air compressors

s1120 · Jul 16, 2002

Now if you really want to go first class, I'd suggest looking at a Saylor-Beall (but then I don't drive a Rolls Royce either). 

Well, I don't think I can pull first class. I don't drive a Rolls eather, just a beatup old jeep with 225k on it. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Kind of the car virsion of an old hand tire pump.

Bird · Jul 16, 2002

cut off at 175 lbs. and kick back in at 150 lbs. What this means is if you have a 1/2" drive impact, it will do a lot more

Absolutely right, and since that impact wrench is rated for 90 psi, using the higher air pressure, along with failure to oil and/or grease air tools and failure to keep moisture out of them is what kept me in the air tool repair business a few years./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif The higher air pressure gives you more power, but eventually will do little things to the impact wrench like break hammers or hammer pins, twist the spline off the rotor, etc./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Of course, depending on the jobs you need to get done, it may be worth the extra maintenance and/or replacement costs./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

s1120 · Jul 16, 2002

You got that right Bird. I have seen a lot of impacts blown apart for that . I think we have all kicked it up a bit to get a realy hard one off from time, to time though./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

JRP · Jul 16, 2002

Here is my $0.02 worth.

Ingersol is a good brand, but I think a todays TSC Ingersol is not built as well as the all cast iron ones from yesteryear. I would guess some other big company bought them and are milking the name. Still better than Husky or sears. A 5 hp Ingersol two cylinder, single stage w/ 60 gallon vertical tank should do well for you. You won't regret buying quality.

Stay away from the "peak horsepower" game. It is like saying your car has more horsepower because it is rolling down a hill. Divide peak hp by two and it is about the true motor horsepower. Using "peak horsepower" as a spec should be illegal. Deceptive.

Stay away from oilless. It is a 3600 RPM motor direct coupled to a non-lubricated compressor. (Recipie for low reliablity.) They had to invent "low maintenance" to think of some advantage why someone might posssibly consider buying one.

220 volt is what you will need to get an adequate air supply. A true 2 hp compressor can do a lot of work, but not much samdblasting.

Emglo is an excellent brand. Emglo was recently purchased by DeWalt. I have one 5.5 hp honda powered portable Emglo that is great. The $350,000 GE high voltage oil filled circuit breakers I maintan have an Emglo compressor in them. We never have to touch them.

Hope this helps some.

Jim Poux

s1120 · Jul 16, 2002

Well, I think I will go with the Ingersoll. It is cast iron, and its the only one that listed peak, and running HP.

Rockyroad · Jul 16, 2002

Bird-

Quick question seeing how you repair air tools:

A friend gave me a pneumatic winch which I have chained up to the rafters in my barn. It is rated for and will lift a half ton. It is old, and according to the guy who gave it to me was rebuilt once. It is the handiest air tool I have in my barn! I hook up the compressor to it, and just pull the rope when I want to lift something.

It is made by a company by the name of ARO (Cleveland, I think). Have you ever worked on one of these and where are parts available from?

Any info would be appreciated.

Bird · Jul 16, 2002

ARO is a division (or in some way a part) of Ingersoll-Rand. I never got many of their tools, but did get a few of their automotive tools and parts were always available for the ones I got. I've not actually seen one of their winches (or is it a chain hoist?), but you might try <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.irhoist.com/aro_na.htm> this site</A> and see if your model is listed there. And my primary parts supplier (great folks to work with) was Air Tech, Inc., in Beckley, WV Call 304-253-6799 and if parts and information about it are available anywhere, I'll bet Craig (owner), Doug (shop manager), and/or Molly (parts, shipping and handling, etc.) will know all about it.

gerlacr · Jul 17, 2002

I am also in the process of deciding what kind of air compressor to buy but am faced with the choices of lubricated verses oil-less as well as the pump size and CFM rating. It would be just for weekend warrior work and my budget is a bit limited. I definitely want to be able to spray paint my construction projects as well as operate a few tools that I do not have yet. It seems that most spray guns need close to 10CFM at 40psi. Is this accurate? I assume this indicates the continuous airflow capability of the motor and pump. Can a compressor with a lower CFM rating but adequate tank size work if painting is restricted to small projects where there is no need to spray continuously for more than a few seconds at a time? Do I have to add special filters to the line to remove oil if I am spray painting? Would an oil-less compressor eliminate this need?

Bird · Jul 17, 2002

most spray guns need close to 10CFM at 40psi

Like everything else, there are lots of different sizes. I thought 7 CFM was closer to the "norm", but you can certainly buy some that take a lot more or less.

Can a compressor with a lower CFM rating but adequate tank size work if painting is restricted to small projects where there is no need to spray continuously for more than a few seconds at a time?

Yes.

Do I have to add special filters to the line to remove oil if I am spray painting?

Yes, but more importantly to remove moisture. Some of the cheaper filters remove oil from the air pretty well, but not moisture. More expensive driers are needed for most painting.

Would an oil-less compressor eliminate this need?

Well, you won't get any oil in the air flow, but you still need just as good a drier for the moisture.

And I'm repeating myself again, but an oil-less compressor works just fine, but with a very short lifespan, especially if you run it for long periods at a time. If you don't plan to let it run for more than 5-10 minutes at a time with plenty of cooling time in between, it might last you several years. However, it's pretty cheap and easy to rebuild one, but of course, it can be darned inconvenient if you have to stop and do that in the middle of a painting job.

JRP · Jul 17, 2002

Bird is right about the oil and moisture. My oil lube compressor has not had an oil in paint problem. I have a water trap to catch the moisture. It is mounted to a 12" x 18" flat board with a PCV pipe stucking up. The dryer drops into the pipe. I put this between my compressor hose and my 15' painting hose. It slides/drags around on the floor behind me as I paint. The closer to the gun, the cooler the air will be and more moisture will condense out. Also, I have a disposable desicant type dryer that screws between the spray gun and the QD fitting. Good auto paint supply stores sell them for about $3.

My Craftsman 2 (true 2 hp, about 4 "peak" hp) is twenty six years old now. No oilless compressor will last like that. You probably would be better off buying a used Emglo compressor made in Pensylvania off ebay for $300 than a brand new aluminum tiawaneese one at TSC for $400. Take a magnet with you when you shop. My gasoline Emglo compressor was $400 off ebay and I love it. Would not sell it for $600. It can sit it on the front of my tractor and I can drive it and nail gun right to the cow shed project. Big nail guns are awesome.

Smaller projects don't take very long to paint. Don't plan on painting your house with an air compressor. Rent an airless rig.