The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest lookin to pick up a compressor...need advice!

hey all! got a 1963 c20 that im about to start restoring (my first resto:)...ive been doin a lot of research on different air compressors as i know its a good investment for auto resto...
heres what i got so far:
-stay way from oil-less, harbor freight, home depot, menards, and sears compressors ...(which is like 80% of all easily accessible places to get them...)
-buy 2 stage
-try to stay at or over 10cfm @ 90psi
-cast iron, steel=good...plastic anything=bad
-spend the money on the biggest compressor with the biggest tank the first time so you dont have to replace or upgrade later...

here's my issue...i only have a $500 max budget (on credit) cause i rent an apartment in the city... fortunately i have a garage, but i share it with my neighbor, and have to decide whether i should park the truck with the front bumper touching the back of the garage, or the back bumper touching the garage door, lol....and im NOT in the area of town where theft is frequently unheard of...

so, having said that, "kobalt" from lowes seems to be my best bet. i want to be able to do everything i can to restore this truck properly, from grinding/cutting to painting...but because of my budget and where i live, my only options are the the 30 gal. or 60 gal.

even though its only about 5 cfm @ 90psi, will the 30 gal. be enough, as its just me using one tool at a time, and not every day?

any info, especially if ive missed something, is much appreciated...thanks!

If you have a Tractor Supply store nearby,check out their compressors.I bought an Ingersol Rand a few years back. An 80 gal.tank,5 HP 2 stage compressor for $899.It really does the trick in my shop.They also have smaller units at less money.

"5 cfm @ 90psi"

Not enough, air for restoration work. You should be able to get a compressor that will put out twice that amount for about $500 or less.

"harbor freight, home depot, menards, and sears compressors"

I wouldn't entirely rule them out. They don't make them, they just sell them. Continue to do your research and look for the best compressor in your price range (it doesn't matter where you buy it).

If you were going to do this for a living, or even a part time business, I would advise you to spend a little more, and buy bigger.

Have you tried looking at used ones. There are lot's of compressors sitting unused (that have hardly had any use)in many garages.

My first compressor (Sears Craftsman 8.8 CFM, 25 gallon tank) lasted me over 20 years.

As you already stated "stay way from oil-less".

Good luck

John

Check out your local craigslist. A lot of people are selling shop stuff cause they need the cash. Their loss could be your gain. Above all keep looking and you will find one within your budget.

Look around, and consider used ones too.

I picked up this Quincy compressor on ebay for less than $150.
It's 125 gallon with two model 240 single stage compressors each with a 2HP motor. With a larger pulley I can step up to 7.5HP for more volume, already have the motor.

I was looking for a good Quincy brand compressor and don't think I could have found a better deal than this one. They even have oil pumps, and some have spin on oil filters too, I expect these will last me quite a long time. Only thing I wish was different is two stage instead of single, but 100 PSI will do most all I need, and I'll keep my eyes open for a 2 stage compressor to swap out one of them eventually. Probably set it up with two pressure switches, use the single stage one running slow most of the time, and the faster one (or two stage if I find one) when necessary.

Grigg

Grigg, now that's a deal on a air compressor for $150! just as long as you got the room.

It's inside now, but to save some room I'll make a lean to shed sort of cover for it with doors on the front and plenty of ventilation. It'll go outside against the shop wall with a plug in on the wall and an easy to undo hose connection. Then to service it I can pick up the whole thing with the forklift and bring it inside if necessary.

thanks guys for the responses! unfortunately i dont have a 500-800 dollars on hand (craigslist and other private sellers out of the question)...thus the reason i have to buy it on credit (lowe's card), and unfortunately i dont have a lot of room cause, as i stated before, i rent a small garage that i share with my neighbor...dale 937: i might run out to the burbs and see if i can find a tractor supply...thats something i havent looked into yet, thanks...also, im a novice at fabricating things so im not sure if i could fashion up my own compressor from parts that would be small enough for my garage but powerful enough to use the most demanding air tools on....has anyone done this before (safely, haha)? any ideas?

TSC has one on sale, this was advertised online.

Air Compressor

It's in the price range you mentioned.

John

A lot of the big box stores will have a Cambell-Hausfield with their paint on them. Sometimes they will have both "brands" a $100 or more difference in price. You cannot buy too big of an compressor, but I also understand space restrictions. BE SURE to ID power requirements before you buy some are 110v and some are 220v. All 80 gallion I have seen are 220v. Ensure you have a breaker to support the amp required to run it, electric motors commonly require 2x rated on initial start up. landlord may not allow mods to wireing or home may not support it in older homes. Moral here is check everything twice before buying anything.
Good Luck
Brad

Valero - I hate to be the downer of the forum posters, but, why don't you save your money and spend it on parts for your truck.

If you are having trouble paying $500 for a compressor, you will have trouble buying accessories (sanders, air guns, hoses, etc.) for the compressor too. I think you would get further with your project with parts than you would buying big tools. Use the elbow grease instead of the compressor. You are also choosing one of the most expensive places to start when restoring if you are going to repaint it. Start with the mechanical and make it road worthy first.

I'm not trying to be a downer, but if you have to use credit to get some tools, maybe you should look into the costs of paints, primers, filler products and sand paper. Those things alone can cost three times as much (or more) than $500.

i have had good luck with craigs list and go my compressor in pieces mind you over a period of time i now have a sully trailermounted compressor and a external freestanding 400 gal tank former ammoinia tank i think and it pushes the sandblaster at 165 alll day whith out a problem go as big as you can afford and try to find used if you can im into mine a little over 450 dollars and i push 26 cfm is what the man certified my tank said have fun and bee safe joe

On the issue of space. If your handy you could separate the compressor Hang the tank in the rafters. Put the motor and compressor someplace out of the way like under a bench. You really need the scfm more than the tank size, but you should get as big a tank as possible. You could always scrounge up a few 30 gal tanks and hang them in a row piped together. I know this sounds like a soup sandwich, but I'm a certified junkyard nutcase. At any rate good luck,,,,,,,,,

Check out this Ingersol Rand

Key Specs CFM at 90 PSI 18.1
Max. PSI 135
Volts 230
Amps 30
HP 11.5
Air Tank Size (gal.) 60
Tank Description Vertical
Pump Oil lube, cast iron, belt-driven
Air Outlet Size (in.) 1/2
Portable or Stationary Stationary
Dimensions L x W x H (in.) 20 x 30 x 71


http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_211720_211720

What do you guys think about it??

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

Here is where i bought my last (and next) air compressor. The descriptions will give you some good insight on what to look for.

CFM in compressors is about the same a CID in engines. You will never have one big enough. (but buy what you can afford.)

Ever since I got out of the US Army about 52 yrs.ago someone in the gang has had a nice work shop complete with a nice air compressor.Never have I heard any of them say Geez,that compressor is too darn big.On the other hand I have heard many say that gee whiz I wish I would have bought a bigger compressor.So my advice is buy the biggest and most powerful one you can afford and have room for in your shop.Like I posted before I now have a 5 HP Ingersol Rand 2 stage on an 80 gal.tank.It is one slick outfit,that I bought at Tractor Supply Company on sale for $899.On the other hand,if all you want is something to pump up a tire once in a while just about anything will work.

Nice compressor Dale, checked the TSC website and they are $1299.00 now. Maybe I can find a way to get one covered under the "new" healthcare plan

Now MINE cost a bit more then $150 BUT I can honestly say it will catch up & shut down while running anything in the shop. I have always said there are just some things that over kill is best to have & a compressor is one of them. Buy something that will out work anything you need to do & yourself. This is one time BIGGER is better...joe

Yeah,that was about 4 yrs.ago that I got that deal.I had had my eye on that compressor for quite a while.It was priced at $999.Then one day I walked thru the TSC store and there was a sign that read 10 percent off on all compressors.It was too much to pass up.And yeah the price has probably increased quite a bit since then.But it is still one nice unit.