The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Type of air compressor

Just curious, what brand and type of air compressors everyone is using, and are you happy with it.
I have a Speedaire brand, belt drive, 220 volt, with a 30 gallon tank. I have had it about 5 years now and I really like it. It is a horizontal portable unit on wheels. Before that, I had a Craftsman of about the same size (220 also), and it was OK also, but a lot noisier. The tank finally rusted through, after 25 years it had served me well. The Speedaire catches up a lot quicker than my old Craftsman. It also fills to 135 PSI versus 125.

I don't remember the brand name but our air compressor has a 6.5 horsepower motor, 80 gallon tank and builds up to 175 PSI

I purchased a craftsman about 3 years ago and it really does a great job even when using the bead blasting cabinet. It is 7hp, 80 gal tank, twin cyl professional style with 175psi and 16.9 cfm. I got it while on sale and a 10% craftsman club discount. No shipping. Total cost then was $805. It is doing a great job but in all fairness I suggest doing what I did...shop, shop, shop around and see what your money will buy. Some are ridulous, some are cheap, some to expensive for what you get. Do your homework and above all else, get twice what you think you need or at leat one and one half times the maximum cfm you expect to use and you will be happy.

ingersoll-rand 220 volt80 gal. tank. makes enough air 20cfm to handle every thing i ask of it .got it at tractor supply here 750$ been pleased with it.definitly shop around !!!!!

I believe mine produces about 11.5 cfm which has been plenty so far. After I start doing some bead blasting and utilizing air sanders will most likely be a good test. The trucks are a hobby for me, so I should have plenty of air power for what I want to do.

cambel hausfeld extreme duty 7 hp 60 gallon vertical with a 220v motor and big 2 piston compressor. Paid like 375 for it and its done fine for the past 3-4 years. Including sandblasting, painting, air tools, etc. Bought at HF. Have changed the oil once a year. I don't use it daily. But durn near weekly. 10.3 CFM at 90 PSI.

J;
I'm using an old Craftsman like you had,and it was really noisy too. I finally threw an old washrag over the top,where the intake is,and it's lots quieter now,and the air it breathes is cleaner too.
Speed

Man... you must have got a good deal. I checked my local tractor supply and they didnt have anything even close to 20cfm for that price.

ingersollrand 220 volt,two stage.Best tool i ever bought.

I bought a used compressor from the classifieds, 60 gal single stage, paid 300 for it. Next time I see a two-stage pump for a good price I'll buy that and get more volume air. Right now with 12 scfm at 125 psi I wish I had a little more sometimes.

You really need a two-stage to handle blasting and DA sanders, these are CFM hogs.

I looked around and bought a new "Eagle" Compressor at a local independent tool shop. Around $700.00 it is a Canandian built, three cylinder single stage compressor, 220v, 60 gal tank, rated at 18.5 cfm at 100 psi. I love this thing. Saw them on the web as high as 950.00 without shipping so I figured I got a good deal. I didn't see any dual stage for less than a grand plus. It has made blasting in the cabinet a dreamy new experience compared to my old compressor. Runs the DA just fine and is relatively quiet.
Steve O

I also have an Eagle air compressor sounds like the excact same one as Nifty 50 has. I use my compressor for at least an hour a day. It keeps up with most of the air tools that I throw at it. I'm satisfied. But if I ever did need to get another one I would go bigger.

I put mine together myself. I found an 80 gal tank, purchased a Champion 2 stage pump for 100.00, and got a 5hp 220 baldor motor for 20.00. After I got it all together, I found out the pump at 5hp puts out about 16 cfm. You can find the Champion stuff cheap on ebay all the time.

Stick with a cast iron pump, not aluminum. When these companys give horsepower ratings, they give you the peak horsepower. That is not the same as running horsepower. I bought a compressor a few years back that was a single stage V-twin pump and a five horse motor. The motor is huge compared to what you see "downtown". The rpms runs about half the speed of the "peak 5 horse" models you see out there and it gets better CFM.

The company name excapes me now, but I will get it with a web site. The price was great. I had it shipped to a loading dock near me. If you just go to the site and read the information, you will be convinced that the guy knows what he is talking about. I'll post back later with info.

I just bought a Belaire 216v compressor it is a 60 gallon two stage. I went with a 60 gallon because I need the space. I paid 797 plus free shipping from ASEDEALS.COM. They do charge a $40 residental fee.

I have not had time to use it yet but from all accounts it is a great compressor.

Here is a brand of air compressors that I swear by.

http://www.eatoncompressor.com/page/page/504413.htm

Hey Builder, I have seen this brand (Eaton) for sale before, but have not heard any un-biased opinions. Are you a distributor, or connected to the Manufacturer in any other way?

I was researching screw type compressors a while back for the company that I work for, and decided to purchase a 30 hp compressor by the name of "ABAC". The decision to purchase was based mainly on seeing a couple models in operation locally and talking with the company owners. (There is also a local company available to service them also). The only other experience that I have had with screw type compressors were "Quincy" brand, which are great compressors but cost more than we wanted to spend.

So far the ABAC has served us well, the only glitch is the control panel sometimes changes to its default screen language which I believe is French. It is no big deal to switch it back, just more of a nuisance.

John

No, I am not a distributor. Just an ex mechanic turned hobbyist. I talked with the owner of Eaton and could tell by conversing the subject he knew what he was talking about. I got a 5 HP twin cylinder pump. It pushes the same CFM or better than any 5 hp you can buy at Home Depot or Menards. The motor is a true 5 horse, not a "peak" horse power motor. It also does the work at about half the RPM as the others. I probably spent $100 to 200 more because of shipping, but I just have to agree with what the owner told me and from my experience with mine. I would buy another in a heartbeat.

Another note, The big compressors "down town" are dual stage. Mine is a single stage. I also called the owner and he talked as long as I wanted. Just pick out one of his compressors and read his specs and descriptions. That's what sold me.

Got rid of my Crapsman 5 hp (peak) 25 gal oilless and bought a real compressor. "Eagle" Max Air 3 cyl 60 gal rated 18.5 cfm at 100 psi. Paid 899.00 Canadian. What a difference. I can stay in the garage for hours now.

I suggest to anyone looking for a compressor to call their local paint supply stores and ask if they know of anyone getting rid of their compressor. Body shops and mechanics shops sometimes don't last long and they sell nice equiptment for pennies on the dollar when they're getting out of the business. My paint supply shop buddy just told me about a 4 piston two stage 100 gallon compressor he picked up from the state for cheap when they closed down a high school body shop program somewhere. Said he paid a couple hundred for it.... can you imagine?

I just picked up a Puma TN6580 last weekend for $1000. 220V, 80 gallon, 18CFM @ 100PSI, 175 PSI max, super heavy duty cast iron compressors. I looked at a whole bunch of different types such as the 220V Ingersoll Rand which is actually a 60 gallon tank with 18.1 CFM at 80PSI for $750. It was very tempting but when compared to the Puma TN6580 it cannot hold a candle due to the significantly beefier construction, tank size, and higher CFM rating of the Puma.

I'm new to air tools but after reading your posts I don't think my "crapman" will do.

I've owned a Puma air compressor for ten years. It has a large two cylinder pump with a thirty gallon tank. It has 12.9 CFM output at 90psi. Great quality and I was able to buy it direct from Puma's factory in Nashville. It is model 6030PV, great machine and compact.

Here's a really good article on compressors:
http://www.adlersantiqueautos.com/articles/compress.html
lots of stuff I didn't know

Over the period of 30 some odd years I have had 3 compressors. Craftsman 30 gallon 2 stoke oil less (too loud), Camble Hausfeld 30 gallon (to slow), and now a Cobalt 30 gallon 5hp (so far so good), I always buy protable due to me doing work at other peoples shops from time to time.

The big compressor burned up its second motor so we bought a powertrain compressor 6hp 60 gallon 12cfm. It works good it works much better with the old 80 gallon tank hoohed up too so I have 140 gallons of air

I bought an Ingersol Rand at Tractor Supply for about $900. It is a 5 horse,2 stage on an 80 gal.tank.Puts out about 16 FPM at 90 PSI.Just the ticket for my shop. Check Tractor Supply just before Xmas they sometimes have a 10% off sale on compressors.

the plant just upgraded a few of our compressors i know there is a Leon 60 HP , Screw compressor with a 500 gallon tank goin up for sale ....IF WE ALL ONLY HAD 480 IN OUR SHOP !...an the $ to turn it on !!!...LOL