Are all air compressors created equal?

[Boondox]

I've settled on a two-stage compressor rated at 175psi and able to deliver at least 14cfm at 90psi. But now that I'm in the shopping mode, what's the difference between a $1200 Quincy or Puma, a $1000 Ingersoll-Rand, and an $800 extreme duty Campbell-Hausfeld? The specs are really close between the models. What makes a Puma worth $400 more than a C-H? (BTW: Those prices include magnetic starters where required.)

Pete

 

[RobertN]

I can't answer your question, but can recomend you stay away from oilless machines(sounds like you are). Mine has worked ok, but is LOUD, and now I understand the rings and stuff do not last as well as a cast iron oil type compressor(I took an oilless, a broken one, apart and saw the insides).

 

[Boondox]

Robert -- Thanks. I have a little oil-free Porter-Cable compressor I use for the staple gun and other small woodworking tools, and also for filling tires, etc. Now I need a real compressor! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Pete

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The quick & dirty answer is QUALITY.
Quincy, Champion, Gardner Denver are all quality machines that you will will to your kids if you take care of them.
Cambell Housefeld and others are bargain basement box store sucker merchandise.
Rather than me sit here typing all night, go to this site and learn about compressors.
www.devair-compressors.com/index.html
Even if you don't buy a quality machine after reading this information, you'll know why the few dollars you saved cost you a second compressor a few years from now.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> Cambell Housefeld and others are bargain basement box store sucker merchandise. </font>
Therefore, anyone who buys a 'CH and others' compressor, regardless of how, or how long, they plan on using it, is a 'box store sucker'?

 

[Bird]

Pete, I don't think I have quite as low an opinion of Campbell-Hausfeld as a couple of the other guys (not bad stuff for the price, but if it ever breaks, it's not likely to be worth fixing), but basically they're right. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif If we knew the specific models you're looking at, we might be able to tell you where the quality differences are. Look for things like crankcase capacity, are all of them cast iron cylinders vs. aluminum, are they vertical twin vs. V-twin cylinders, cooling fins on the lines, perhaps better motors, perhaps not, but if you look closely for awhile, I suspect you'll see the difference. I generally like Ingersoll-Rand stuff, but in that size compressors, the Puma sure looks a lot better to me. And I've just never looked at a Quincy.

 

[EdDekker]

The Quincy two-stage compressors are better than the Ingersoll-Rand or Campbell-Hausfeld compressors. How much better and is the difference enough to matter for your use are more difficult questions.

I have been looking into compressors myself. My oilless compressor just doesn't have enough oomph for my plasma cutter. I have narrowed the decision down to the Quincy QT series, an 80 Gallon tank with either 5 HP or 7.5 HP. (My purchase is on hold until after I rewire the garage with a sub-panel for my toys.) The QT series compressors are a high quality splash lubricated compressor. I am convinced that one will last my lifetime.

An indication of the quality is the cost of a service contract. The seller of the contract expects to make money on average. The local Quincy dealer offers a 2 year on-site service contract for $40 on the $1200 QT 5 (with commercial use allowed 24 by 7). This is the least expensive service contract I have been offered (at 1.66% of the purchase price per year). Its even better, the service contract includes the maintenance kit (a change of compressor oil plus replacement parts) for the scheduled maintenance. I think but my notes dont say this is a Quincy contract. The contract price shows me that Quincy (or the dealer) has a lot of confidence in the compressor.

There have been a large number of threads on rec.crafts.metalworking, rec.autos.tech on compressors, and rec.woodworking on the choice of compressors and the recitative quality of the brands. I found the newsgroups to be a good source for information. You can search the archives on google.com ( Google Advanced Groups Search ). The consensus from rec.crafts.metalworking (and other newsgroups) is: that the Quincy QT series (and better) are excellent, that the Champion 2 stage are excellent, that the Ingersoll-Rand quality has dropped over the last 10 years and is no longer what it once was but is still good, that the Campbell-Housfield units can be mediocre to good (the higher priced cast iron compressors) or poor (the less expensive aluminum compressors).

A lot of people on these lists are very happy with the CH and IR compressors, so 'good' may be good enough.


TP Tools link has a good selection of air accessaries including driers and regulators as well as advice on plumbing air lines.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Morning Pete,

I have an IR T-30. That sounds like the one you're considering.

I paid a thousand for it at Grainger about six or so years ago. Then late last year I had to have the reeds changed and that was a couple of hundred.

Overall I'd say it was a fine buy and wouldn't back away from recommending it to others. I'd have to say I use it more than the average do it yourselfer but less than a shop that runs day in and day out. I run a plasma torch, air tools, sand blaster, etc.

I would back off from CH. And if the money is available I would step up to the better one like the Puma or Quincy. It has been my experience that when an important tool breaks it's never at an opportune moment.

 

[Boondox]

Thanks for all the solid advice, guys. After looking more closely, I see that not all the compressors I was considering were 2-stage designs. I glanced at the output and made some assumptions. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

So here's a followup question: If a quad-cylinder single stage from Quincy has the same cfm as its two-stage larger brother, would you consider it? Or is the 2-stage design that much better?

Thanks again! Pete

 

[Egon]

Pete:
The single stage would have a higher rod loading and require a more robust bottom end than a multi stage. There should be fewer items to wear out like releif valves and interstage check valves.

Please note these comments are based on larger compressors in the three phaze 50 horsepower or more category with cooling and liquid separators producing around 400 psi.
Egon