What compressor would you get?

[lilranch2001]

Lol. Nothing is cheap (inexpensive) on Amazon.

You may want to try a local fluid power outlet near you, like a Parker store. The ones here locally can usually compete very well with Amazon and you can actually put your hands on the stuff before buying

 

[Deleted member 371759]

Lol. Nothing is cheap (inexpensive) on Amazon.

You may want to try a local fluid power outlet near you, like a Parker store. The ones here locally can usually compete very well with Amazon and you can actually put your hands on the stuff before buying

In theory thats a great idea. In practice its 40 minute drive to town and no one stocks stuff like that around here. Nearest Parker store is 80 miles away. If home depot, harbor freight or TSC don't have it. Good luck.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

Beware of compressor duty motors. Listed as 5hp peak 3hp continuous.

I have an IR dual stage with a 7hp motor. It pumps air faster than I can drain the tank with any tool.

Curtis makes good stuff ad well

 

[oldtimer 66]

The IR is only a single stage compressor. I have a 2 stage 5hp 80 gal vertical, the high limit is 175 PSI. My plasma cutter, Hypertherm 65 makes the compressor run hard. If it was my choice I would get a 2 stage at a minimum. More CFM.

 

[Deleted member 371759]

The IR is only a single stage compressor. I have a 2 stage 5hp 80 gal vertical, the high limit is 175 PSI. My plasma cutter, Hypertherm 65 makes the compressor run hard. If it was my choice I would get a 2 stage at a minimum. More CFM.

Yep I ended up going with

5 hp Two-Stage Electric Driven Reciprocating Air Compressor

Ingersoll Rand’s 80-gallon, Electric Driven Two-Stage Compressor is a high-performance compressed air solution built to last. Click here to view

www.ingersollrand.com

 

[dstig1]

Looks like I am too late but avoid new IR compressors. They used to be very solid, but have gone to crap the past several years. They have cheapened and China-sourced everything with low grade components and people are having tons of problems with them now. A sad statement for a once great name. Quincy is still good and there are other solid names out there.

 

[Deleted member 371759]

Looks like I am too late but avoid new IR compressors. They used to be very solid, but have gone to crap the past several years. They have cheapened and China-sourced everything with low grade components and people are having tons of problems with them now. A sad statement for a once great name. Quincy is still good and there are other solid names out there.

I'll have to live with my choice. I'm not spending anymore than I already did on a compressor. It has a 1 year warranty so I will know by then. I 100% know its not a TOL air compressor. Nothing I have is TOL. I drive 20+ year old trucks, have Harbor Freight tools, live in a shack and am way dumber than most.

 

[marhar]

IR makes a premium product.

Regardless of the compressor you buy; buy a drier if you don't already have one.

 

[dstig1]

IR makes a premium product.

Regardless of the compressor you buy; buy a drier if you don't already have one.

Correction: MADE. They no longer do and are just trading on their previous good name. Have seen it first hand and heard many confirm it second hand. I hate to see it happen, but it does and did here.

 

[Deleted member 371759]

Correction: MADE. They no longer do and are just trading on their previous good name. Have seen it first hand and heard many confirm it second hand. I hate to see it happen, but it does and did here.

What IR compressor did you have and what failed? Sounds like I will have to suffer with more junky stuff.

 

[dstig1]

Best friend has an IR30(?) 60 gal single stage. From the era when they were OK ~20 yrs old. Pressure switch failed - age, no biggie. Got a replacement from IR which took weeks and went through 4 of them until one actually worked. Getting them on the phone was apparently nearly impossible too. Fortunately not a critical machine for him at that point. I helped him with this fix so saw it. Second hand I have read many people talk about pump and motor failures in new compressors and crap warranty service the past few years. Several years back i would be on the bandwagon saying they make great stuff and recommending them. Unfortunately that has changed for the worse. I have it heard it consistently and so many times, it cannot be fake news.

It seems Quincy is still solid. I have one that is locally made by C-Aire that has been bullet proof for 10+ yrs now in an 80 gal 2 stage. There are others like Atlas but they get very pricey. You get what you pay for ... When you say you want to do sandblasting, the air requirements go off the charts, and that is where you start getting into serious equipment.

 

[Deleted member 371759]

Best friend has an IR30(?) 60 gal single stage. From the era when they were OK ~20 yrs old. Pressure switch failed - age, no biggie. Got a replacement from IR which took weeks and went through 4 of them until one actually worked. Getting them on the phone was apparently nearly impossible too. Fortunately not a critical machine for him at that point. I helped him with this fix so saw it. Second hand I have read many people talk about pump and motor failures in new compressors and crap warranty service the past few years. Several years back i would be on the bandwagon saying they make great stuff and recommending them. Unfortunately that has changed for the worse. I have it heard it consistently and so many times, it cannot be fake news.

It seems Quincy is still solid. I have one that is locally made by C-Aire that has been bullet proof for 10+ yrs now in an 80 gal 2 stage. There are others like Atlas but they get very pricey. You get what you pay for ... When you say you want to do sandblasting, the air requirements go off the charts, and that is where you start getting into serious equipment.

You are right you do get what you pay for. One way or the other you get it. Most people would think most of what I own is trash and it probably is. Its about all I can afford.

 

[ultrarunner]

As long as it does the job needed is all that matters...

I was painting cars and using air tools with a Sears Best 30 gallon air compressor for decades...

Most of the time Good Enough is just that...

At the machine shop we had ancient low speed DeVilbiss compressors that worked decade after decade...

 

[lilranch2001]

Do not forget that there will be a negative Nancy regarding any name brand, so you have to take the “one off” with a grain of salt!

 

[dstig1]

It's called honest feedback from experience, but you can call it what you want. Like I said, I would have been right in line recommending IR as a "can't go wrong brand" several years back. Seen too much to keep doing that, unfortunately. I hate to see a good classic American name like that cheap out, but it does happen these days.

The one problem I see is that your air needs are quite high, and you start running out of low cost models once you get up there in CFM as they just don't make them (not where the big volumes are for them). So you are left with the more serious industrial types. Or used. I bought one used compressor and was quite happy with it until my needs grew too big for it. Or maybe you don't really need as much air as you implied at first. In which case you have many options. But again, this is now moot and I hope it works out well for you.

 

[BarryTX]

Correction: MADE. They no longer do and are just trading on their previous good name. Have seen it first hand and heard many confirm it second hand. I hate to see it happen, but it does and did here.

My uncle still has this solid IR compressor but may retire soon. With new projects on the way, he may get a new one and it's too bad to hear about the quality of the new IR models. We'll look for new tools once we mount the lift kit, wheels, and shocks from 4Wheelonline onto the Wrangler this week.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

As long as it does the job needed is all that matters...

I was painting cars and using air tools with a Sears Best 30 gallon air compressor for decades...

Most of the time Good Enough is just that...

At the machine shop we had ancient low speed DeVilbiss compressors that worked decade after decade...

Thing is, decades ago, Sears best was a pretty good compressor!

Lots of brands were pretty good "decades" ago, but no more.

SR

 

[Deleted member 371759]

It's called honest feedback from experience, but you can call it what you want. Like I said, I would have been right in line recommending IR as a "can't go wrong brand" several years back. Seen too much to keep doing that, unfortunately. I hate to see a good classic American name like that cheap out, but it does happen these days.

The one problem I see is that your air needs are quite high, and you start running out of low cost models once you get up there in CFM as they just don't make them (not where the big volumes are for them). So you are left with the more serious industrial types. Or used. I bought one used compressor and was quite happy with it until my needs grew too big for it. Or maybe you don't really need as much air as you implied at first. In which case you have many options. But again, this is now moot and I hope it works out well for you.

Will be here Friday. I have seen some issues with pressure switch complaints. Not a huge deal seeing as those are a dime a dozen if you dont like the IR switch. Ill hook a amp meter to it and make sure things are in spec and possibly get a magnetic starter. After that not much I can do. Like I have said before Im just a poor guy, lucky I could even get this. My welder is harbor freight, my tractor is indian and it all pretty much matches my skill level and ability. Both low.

 

[jwmorris]

What IR compressor did you have and what failed? Sounds like I will have to suffer with more junky stuff.

The one I posted a photo of failed, that’s how I got it for free. It was ran hard, everyday at a shop for a decade or so with almost zero maintenance, the tank probably would have been ruined but there was one guy that would drain it every day.

The rebuild kit cost me $157 and I have been using it for a number of years since then. If you think you are going to buy one and not do any maintenance, ever, a cheaper disposable compressor would probably be a better idea. Just throw it away when it fails and get another. That said, changing the oil and air filter is a hell of a lot easier and faster than rebuilding the compressor and that’s if nothing was ruined by the lack of maintenance.

 

[ultrarunner]

I’ve turned down free for removal 3-phase industrial compressors in shuttered industrial spaces.

10-15 hp 3-phase not what I need for a home shop.