Supply.Both Ingersoll Rands.Both are 5 HP.One is a two cyl.single stage that puts out 135 PSI for about $750.The other one is a 5 HP Two stage compressor that puts out 175 PSI,price about $999.The cheaper one is supposed to put out more CFPM at 90 PSI.Does anyone have either one of these?And which one would you buy?Oh yeah,both 80 gal.tanks.

Unless you have a full fledged shop either one will do just fine. The two stage will recover faster & run less over time. Both can prolly have the pressure tweaked somewahat. Since it ain't my money I say go w/the two stage. No one was ever sorry they went first class. Brian

If your going to use a sandblaster than go with the two stage. Otherwise if they both put out more than 20 cu.ft./min. than you can paint or run just about every power tool in your shop.

If all else were the same, I would go for the higher CFM @ 90 PSI. I myself don't have anything that won't run at 135 PSI.
Although, one other thing to consider, is whether either has cast iron or aluminum cylinders. Cast iron will definitely last longer.

Just my opinion

John

Agree with John, The cfm is more important to me than the higher pressure. check the cast iron thing.

One other thing to keep in mind is if your putting this in your garage, do you want the compressor to be heard in the house running. The two-stage is going to be alot more quiet. I have this problem and it just so happens the master bedroom in my house is right above the garage so you have to remember the wife factor. I went with a two stage and love it.

my input on the Noise , FOR GODS SAKE dont get a diaphram Had 1 for 6 months Craftsman 6hp 60- gallon tank!think it is now at the bottom of a river somewhere !
Unlesss you want the entire Neighborhood too hunt ya down an take ya for a ride ya wont come home from ,with the Wife drivin ?
2 stage are fare quiter , recover faster , run less , HENCE many more yrs of service for the xtra $$$$ ....
Have an 80 gallon Ingersall 2 stage ...LOVE IT !
Go with the 2 stage Cast Iron Cylendars

Yeah,I know about the diaphram oiless compressors,they make way too much noise and are subject to burning up after just a little use.Right now I have an old Champion compressor in my shop.I believe it is a 1956 model.Its getting old just like me and takes a long time to recover.It is a 2 stage that probably came out of a service garage or gas station years ago.It was in the shop when I bought this place.It has served me well for quite a few years.Parts are not available for it any longer,or I would rebuild it.So I am saving up my tool money to replace it.The Ingersol Rands at Tractor Supply seem to be the best deal I can find on one.Kinda leaning toward the 2 stage even tho it is a little more expensive.

Went over to Tractor Supply this afternoon.10% off on air compressors thru Dec.24.talked it over with the wife and she said go ahead and buy it,you have been wanting it for a long time.Bought the 5 HP 2 stage 80 gal.setup.At 10% off it was $899.had to take the compressor unit off to get it in the garage,a little too high to clear the door.Soon as i get around to it I will wire it up ,and do a little piping on it.Probably in a couple of weeks,seeing as I have to go out on the road for a week.Almost seems like a Christmas present buying it this time of the year.

Have a Curtis air compressor with 7.5 horse Baldor motor running 2 stage pump with 80 gallon tank. puts out 25cfm at 175lbs. Runs ANYTHING! not much more money than the Ingersol and has a magnetic starter for easier startups. We have a 1" impact for Semi Tractor Trailer tires, and handles this and any DA or mini grinder all day with ease. Plumbed entire shop with 3/4" blackpipe with several water traps around the building. T's pull air from top of pipe. We have regulator and filter that are seperate and attach to quick coupler, this way the supply line is always at 175PSI and we only need to regualte at the hose for the specific job. Bought the unit through our local electric motor repair shop, they also sell and service Milwaukee tools which we also use and would have nothing else.

Iowafarmboy,25cfm@175PSI,now thats truly an industrial compressor.I think my Ingersol will take care of my needs.It maxes out at 175 PSI ,then kicksback in at 135 PSI.Puts out about 15.7 CFM at 175 PSI.I have a large sandblaster,impact wrenches,scaler guns,etc.Then in the woodshop I use brad nailers and crown staplers.I looked at a larger Ingersol that was 7.5 horse,2 stage in the $1800.range,but the 5 horse will take care of my needs.That definitly sounds like a neat setup you have.

I am in the market for a new compressor. I don't want or have the money for what you guys are talking about, but I do want to get a good compressor for my garage I have a small one now & I need to upgrade I use various air tools. I was wondering if you guys had some ideas. My compressor is a Cambell Hausfeld 5hp 26 gallon 125 psi max 5.5scfm @90 psi Thanks

Seems to me there is a lot of unused air out there. At any rate, if it has the capability to run on 220VAC, wire it to so.

JamesB,look around at the tool stores.There seem to be a lot of compressors in the $400 to $500 range that should fit your needs.Lowes,Home Depot,etc.Also look at the ones in Tractor Supply,they have a very good asst.from smaller ones up to industrial size compressors.Stay away from the oiless type compressors that Sears sells,they are very noisy,and have a tendancy to burn up after using them for a short time.

i have a oiless one from sears an have had no probs yet but my shops in the back yard an i aint had no other probs with burnng up yet nock on wood

also have a craftsman oilless it's cheap air but the noise is greater and have broken 2 rods in about 10 years,,if you are putting it to heavy use all the time buy something else..doc

also have a craftsman oilless it's cheap air but the noise is greater and have broken 2 rods in about 10 years,,if you are putting it to heavy use all the time buy something else..doc

I have an Ingesol Rand with an 80 gallon tank on 220 volts that I put in a shed in the back.Ran a pipe underground to the shop because I can't stand that noise anymore.Got to keep the tank drained and a water seperator in line.

I am building a large garage for a workshop and plan on extending the foundation a few feet so as to keep the compressor outside. Does anyone know if it is a NO NO to keep the compressor out in the weather?

i would build some kinda little shelfter around it 2 keep it out of the weather

At the very least, you'll want to keep the rain off the electric motor. Otherwise, you wouldn't believe some of the filth and grease I've seen compressors living in.

Water would probably be it's worst enemy.

If you do have it outside in an enclosure,make sure it gets enough air to work properly and cool itself.
Here in the Northeast,I have to keep mine warm in the winter.

Looking at the instructions on mine they reccomend not operating it at temps.below 32 degrees.Also make sure it is in some kind of an enclosure and has plenty of room for air intake.I dont know about you,but when I spend a lot of money on a compressor I am going to keep it protected from the weather.

If ya got methheads around you better put it inside, they take anything around here; the copper plumbing under your house, catalytic convertors & radiators off parked cars in lots & parking decks. I would rather put up w/the noise inside than have it disappear. Brian

Get the larger CFM and a 80 gallon miniumum tank.

Our place we retreat to is in the Texas hill country and far out in the boonies. Methheads aka Meatheads beware... We don't see 32 degrees but maybe once a year if that much. I will put a shed over the top to repel the rain. Heck, if I had it in the garage I wouldn’t be able to hear myself sing.

"Heck,if I had it in the garage;I would't be able to hear myself sing"
And the problem with that is ????...LOL

A good thing to remember is to have some system to get the H2O out. We have our compressor mounted in an enclosed parts loft above our shop. It is mounted on a wood pallet, sitting on a 1" rubber mat (cow mat, you can get them at your local TSC). I had the air line connected by a 3/4" hydraulic hose custom made to length, then connected to 3/4" blackpipe. The hydraulic hose flexes, so helpd take any vibration out of the line when copressor is running. We also ran a 1/4" ID hydraulic hose to length from the bottom of the tank. We periodically drain the tank with this line, and it gets all the water out!

Well, I've gotten some real good ideas here. Now when I finish the garage and am ready to set up the compressor with hoses and black pipe etc. I'll come back here and research all this and make the best system for my needs.
Thanks guys...

I worked for Ingersoll Rand for 30 years...the finest shop compressor made is the IR Type 30...it comes w/ various tank and power configurations. It will last forever. Check Ingersoll-Rand Air Centers, Northern Tool and Graingers websites.

steveg,

Concur on the IR pumps. Four in my plant..screw & piston. 25 years and still humping!


Stuart

If yer putting it outside, at least in the south, be sure to bug screen the openings. Otherwise the dirt dobbers will fill up any hole with their eggs/nests. They destroyed a craftsman oilless I had for several years, not my only one. A rat/mouse/squirrel ate the air filter then the bugs came in and went all the way to the flutter valve and screwed it up. Didn't take long either. So now everything I do around here I close up holes if I have to leave them open for any time. I'm out in the country and the bugs are more abundant than I was used to dealing with.

I have my big compressor outside the shop under a tin roof and siding with screened intake top and bottom. Screening is wire cloth in front of wire window screen, I don't want anything chewing through. Then flex pipe through my shop wall to schedule 80 3/4" pipe distribution. Be sure and rig up a water seperator/dryer. Bigger pipe offsets loses for the turns. If you really wanted to get anal retentive about it you could pop for the more expensive gradual bends to smooth out the air flow path.

My thoughts, Wade

Wade. What do you mean softer bends? I thought that air pressure/cfm was the big thing not the softer bends or am I missing something. :confused:

Kenny B.

551st3800,

Gases (air) moving in a pipe are subject to frictional losses in flow dependent on the diameter of the pipe. The same holds true for each elbow, Tee or fitting the causes that gas to change direction or go through a narrowing.

These dynamics are important when you are dealing with things that flow in the very low CFM's and under very little pressure. Natural gas piping in your house would be an example.

The pressures and volumes encountered in a compressed air system probably wouldn't be affected (much) by these frictional losses.

I know there are some full fledges engineers on this site....sure hope they don't see my BS!

Stuart

Well it stands to reason the faster the fluid flows the more friction will be a factor. Fluid dynamics applies to compressed air too I believe. Been out of school too long to remember though.

Anything you can do to reduce friction is good. Thats why they tell you to go to 3/4" pipe for runs over 50 feet. Every joint you add to the mix is another friction point. So making use of gentle bends (pun intended), where you have to have a joint reduces the friction. Maybe I'm splitting hairs here

Since I've decided to remove my PVC and go back to black pipe, can you get any long radius joints (90's)in black? Heck out here in the bounies I can't even find black pipe. I guess its another trip to the city this weekend.

Wade

Ok I went and looked it up on Weiki..

Fluid dynamics is the sub-discipline of fluid mechanics dealing with fluids (liquids and gases) in motion. It has several subdisciplines itself, including aerodynamics (the study of gases in motion) and hydrodynamics (the study of liquids in motion).

So compressed air moving in a pipe follows the same laws of liquids moving in a pipe. And you can definitely get more flow (the magical CFM we all want) by reducing friction any way you can.

For air compressor outside, just take a big bolt front end and put it over the air compressor and lift the hood for service.

Now that's a thought!! Make it look like an extra truck body parked in the driveway!! What else can we hide under the body????

Neighbors will say "Your motor sounds funny!"