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OT Electric or gas powered air compressor?

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Rick T

02-19-2003 13:02:03




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Hi all, I've been thinking about buying an air compressor for my 49 8N tires and other vehicles and moderate to light duty attachments.(nail gun, sprayer etc.) I am wondering if the new electric ones are capable enough for this. I seen a 1 1/2 hp electric with a two gallon tank quite cheap at a Sears store, and am thinking about it. Some help in the right direction would be nice. Thanks Rick T.




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Carl

02-19-2003 17:31:34




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 Re: OT Electric or gas powered air compressor? in reply to Rick T, 02-19-2003 13:02:03  
I have a Sears roll around 5 HP with a 30 gal Tank 120v and a Sanborn 5HP up right with a 60-gal tank 220v. The roll around is oil less and no problem to maintain. I use it a lot. I did replace the piston and sleeve once. Cost $35 to do so and was an easy job. Tank size doesn't matter when you use it continuously. When I sand blast I pipe them both together and have plenty of air. Gas is good when using it in remote areas. But you have to crank it each time you use it. With electric you just plug it up and forget it. If you don't have any air leaks in your line it can stay pluged up all the time and the air is there when you need it. That's the way my Sanborn stays. The 120v roll around is the most useful. Its motor could be wired for 220v. But 120v is better because you will be able to plug it in anywhere and 220v would be of no benefit. You should look at the roll a round in a 5 or 6 HP. I don't recommend any thing smaller than that. Just remenber you would need two of these to sand blast.

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Bishop

02-19-2003 17:07:36




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 Re: OT Electric or gas powered air compressor? in reply to Rick T, 02-19-2003 13:02:03  
I bought a Sears Craftsman 220V/5HP 30 gal tank 20 years ago, and it's still like new.

If your going to do any sand blasting get a 30+ tank, mine works great. And for painting, this one had done it all and works flawlessly. Get one bigger than what you think is OK, because you will do more with it than you had planned.



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Andy

02-19-2003 16:49:41




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 Re: OT Electric or gas powered air compressor? in reply to Rick T, 02-19-2003 13:02:03  
The first thing I would recommend you do is ignore the hp ratings. I work in the air compressor industry and I can guarantee you that the hp on your compressor has absolutely NOTHING to do with how many air tools you can use. These three things are what you want to consider (in the order provided)
1) Airflow (CFM)
2) Tank size (Gallons)
3) Tank Pressure (PSI)

Also, a word of caution… All air compressors are not made equal. For example, you do not want to buy an air compressor made in China, that is unless you have extra money laying around to rebuild you garage/shop after it burns down. I’ve had the pleasure of cleaning the life test rooms a couple times after we ran a China unit over night. Look for the UL (underwriter’s laboratory) mark and you will be ok.

Next, not all American suppliers are equal. Avoid Campbell Hausfeld like the plague. Their compressors are the least reliable, and they exaggerate (or should I say lie about) their airflow numbers so you can’t trust them. Given my choice I would purchase a DeVilbiss or Coleman Powermate product. The air compressors you see in Sears are made by DeVilbiss and you can purchase the exact same compressor (different color tank and different plastic shroud) from many other retailers like Lowes at a discount. Honestly, the best deals to be found in air compressors is usually at either Sam’s Club (who carries both DeVilbiss and Coleman Powermate) or Costco. Their volume does actually drive the cost down.

I was in your situation about two years ago and I purchased a 21 gallon oil-less air compressor and love it. It is a vertical portable (upright with wheels) so I have the mobility and it stores away nicely. The 21 gallons help out when I break out the impact wrench (although I would like a compressor with more CFM). Expect to pay $240 for this compressor at Sam’s Club.


Andy

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swavo

02-19-2003 15:55:30




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 Re: OT Electric or gas powered air compressor? in reply to Rick T, 02-19-2003 13:02:03  
Gas powerd compressors are great for use on job sites because you don't always have access to a good power source.The noise, and the maintenence especially when not used regulary would not make it the best choice for your application.The small pancake or twin tanks are good for remodeling or finish contractors who run one or maybe two nail guns at a time. With these compressors your paying for the portability.For the same or less money you can go to the cheapo-depot and by a five horse, thirty gallon tank which will probably meet all your needs. The benifit of a large tank outweighs portability when you need volomes of air for painting and the like. The best have belt drive and oil lubricated pumps which I reccomend for a professional who will use it every day for business,but for the average hack (myself included)the oil less will sufice.
Hint: it is better to use a long air hose than to use an extension cord.
Just my two cents
Mike

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Jim Cox (SW Missouri)

02-19-2003 15:03:30




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 Re: OT Electric or gas powered air compressor? in reply to Rick T, 02-19-2003 13:02:03  
5Hp 60 gal, $400.00 pump upgrade $250.00, repair motor to a TRUE 5HP $100.00, better pulleys and belt $60.00 . No, it's not a IR, but it will run ANYTHING i throw at it, including paint guns, buffers, sanders, Big tractor tires. Heck, with a paint gun, I don't mind helping the wife paint/restore/antique old furniture. takes about 3/4 less time. Buy big, buy once. Oh I forgot, we're all N Series owners! Nevermind
Jim Cox
Starter Rebuilder Guy

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AZO

02-19-2003 14:38:36




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 Re: OT Electric or gas powered air compressor? in reply to Rick T, 02-19-2003 13:02:03  
INGERSOLL-RAND, model 2340, 60 gal, 220volt
youll pay through the nose for it .
but you will never have to buy another one.



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Ultradog MN

02-19-2003 14:32:27




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 Re: OT Electric or gas powered air compressor? in reply to Rick T, 02-19-2003 13:02:03  
Unless you really want another "infernal" combustion engine to maintain I'd sure go with electric.
Places like Sears or Northern have several inexpensive compressors that would do the jobs you describe.
I have a Stanley Bostitch contractors unit that I've been running my nailers off of for a bunch of years now. I can't say enough good things about it. It's small, portable and has been totally dependable.
It wont put out the volume that a bigger shop unit will but when I painted the hood and wheels/rims etc on my 2N I hooked it to an old used 100# propane tank and went and had a cup of coffee.
Had plenty of air when I returned.

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Dan (Myersville)

02-19-2003 13:49:59




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 Re: OT Electric or gas powered air compressor? in reply to Rick T, 02-19-2003 13:02:03  
If you go electric make sure you have a suitable power supply handy. You can't run a 2HP compressor on a 100' extension cord. If you do it won't last long. 3-4 CFM@40PSI handles most tires quite nicely but won't spray paint effectively.
10+ CFM@90PSI minimum for real air tools.



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soundguy

02-19-2003 13:30:17




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 Re: OT Electric or gas powered air compressor? in reply to Rick T, 02-19-2003 13:02:03  
I don't do much air tool use, but I picked up a 4hp 2 gallon pancake compressor for 89 bucks at Harbor freight. I already had a seperate 10 gallon tank that I hooked up to it for extra capacity.

CFM is low.. like 3.something on the or a bit higher at a lower pressure.

Works great for tires, and does run a small 3/8 air gun I have for light work and pullies, etc.

It has a distinct sound, so i was surprised to hear 'mine' running one morning, so i walked around the side of the house, and the neighbor was having some roof repairs, and the roofer was using the exact same model I had... Though.. I probably wouldn't use HF tool if I was relying on them for a living... but airing tractor tires was fine for 89 bucks...

I think you will find that hp makes less difference if you have a larger tank... once that tank is pressurized, you can do a bit of work... though 1.5hp sounds a bit small...

Soundguy

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MikeC

02-19-2003 13:07:16




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 Re: OT Electric or gas powered air compressor? in reply to Rick T, 02-19-2003 13:02:03  
Rick,
Get the biggest that you can afford. 1.5HP is pretty small. I would consider something in the 6HP range. Make sure it will handle the CFM requirements of any tools such as a paint sprayer or impact wrench that you will end up getting.



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Vern-MI

02-19-2003 14:13:23




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 Re: Re: OT Electric or gas powered air compressor? in reply to MikeC, 02-19-2003 13:07:16  
You really need two different compressors for the service that you are intending. One would be a small portable pancake style for blowing up tires and operating nail guns. The other would be used for air tools like die grinders, sanders, and spray painting and be a stationery 220 VAC, 60 gallon, verticle with at least a 6 H.P. motor driving a cast iron compressor rated at about 12 CFM at 90 PSI. Stay away from oiless since they are generally noisy and have limited life. Keep the compressor in a clean and dry area and drain the water and change the oil regulary and it will last a very long time. Use a FRL and drier as near to the tool as possible.

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