Air Compressors??

[Airedale]

I can see where a good air compressor with all the tools they will operate would be a valuable asset in the shop. Can a good quality 120 volt compressor operate most air tools? Or will a 220v model have to be used to run most heavier duty air tools properly and efficiently? I do not have 220v available in the garage at this time.

Al

 

[kennyd]

My opinion only, but for "air tool" operation like impact guns and die grinders, you NEED a large 220v compressor. If only operating nail guns and filling tires then the 120v unit are OK. Like tractors, no one has ever said they have one to big

Use this opportunity to add a 100 amp subpanel to your garage.

 

[lostcause]

if you just need to use the occasional impact wrench, or air up the tires, a 120v will do, but if you try to repair or build anything out of metal, the air tools you will want can suck up more air flow than those compressors will produce. cut off tools can draw large amounts of air and you will probably overheat a small compressor. in my opinion, if you are planning on doing any of this type of work, you will want a minimum of a 60 gal single stage compressor, and those generally are meant to be powered by a 240v circuit.

if cost is not an issue, an 80 gal two stage is even better, but you're talking about well over $1000 at that point. a homeowner class 60 gal single stage can be had for about $400 new. two stage compressors also generate less moisture, so that's an added benefit. also, most 60 & 80 gal units are vertical tanks, so they don't take up any more floor space than a small compressor.

 

[ray66v]

You can run most air tools off of a portable air tank. The problem becomes, for how long?

It is very difficult to have a compressor that is too big.

You need to look at the amount of air you will need to run the tools you want. Each tool has a pressure, and cfm rating.

You buy a compressor based on the pump size, tank size is not important. Get one with a pump that can supply the volume, and pressure, your usage will require, or higher.

If you just want to use simple air wrenches, and an impact, a small portable unit can work well for these jobs.

If you want to run air hogging tools like a grinder, sprayer, or a sand blaster, now you need something big to be able to continuously run them.

A compressor that is undersized, can run tools bigger than it is rated for, but only for short periods of time, i.e. until the tank pressure drops below the minimum needed to run them, then you wait. You can use the compressor this way, but it works it very hard, and tends to produce considerable mounts of condensate, (water), in the process. This will be your next expenditure, getting proper filtration to remove the moisture in the compressed air.

In short, the simple solution is to buy the biggest honking compressor you can budget, or fit in the space you have for it. :thumbsup:

 

[Egon]

I also would recommend the 220 volt model.:thumbsup:

My 120 volt works well but does not have the proper air capacity for using most paint guns and sand blasters, air impact tools etc. Things do get done but it's much slower.

If you have 120 going to the garage can you use the existing wires on a 220 amp breaker and set up a subpanel in the garage for both 220 and 120? Note, it does have to meet proper specifications.

 

[BHD]

for years I have worked with smaller (shop type) air compressors,

the first one I worked with was a Smith, unit with a 1/2 or 3/4 motor on it, you could blow some thing off and fill a tire, it was better than nothing,

then I bought a twin cylinder Campbell haufhouser, and it was probably 1/1/2 or 2 hp, better but not much of a compress, It would change a tire with a impact wrench 1/2, no sander or similar, it blew up,

then I built one from parts from WW granger, more or less a wheel barrow type unit with a sold roll cage about the motor and head, it was a 220 3 hp unit, and a twin cylinder, it would work, I bought a 3/4 impact and did dry wall added other air tools with an axillary tank it worked fair,

I then bought for construction and air nailer use a airless unit on a standard tank and it was Coleman and has worked well in the wood shop besides it is noisy, but has held up better than expected,

a few years ago my son in his steel scraping brought me a tank with part of a blow up two stage head on it, about 80 or 100 gallon unit, I put a 5 hp, three phase two stage pump on it and I never knew what a air compressor was until then, runs a 1" impact very well, the others would hardly run one effectively,

and then in my sons scrapping days he brought me a compressor head, and I made another unit for hopes of sand blasting some day, it runs off the tractor and will put out the air lots of it, (but the truth is it is not real practical),

like another poster said few have ever complained there compressor was to big, but many have said theres is to small,

 

[George2615]

I would also recommend a 220V compressor with an 80 gallon tank.
However, if thats not in your budget a smaller compressor that runs on 110V with a 60 gallon tank will work. For Impact guns, air chisels, die grinders, sand blasters, etc. you need a compressor with a larger reserve tank and quick recovery from a multistage head or you may have to wait for a compressor with a smaller tank to recover.
As mentioned, they can be bought for under $500-600. I used one of them for over 20 years. I bought it from Northern Hydraulic (now Northern Tool). The one I bought back then had a dual voltage motor that could be wired for 110 or 220. I had mine wired on the 110 side for years and when I upgraded my garage wiring for a 220 welder I ran a 220 line for the compressor and rewired it.
Whether wired for 110 or 220 the compressor ran all my air tools. Just a little cheaper to run on 220.

 

[JoelD]

It really is all about cfm. Tank size doesn't matter all that much when your pump can't keep up with demand, Sanders, drills, grinders, they all such huge CFM, I have a husky 220 60 gal 10.3 cfm at 90. If I had to do it over again I'd have gone bigger cfm. Nothing more aggravating than waiting for the pump to catch up and the pump running non-stop.

Funny thing is, I end up using my electric grinder and electric drills and electric sanders. Just a bunch cheaper in the long run. My grinder (a black and decker) is over 5 years old and still running strong with heavy use.

 

[kennyd]

Whether wired for 110 or 220 the compressor ran all my air tools. Just a little cheaper to run on 220.

It is NOT "cheaper" to run anything on 220v. You pay for watts consumed, and that's the same.

 

[dex3361]

I would also get a 220V and get a 2 stage compressor. The 2 stage units will have a higher CFM but most have to have a magnetic motor starter. I have a 5 HP Quincy 2 stage mounted on a 80 gallon tank and it fits my shop needs.

 

[alvanko]

Not that you need anymore "opinions", but I would go with 220v also. Get one that you will not outgrow for a few years. I had a Cambellhosfeld(?) for 30 years. 3hp, 220V single cylinder, 30 gallon tank. I finally upgraded to a 5hp 60 galloln 2 stage compressor. Also 220V single phase. It will run to death if I'm trying to sand blast or DA something. But, it will be the last compressor I need in my lifetime.

 

[BHD]

Just an opinion here,

on small tool like sanders drills and some other tools, If you can go electric I think one will fined it easer, and much cheaper, as a little 1/6 hp motor runs an electric sander and 5 hp motor runs a air sander,

there are air tools that IMO are well worth the air usage, Impacts and tire changers, sprayers and blow guns, and others

and even at times sanders and drills, but before one jumps on air sanders and air drills as they are not that efficient in my opinion, some times do to lack of electricity they may be safer, (I have used a air drill in a stock tank full of water before for example)

 

[NOTV8]

Ge the one with more CFM you can afford.... but it's 220 volts. Here's what I got... mybe too much for what I am going to use it for but it's on SALE with free shipping...

 

[k0ua]

I have had a small 5 hp 25 gal 120volt compressor for many years. Here are my thoughts, I agree with most of the posters, No one was every sorry they got a big-un.. but, I have got a lot of service out of my little one. Like one poster said I evaluated what I was going to run with it and went from there. I thing some things are best left to electric, because they are air hogs and the electric does it better in my opinion. I put drills, sanders and rasps and cut off tools in that category. On the other hand an Air impact is one the best tools you will ever invest in. I have had some water problems with my little rig, I dont drain it often enough, and it rusted thru at one of the welds. So weld it back up. The water could be a problem with painting, but I usually use it to spray water based paints anyway. But for cleaning out a clogged line or running an impact and dont forget the nail/staple guns all low CFM users, with the impact the biggest user.they are invaluable. Buy what you can afford, they are all useful.
James K0UA

 

[Soundguy]

I can see where a good air compressor with all the tools they will operate would be a valuable asset in the shop. Can a good quality 120 volt compressor operate most air tools? Or will a 220v model have to be used to run most heavier duty air tools properly and efficiently? I do not have 220v available in the garage at this time.

Al

I used to use a 2hp/4g pancake compressor, and in order to run a 3/8 impact gun I had to plumb in a 15g air tank and let all that pump up. she pumped up to 120 psi.. so pressure was good. lots of stuff likes psi at about 90, and good cfm. that worked ok.. but after a few bolts the air was low.

i finally upgraded to a upright 30g model with 4hp pump. it will run my 1/2" impact gun for a good many bolts before i have to let it build up and even runs my 3/4" gun ( on 1/2" airline ) for at least 3 average bolts too! .. looks like I will be plumbing in that extra 15 gallon tank I used to use!

soundguy

 

[smfcpacfp]

I have a 220 compressor and this may be unimportant, but a neighbor asked me if he could borrow my air compressor which is portable. I said sure, but it runs on 220. Of course he didn't have 220 available, so he couldn't use it. I am not fond of loaning power tools out.

 

[alvanko]

NOTV8, that looks like my compressor. IR. 60 gallon tank, 5 hp. 2 stage.
T-30 (I think). Very nice compressor.

 

[Airedale]

I want to thank all you guys for some great information, I got some really good tips and there is nothing like having a bit of education before facing the sales pitches. I will start looking around to see what brands are available in my neck of the woods along with pricing of course.

When it comes to tools and machines there are the quality issues, what brands should I be looking at to get a good quality compressor and are there any I should stay away from?

Al

 

[Turbys_1700]

Just a suggestion but last year I purchased a really nice 220V HP Campbell Hausfeld off of Craigs List for a great price. I was really lucky that the unit was within 15 miles of my house. The unit had low hours and serve my needs very well.

Just as a side note, when I was deciding what size and type unit to get, I calculated the CFM needed for my most demanding job and then added 50% to that for my compressor. My current unit handles that job with ease.

The only other advise I would give you is that like most everyone on here the 220V oil lubed units will give you the best overall service. My unit runs very quiet and has done a great job so far for me. In the future I will probably upgrade to an 80 gal 2 stage unit. My current unit is 30 gallons with a 6HP oil lubed rated motor.

 

[varmint]

FWIW, I until recently kept in the basement a Porter Cable 30 gal. vertical unit with a 115V two stage pump that worked off a regular outlet, was fairly quiet, and produced enough 150 psi air for most uses. Like earlier poster noted, some air tools will really require a heavy industrial compressor, 3 phase power if at all possible, and are beyond what most folks want to mess with. I was able to spray, grind, nibble sheet metal with the P C unit, but not constantly- just bursts. I have a larger compressor in the shop, but moving it around the house was why I had the P C. I just replaced it with a 32 lb. DeWalt, which is very portable, since I really need it just for nail guns and such, and any small compressor will support one user. You'll enjoy having one, no matter what you get.

I liked the P C a lot, but I noticed that Amazon now wants over $500 for them- I payed a lot less.