60 gallon air compressor

mechanic · May 16, 2009

I have owned a couple of the 60 gallon air compressors and never any trouble. I was looking at the lowes campbell hausfeld 60 gallon 3hp. Looks like the one I let go of when I sold my place in Missouri. Now we are in Colorado and I want to buy another for my small shop. I was checking with campbell hausfeld and they told to never leave it on the pallet that it would crack the welds from the vibration. It needs to be on rubber isolators that go under the feet. I've never heard of such a thing. Mine have always set on the pallet. I've never had one fall over or the welds crack. Do any of you guys have compressors setting on rubber feet. I think they just want to sell me this item. $38 for 3 little rubbers. Help!!

whistlepig · May 16, 2009

mechanic said:
I have owned a couple of the 60 gallon air compressors and never any trouble. I was looking at the lowes campbell hausfeld 60 gallon 3hp. Looks like the one I let go of when I sold my place in Missouri. Now we are in Colorado and I want to buy another for my small shop. I was checking with campbell hausfeld and they told to never leave it on the pallet that it would crack the welds from the vibration. It needs to be on rubber isolators that go under the feet. I've never heard of such a thing. Mine have always set on the pallet. I've never had one fall over or the welds crack. Do any of you guys have compressors setting on rubber feet. I think they just want to sell me this item. $38 for 3 little rubbers. Help!!

I've got a 60 gallon 6.5 HP Coleman compressor that has been bolted solid to a concrete floor with out rubber feet for 7 years now. If you are buying something that they say that the welds will crack best stay far away from that. Welds, if done properly, will be stronger than the metal it connects.

Bird · May 16, 2009

I had a 60 gallon, 6 hp (old rating system) Puma compressor and they specifically told me when I bought it that it that I should leave it on the pallet and I did. I never had any vibration problem with it at all.

George2615 · May 16, 2009

I just bought a new compressor last year. An 80 gallon one with higher CFM than my old 60 gallon one. The 60 gallon one was mounted to the pallet for over 30 years. The tank eventually wore out from internal rust. (moisture inside from lack of daily use). The new compressor now sits on the original pallet the old one was mounted to since the shipping pallet the new one came on was for shipping only and was cheaply made. It came with rubber mounts but I haven't installed them. I believe the wooden pallet has enough give to absorb any vibration.

whistlepig · May 16, 2009

Forgive me. I can't imagine a 60 gallon 6.5 HP compressor sitting on a pallet it's entire lifetime. I have never seen or heard of a compressor of this size that has not been properly anchored solidly to the floor that it sits on.

carpenter383 · May 16, 2009

whistlepig said:
Forgive me. I can't imagine a 60 gallon 6.5 HP compressor sitting on a pallet it's entire lifetime. I have never seen or heard of a compressor of this size that has not been properly anchored solidly to the floor that it sits on.

My kobalt 60 gallon from lowes sits about 5 ft off the floor. I mounted it up high so I wouldn't loose any floor space. I don't think it's going anywhere any time soon. I lag bolted 2x6's to the walls, it's pretty sturdy

EastTexFrank · May 17, 2009

carpenter383 said:
My kobalt 60 gallon from lowes sits about 5 ft off the floor. I mounted it up high so I wouldn't loose any floor space. I don't think it's going anywhere any time soon. I lag bolted 2x6's to the walls, it's pretty sturdy

View attachment 129986

Now there's an idea. I wonder if there is any downside to this set up????

DieselPower · May 17, 2009

I have a 15HP 120 gallon Snap On, a 10HP 120 gallon IR, a T30 gas powered IR and a 6HP 80 gallon IR and the owners manual for every one of them states to remove them from the pallet and mount them solidly to a concrete floor. The manual for the gas powered IR list that it can be mounted using vibration isolators when mounted in a vehicle. And I quote from the manual. "Excessive Vibration can weaken the air tank and cause an explosion. The compressor must be properly mounted. If required place steel shims under the feet to level the unit. The air compressor MUST be bolted to a solid, level surface."

All of mine are mounted to the floor using floor anchors except the gas powered one in my service truck which I used a set of industrial vibration isolators on to keep it from cracking the steel floor.

cowboy357 · May 17, 2009

I Got agree , My Bigger ones a Quincy Commercial in My big Shop , & They Said It Should be Bolted Directlly to the Concrete When I Bought it .

I Dont quite get why You would want to Leave it on the Pallet, Unless You Want to Move it all the Time . & have 4 Others in the 2 garages & Sheds that Have Wheels on them for Being Mobile ,

, Bob

jenkinsph · May 18, 2009

mechanic said:
I have owned a couple of the 60 gallon air compressors and never any trouble. I was looking at the lowes campbell hausfeld 60 gallon 3hp. Looks like the one I let go of when I sold my place in Missouri. Now we are in Colorado and I want to buy another for my small shop. I was checking with campbell hausfeld and they told to never leave it on the pallet that it would crack the welds from the vibration. It needs to be on rubber isolators that go under the feet. I've never heard of such a thing. Mine have always set on the pallet. I've never had one fall over or the welds crack. Do any of you guys have compressors setting on rubber feet. I think they just want to sell me this item. $38 for 3 little rubbers. Help!!

I am grateful that you brought this topic up as I have plans to pour the concrete for my new shop in the next few weeks and had forgotten to include the anchor bolts for the compressor.

You might wan't to consider a continuous rated compressor though, the cheaper compressors will not hold up as well. I have had poor luck in the past with Craftsman and Cambell Hausfield and good luck with Quincy, Ingersoll Rand and Graingers Dayton brands. Currently I have a T30 gas driven compressor (ten years old with no problems) and will buy a 5hp vertical compressor for the new shop. I have a good IR dealer close by and is why I am presently sticking with IR.

Steve

have_blue · May 18, 2009

mechanic said:
I was checking with campbell hausfeld and they told to never leave it on the pallet that it would crack the welds from the vibration. It needs to be on rubber isolators that go under the feet. I've never heard of such a thing.

I don't think CH is telling you the welds will crack. I think they're telling you they're more likely to crack, and they're right. CH is looking out for themselves, so they will naturally tell you to do what is least likely to cause them warranty work.

Besides welds, there are also a few connections and gages that vibration can possibly cause to leak.

If the unit vibrates a lot, I would use the isolators. If the unit runs smooth, probably no problem on the pallet at all.

Scooby074 · May 18, 2009

Mines bolted to the floor. I got 3/8-1/2" conveyor belting under the feet.

Manual said to bolt to the floor. I think its a pretty good idea, compressors are notoriously top heavy. Having it bolted to the floor pretty much eliminates any desire to rearrange my shop on a whim.

capt jack · May 18, 2009

Not to side track this thread, but I'm days away from buying a 60 gal. upright comp. myself. So ....... my delima: TSC has a 60 gal. 3hp Campbell Hausfeld cast iron pump for $399, and a IR 3hp for $599 (on sale for $550 next 3 days). Is IR worth the $ spread?. Also they have a 5hp IR 60 gal. for $799. I don,t see myself doing and body work so what would you guys (and ladies who are into the shop thing) do. I don't have a problem spending extra if needed, just don't want to blow $$$ just to have the best compressor on the block. thanks jack

carpenter383 · May 18, 2009

If it was me I'd get the Campbell hausfeld and save the money. What people don't realize is the EXACT same compressors are sold under several different names. Just look at the brand of the pumps and motors. The IR is undoutably a better compressor, but IMHO any of the cast iron cylinder pump, belt drive compressors will last the average guy a long time. Stay away from the alluminum cylinder ones like craftsman. Also running hp is the number to go by not peak hp.

DieselPower · May 19, 2009

My 2 cents, go with the IR, you won't regret it. I have owned several over the years and still do. They are built to last.

smitty9266 · May 19, 2009

Make sure you Check Sam's club for a 60 gal compressor. When I bought mine last year they were the cheapest!!

Jeff

gordyy · May 20, 2009

having used air tools jacks hoists etc for the last 3 decades
look at your largest air user (or planned user) tool. jack, sprayer. grinder etc.
look at cfm needed add 15% and buy your compressor accordingly
nothing is more agravating than having to repetedly wait for air!!

wushaw · May 20, 2009

gordyy said:
having used air tools jacks hoists etc for the last 3 decades
look at your largest air user (or planned user) tool. jack, sprayer. grinder etc.
look at cfm needed add 15% and buy your compressor accordingly
nothing is more agravating than having to repetedly wait for air!!

Very true.

Sackett2 · May 21, 2009

gordyy said:
having used air tools jacks hoists etc for the last 3 decades
look at your largest air user (or planned user) tool. jack, sprayer. grinder etc.
look at cfm needed add 15% and buy your compressor accordingly
nothing is more agravating than having to repetedly wait for air!!

amen!
Several years ago I bought a 60 gal Industrial air (?) compressor. It can hold 100 psi when running a sand blaster. Price was around 1400. I have no regrets.
It's not bolted to the floor but it is on rubber mats.

tanglefoot · May 21, 2009

I bought my 60 gal. upright from Tractor Supply a few years ago. It's dark green, and I think they called it Farm Boss or something like that. They also had the IR for a couple hundred more. Mine has given me good service, but right after I bought it, my son had something large he wanted to sandblast. The rig did the job, but I went into the shop to check on his work, and the 3/8" copper line from the compressor to the pump was glowing red. That's been several years ago, and I haven't seen it do that again. Of course, there hasn't been any need for sandblasting either.
Butch