Failed to find check valve now looking for another A. Compressor

[YLee Kioti]

OK, so here's the crux of my post. Having spent a few hours reading reviews on DeWalt, Craftsman, Husky and looking for repair parts (for the future), I found this unit.

Industrial Air ILA1883054 1.9 HP 30 Gal 150 Max PSI Single-Stage Portable Electric (120, 240 Volt) Reciprocating Air Compressor | Ferguson Home

Save on the Industrial Air ILA1883054 from Ferguson Home. Low Prices + Fast & Free Shipping on Most Orders. Find reviews, expert advice, manuals, specs & more.

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The CFM number exceed the req'd for the tools I use. Tools used are die grinder (30-45 seconds at a time), 1/2 impact, air hammer, and soon a air needle descaler. They all seem to require 4.3 to 4.7 CFM@90 psi.
Really don't know enough to know if maybe a 60 gallon unit is a better investment.
Could this Industrial 30 gallon unit be a better quality compressor and meet my intermittent needs?
I don't use the air tools often but as life demands crop up. Until now the HF unit was OK. The die grinder though, would peter out at about 10-15 seconds of use.
I did look at IR units and Quincy, then remembered, hey I'm retired on a fixed income!
Their CFM was on par with the Industrial unit for much less.
They (Industrial) seem to have a support network within 50 to 75 mile away.
I do have a 220 dedicated circuit as I was shopping for a welder until this cropped up. Heh, oh joy, right...
Most likely will take advantage of the 220vac and wire the compressor for it.
Did not have any success on Craig List for used compressors other than used Sullaire Industrial types.
So any experience with the Industrial Compressors would be greatly appreciated.
OK, long enough read.
Thank y'all....!

 

[DJ54]

I bought this one a couple years ago from the same place and I'm very happy with it: Campbell Hausfeld VT6195 3.7-HP 60-Gallon Single-Stage Air Compressor 230V 1-Phase I pretty much run the same tools you do. What steered me towards this one is the hours of life on the pump. If you read through the details most list the hours of life for the pump. Looking at IR, DeWalt and a couple others seems their pump life is rated at 1,000 hrs., where this one is rated for 5,000 hrs.

I'd shopped local and prices seemed to be within $100 at TSC, Home Depot, etc. of this one and only had a pump life of 1,000 hrs. so went with this one. So far, it has done everything it's expected to with ease. It does take a little longer to build pressure up to 175 psi, where the old one was only 125 psi.

If you do decide to get something like this, do specify/check the box for a tailgate drop as they are pretty heavy and awkward. But also note they will only drop at the end of your drive. I was expecting a straight truck to deliver it, but to my surprise it was a small semi. I live at the foot of a big hill and a short distance to my driveway, and people fly here even though they have a posted speed limit. Driver told me he couldn't back in, but after a couple close calls he decided maybe he should. I have a 60' driveway entrance, so it was easy for him to back in. It was still 150' to the shop. I pulled out a $20 and asked him if he could back closer to the shop as it's a straight shot once in off the road. He gladly backed it in within 25' of the shop, then used his pallet jack to put it in the shop for me. Can't beat that.

Took me about an hour to connect to the existing electrical from the other one and plumb the air outlet and was back in business.

 

[nyone]

Yes a 60gal will be better. Running rotory air tools at 90psi makes them prety lacking. I have a 18yr old husky that I run everything at 155psi.

 

[YLee Kioti]

Appreciate the replies, very helpful. A 60 gallon unit it is.
I began calling C. Hausfeld service centers. Heh, oh my these companies are so behind. The one in Victoria told me ten years ago they did until C. H. got sold.
Another service center, no answer, next one bad phone number.
Now the current Harbor Freight Central P. check valve debacle appears to be in the future.
The wisdom of a 60 gallon unit is valuable and appreciated.
My current location does not seem to lend me a warm fuzzy about any potential in service support should the need arise.
The current HF failure of support for their retail products broke my love affair with them. Tools yes, any large electro-mechanical tools NO!
At least now I can make a informed decision on size.
Next move will be a matter of support.
The Central Pneumatic check valve failure is an eye opener, and has really made me a cynical old man about making a huge purchase (back then) only to learn HF says yeah good luck.
OK, enough rant....thanks for all the info it adds to my knowledge!

 

[nyone]

I wouldnt worry about parts to much. A few years ago I needed a head gasket for my old husky. Easy to find on amazon.

 

[YLee Kioti]

I wouldnt worry about parts to much. A few years ago I needed a head gasket for my old husky. Easy to find on amazon.

Yep agree.
This one particular item the check valve opened a can of worms for me.
Calling a Industrial Air service center in Beevile was quite an education.
Sanborn Industries is the umbrella for about a dozen retailed compressors.
So it's now just repair on the Central Pneumatic unit and putting it up for sale.
Then create list for a small system.
Air drier, to my filter regulator. And so on

Well another opportunity for my fall project!
Have a good one!

 

[dodge man]

I have something similar to DJ54’s compressor. I’m not sure how old it is, roughly 25 years. So far so good, it doesn’t get a lot of use though but I wouldn’t be without it.

 

[YLee Kioti]

My PSA for the community.
I typed in Sanborn industries and got this result.
Sanborn Mfg
Deeper yet: https://www.bbb.org/us/mn/springfie...industries-llc-0704-96347187/addressId/133926

Should be a good start for folks needing parts in the future.

 

[WinterDeere]

I've never had trouble finding parts for my compressor. Not always OEM, but even the OEM sources many of these parts third-party.

In any case, the compressor you posted will be fine for all the tools you listed, except the needle scaler. I've spent most of the last two weekends with one of my two needle scalers in hand, the small one actually, and I always forget between jobs just how much damn air those tools use. Even my 60 gal / "7 hp" compressor runs damn near continuously when I run the needle scaler.

I put the "7 hp" in quotes, because it was purchased in the late 1990's or early 2000's, an era when manufacturers were getting away with all sorts of wild claims on induction motor horsepower. I forget actual FLA or horsepower, but probably 2 horse.

Two other tools that can use a lot are pneumatic hammer and HVLP gun, which you might not own yet, but you will want someday!

 

[YLee Kioti]

Oh I have the pneumatic hammer!
After a few auto projects helping others i said, self, we ain't doing it the hard way again. Ha....

 

[WinterDeere]

Oh I have the pneumatic hammer!
After a few auto projects helping others i said, self, we ain't doing it the hard way again. Ha....

My favorite tool for blasting old failing pointing out of a stone wall, before repointing or repair work, but they have many other uses around house and auto.

They are air hogs, though. No problem for splitting a single ball joint, but if you're going to tackle a large stone wall, you're going to want a bigger compressor!

 

[YLee Kioti]

Heh...mental image of Jaws came to mind...

 

[WinterDeere]

Heh...mental image of Jaws came to mind...

One of the best lines in all of movie history!

 

[YLee Kioti]

OK, so now the selection has been made: Quincy 3.5-HP 60-Gallon (Belt Drive) Single-Stage Air Compressor (230V 1-Phase)
Model: Q13160VQ
Found a service center in New Braunfels. Pump rated for ten thousand hours, meaning my eight month old great-grandson will also get to use it, some day.
Second will add additional 1/2 inch oil/water separator in line with the Merlin regulator filter.

My electrical question: need 10/3 awg from panel, a 35 foot run to end of shop then another 25 feet across and over the roll up door and down 12 feet to a 30 amp plug.
But the compressor will stretch my budget. So currently a electrician to run conduit is not an option. (yeah, I don't bend pipe I just ain't got it)
Considering running 10/3 Romex and using PVC 1/2" clamps to secure cable run.
Another option is to use underground rated cable such as Southwire's copper UF-B cable.
Or an option where I overlooked the obvious.
Ah, found this also: 10/3 Solid Copper Metal Clad Cable With Ground Type MC Aluminum Armored 600V | eBay 10/3 armor cable which gives me a greater comfort factor than the other options I listed. Thoughts?

Thanks for all the input it really did help.

I did look at Puma, MEGA, Campbell Hausfeld, Industrial Air and IR as well.
After maybe 4 to 5 hours of reading reviews, calling and emailing support with questions about future support it came down to the Quincy.

 

[DJ54]

Fortunately, my wiring was already in place from the previous compressor. 10/3 Romex through 3/4" PVC. I can't believe how much all that has gone up in the past 12 years.

 

[WinterDeere]

I'd run Ø3/4" EMT, it ain't that difficult. And there's no need to bend, if you don't want to, they make both inside and outside pull elbows, which can be disassembled to pull the wire thru, then re-assembled around the wiring. Here's the inside corner version, both available at your favorite Lowes Depot.



With that, you can pull simple THHN or THWN, and forget the Romex. Anything else is going to look like a home-boner hack job, and bother you for the rest of your existence, not to mention put off any potential future buyer.

The only even mildly difficult part of this job, if your breaker panel is presently in-wall rather than surface mount, is the wall penetration into the breaker box. Most just hack a hole, I usually try to dress it up with a cover plate or other flange at the wall board penetration.

 

[YLee Kioti]

See, that's why I asked! Yeah 3/4 PVC is what I used to pull CAT6 from house to barn for broadband! I can work with PVC.
But, have not looked hard at 3/4 EMT. My Army electrical instructor back in 77', rolled his eyes and moved me on to the next station. One off set, one saddle bend and about five sticks wasted on more complex off-sets I was the joke of the week. Breaking his budget. So mentally I block EMT out of mind.
Appreciate breaking the mental block.
I will look at both options and lay it out.
And absolutely correct red neck may sound cool, but I can also see a buyer saying, 'oh a fire hazard'.
Good call gents. Now time to get busy. Have an awesome day folks!

 

[YLee Kioti]

Just had a sparky run 220vac to replace a 40 gal. water heater with a tankless and run a 50 amp service for my (so I thought) future welder. (this past July)
That was 2.5k $$$ with Less than 500-600 in material and 2.5 hours later done and I'm spent. Spent on a couple of levels! ha...yep, truly crazy...and....they will get to ya when they 'feel' like it so it seems.
Have spoken with a appliance repair tech and a plumber this week they also have similar anecdotes.
Crazy world nowadays...

 

[WinterDeere]

Be sure you're calculating the guy's material right, wire is expensive, and also accounting for his travel time. But if your $1900/2.5hr = $760/hour claim is right, then yeah... that's awful greedy. I'd guess the going rate on residential work is probably closer to $125/hour these days, but that's only a guess based on older data and inflation.

But a job like this is simple and straightforward enough, it's hard to justify hiring it out. 3/4" EMT, 3 AWG-10 conductors of THHN or THWN, breaker and receptacle rated for your wire type, gauge, and amperage... all of which is likely already spelled out in the novel-sized manual that comes with any stationary equipment, these days.

Yeah, you could do PVC, if you want it to look like hell. It sags, it yellows, it breaks... it is embarassing for anything other than burial, IMO. EMT is just too easy to bother with PVC, in any non-corrosive space.

Oh, and there are swept bends for inside corners as well, if you don't like bending your own or using the pulling elbows. Just use a coupler on either end of the bend to connect the straights, all on the same page:



Oh, and lookie... conduit clamps for fasetening it to the wall are just to the left of that, and the adapters to interface with your panel and receptacle box knockouts are to the right of the page.

 

[YLee Kioti]

Well sir, gotta agree 100%.....The CAT6 cable was pulled in 3/4 PVC and buried.
And thanks for the heads up on the parts. I will chase all that down for this project!