Is this a good price and a good Air compressor!!
 

$850 through Sears, Upright air compressor, 2 stage oil pump ball bearings, 7 hp, 80 gallon, 240 volt, 17.4 at 40 psi, 16.9 at 90 psi, max pressure 175 psi. I'm just started looking at these and learning as I go. Thanks Randy

That's a good deal for a two stage.

What Sears model is it?

Craftsman

Thanks a pretty good price for that much compressor. I bought a CH a year ago about the same specs it lists @950. Might want to wait until a sale of 10% off everything comes around..maybe Craftsmen club sale.

Randy, Sears ad today. 175 PSI, 7hp, 2 stage oil free 60 gallon vertical. $449.99

save $100.00 Sounds like a great deal. The bigger the tank, the longer the recovery.

I run an 80 gallon 8 horse 2 stage compressor. It still isn't big enough for my tastes. I can't imagine going smaller on the tank just because of recovery time. The 80 gallon won't come on as often as the 60 gallon will. It's all about how many cfm of air you use and how fast the compressor can replace that cfm. Tank size is a non issue.

i personally think the"oil free" compressors are not good, if your going to use it alot.

Oil free units are noisy...I agree with Firefighter, get the biggest tank. An 80 still comes on too much. If I am using a DA for a long time the damn thing never shuts off, I couldn't even use a DA with my 20 gal, it would have burnt it up.

I always heard you needed 14 or more cfm to run anything very long, Thats why I was looking at this one, the one Kevin (Nu2-72) is talking about only has 9.6 cfm on it. I'm just wanting to make sure I get a big enough one now, for (if) I ever get my bigger building built to tear apart trucks in, and work on them a little. ;) I signed up today for the Craftsman club to get 10% off too. Thanks Randy

I have 120 gallons of capacity. That is 60 gallon factory and two add on tanks that are water trapped and regulated in between each. Each also has a tap so that I can run 60-90-or 120 as needed. Tank size is an issue. Everything has its place.
A friend of mine has a 4,000 gallon tank. Takes a while to fill but when it is full, lots of air available.
You need to consider your majority use. Are you opening an autobody shop or filling bicycle tires.
And you are right Tex, it won't come on as often, it will just run longer when it does. All things being equal, volume is still volume.
I prefer the smaller systems with add ons. But then opinions are like -- you know.

would a 60 gallon 7 HP one be good enough to run a DA cut off wheel etc without losing all your pressure? i dont care if the thing kicks on i just want to be able to use the tool i need.

Those "oil-free" units are pumped by a diaphragm and they are very annoying. The things are just huge vibrators and it gets old quickly.
That is not to say that piston pumps are quiet but the sound is far less bothersome.
In a big shop with lots of people it is hard to beat a screw type compressor. Really all you hear with them is the electric motor running.

I've had both. A 5 horse 30 gal Craftman that I got for free. The thing broke a rod cap. New sleeve and piston assembly was almost as much as a new one. Thing was NOISY! It ran what little I do though. My biggest/most used air hog is a die grinder. Ran it, but couldn;t keep up. I now have a 7 horse 60 gal Cambell Hausefield twin cylinder single stage, advertised at 10.2 cfm @ 90psi. I love it. Keeps up with my die grinder cycling on and off. Keeps up with the blast cabinet but pretty much stays on. Supposed to have a 100percent duty cycle so I don't worry about it. Works my spray gun pretty good too. No where near as bothersome noise wise as the oilless. Cost right at $400 if I remember right.

If you can get a 2 stage pump for under a grand out the door sound like a good deal to me. Can't imagine not being happy with it. Then again, I might not wrench as much as you.

what is 2 stage?

2 or more pistons. exhaust of one feeds to intake of other.

Think of the two stage like a blower on a truck. The air is taken into the first cylinder and compressed, then pumped into the second cylinder and compressed again to a higher charge, then discharged to the tank.
Randy, what exactly are you going to do with one determines your need. Cost determines what I buy. Noise is not an issue to me. My last shop, I simply built an air compressor room outside the back wall, insulated it very well and ran the pipe through the wall. "T'd" the pipe all the way around the shop with taps everywhere. The new shop will have a compressor room inside but still enclosed and insulated for sound.
Noise, enclose it. Volume, add tanks. Long life, cast iron. Mine runs even or better than my blast cabinet as well but it is 11 years old and still going strong. 5 hp and 60 gallon. Good luck and let me know if you need it hauled. What am I saying? We're gonna be Max buds now. LOL You can do it yourself. ( looking for my first excuse)

Just looked in my Northern Tool catalog...Ingersoll-Rand 7.5hp 80 gal 25cfm@175psi $1849 free shipping, 5hp 80 gal 17cfm $1639, North Star brand? (generic?) 5hp 80gal 15.9 cfm $949, 7.5 hp 80 gal 26.2cfm@90 psi $1559; free shipping on those too. Just something to compare to...happy shopping, btw tell the wife...Christmas is coming maybe she will get it for you! Later, Gord

THANKS to ALL you guys for all the info, I'm leaning torwards this one I think.
Kevin, congrats on the NEW Duramax, what color? I don't want to know the price. ;) I'd love to have a new one,
Gord, I told her it was for my Christmas, she said she wanted something comparable in price, ouch!!!!!!!! :eek:
Thanks to all for info!!!!!!!! Randy