The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest The $400 compressor

I'm going to have to buy a compressor and I only have $400. Can anyone recommend a compressor that can operate a 1/2" air ratchet, air hammer, die grinder and HVLP paint gun that requires 15-50 psi / 9.5-14.8 CFM... one at a time, of course.

Oh... I know what CFM is, but what the heck is SCFM?

Having no idea of the market, I'm trying to get educated.

That's about the average capacity that is available at any of the Sears, or Big box stores in that price range. For that kind of money you can get a 60gal upright compressors almost anywhere, in fact I was just looking at them at Menards the other day. It will have a die cast single stage compressor. If your planning on doing any abrasive blasting in the future you might want to think about trying to squeeze a little more from the budget and go with and 80gal tank and one with a higher CFM preferably two stage and a cast iron compressor.
I have a little Sears 60gal in that range that was given to me by a nephew. It had a broken rod from being over worked supplying a blaster. I bought new parts to rebuild the compressor and after words realized that I could have just bought brand new compressor complete for about the same money. I was using it the other day to supply a pressure blaster and it surely won’t keep up with that.
The only tool that you’re going to have a problem with is the die grinder, it will be an air hog and requires a lot of air and with a small compressor you will spend a lot of time waiting for it to catch up.

I got mine from Home Depot, it is cast iron.

Just bought one from Tractor Supply. It is a single stage 4hp. with 3 cast iron clyinders and a 60 gal. tank. It will produce 13.5 cfm at 90 psi. which will run about any tool. On a beed blaster you might have to wait on it a bit. I did a lot of looking and this compressor seemed to be the best for the money. It cost $599 plus tax. I think people get hung up on the horse power rather than the amount of air delivered and the size if the holding tank. Look for the bigest tank and the most air delivery for the money and you will be happy. Remember you can never have enough air.
Tom

First of all, that's a beautiful truck you have!

Secondly, could you just a bit more specific about the brand and model number? I searched the TS website and couldn't find anything that matched your description.

Take a look at Craiglist and see what you can find. In my area I've seen several older commercial grade, continuous duty compressors for well under $400.

For $400 you will probably not find what you are looking for. I would suggest adding another $200 to the pot and getting something that will not be a compromise on performance. I recently purchased a 13CFM twin cylinder compressor from Lowes and am very happy with it. Final cost with tax and a 10% off was just under $600.

Czechman, the brand name is Farmhand mod. #DP4460T. Not sure if it is in every store. The compressor is a Campbell Hausfield and it also comes with a set of regulators built in. I think it was the best buy for the money.
Thanks for the comments on the truck. That is my daily driver. I figure if you don't drive it why have it.
Tom

Amen to that and thanks for the advice.

The brand that I have been very happy with is "SPEEDAIRE". Mine is a cast iron series that was made in the USA, for about the same money. I ordered mine from Grainger, but I am sure that they available at various retail outlets.

I would stay away from the oil-less types.

John

Yup, I got a 2 cylinder Quincy off craigslist a couple of months ago, it was a steal. Its been working great, although I did end up replacing all the ball valves on the tank because they leaked. It is so much quieter than what I had before. The guy even threw in an extra head and oil pump, although I haven't needed either.

Mine is a cheap die cast sanborn but it does the job on the die grinder and da sander I wanted. 11.5 cfm@90lbs

SCFM means Standard Cubic Feet per Minute. "Standard" varies and is kind of complicated - it depends on ambient temperature, relative humidity, what PSI your tank, is at etc. It has to do with the Gas Laws.

If you Google SCFM, you'll get hits that explain it way better than I can.

For $399, I wound up with THIS ONE Has good specs, great warranty and is made in the USA. I'm sure it's a LOT more compressor than I'll ever need but it's nice to have something I won't outgrow in the foreseeable future.

BTW, If you do buy one of these be advised that they ship with oil already in the compressor and have a vented fill cap so if you pick it up yourself transport it upright or seal the vent if you lay it in the bed of a pickup.

It's ALWAYS something.

Here is the brand I own and recommend. Read the listing under one of the compressors.

http://www.eatoncompressor.com/page/page/504747.htm

Those are definitely nice compressors if you have a G-note or more to drop on one.

There's good deals out there on compressors if you watch for them and are ready to act on it. My mailman was talking to me at the mailbox one day and he said his father worked for Quincy compressors building compressor heads and had just retired. on the side he rebuilt old compressors. So he hooked me up and I bought a rebuilt 35-cfm compressor from him for $450.00, found a 80 gallon compressor tank for $25.00, and had a cousin that built electric 220-volt motors and got that for $150.00. So now I have a compressor that builds up air fast enough, that it even shuts down while i'm sandblasting.

TC's onto it!
Keep an eye out on the trading papers and you can find a bargain!
You will get an idea of what prices and sizes will suit you.
I picked this up after a bit of patience for only $350.
5.5hp, 25CFM, 2 cyl 2 stage.

http://www.alexander-mills.co.uk/sip/compressors/workshop2.jpg

I replaced my old Champion a couple of years ago.Bought an Ingersol Rand from Tractor Supply.80 gal.tank,5 HP,2 stage compressor I paid $899. for it.I found that Tractor Supply seemed to have the best deals. They carry Ingersol Rand and a house brand called Farmhand.