The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network - View Single Post - 47-55.1 Compressor choices

dsraven · 05-20-2023, 09:49 AM

whatever you decide ensure you get one that has parts available easily. I bought an ingersol rand 5hp 2 stage 80 gal with decent output and it keeps up to my blast cabinet and small pot sandblaster BUT it runs all the time when blasting, gets hot and does drop in pressure somewhat. I wanted to do a valve service and possibly a rering while it is apart and found it was a one off and parts are either not available or they come from somewhere far far away with a big price tag. valve servicing is something that should be done every so often because they get some build up on the valve seats and rings, well, they just wear out with use. mine is a siamese twin cyl style so the heat from one cyl dissipates into the next cylinder. maybe a v unit would have been better, dunno. the 2 stage part is a smaller cylinder normally and the connecting tube should have cooling fins and possibly a drain. some have a cast cooler unit that is used instead for that purpose and they have drains on them. another thing to look for is the size of the inlet pipe where the air filter is. on mine i thought that pipe could have been a little larger. I have mine sitting close to my breaker panel, for a short run to the compressor motor and my shop service is large enough with no problem when running. it does use more power on start up though so something to check on if you plan to go with a 7hp. then the air inlet goes through a flexible 3" rubber hose connection to pvc piping that goes through the cieling to a vehicle air box in the attic. easy to find filters for that box, the filters are larger than the stock filter that came with the compressor, the unit picks up air that is likely cleaner than the ambient shop air since the compressor is close to my work bench where the grinding happens, and the attic air intake is also less noise in the shop. in the winter the attic is cold so the compressor picks up more dense air that has less moisture in it than the warm shop air. my compressor has a timed auto drain unit at the bottom that is connected to the shop lights so if i am in the shop the lights are on and the compressor auto drains into a catch bucket so no water/oil mess on the floor or atomised where you are working/breathing.
anyway, i suppose by now you have purchased a compressor. if so, what did you end up with?

05-20-2023, 09:49 AM	#10
dsraven Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: calgary alberta Posts: 8,501	Re: Compressor choices whatever you decide ensure you get one that has parts available easily. I bought an ingersol rand 5hp 2 stage 80 gal with decent output and it keeps up to my blast cabinet and small pot sandblaster BUT it runs all the time when blasting, gets hot and does drop in pressure somewhat. I wanted to do a valve service and possibly a rering while it is apart and found it was a one off and parts are either not available or they come from somewhere far far away with a big price tag. valve servicing is something that should be done every so often because they get some build up on the valve seats and rings, well, they just wear out with use. mine is a siamese twin cyl style so the heat from one cyl dissipates into the next cylinder. maybe a v unit would have been better, dunno. the 2 stage part is a smaller cylinder normally and the connecting tube should have cooling fins and possibly a drain. some have a cast cooler unit that is used instead for that purpose and they have drains on them. another thing to look for is the size of the inlet pipe where the air filter is. on mine i thought that pipe could have been a little larger. I have mine sitting close to my breaker panel, for a short run to the compressor motor and my shop service is large enough with no problem when running. it does use more power on start up though so something to check on if you plan to go with a 7hp. then the air inlet goes through a flexible 3" rubber hose connection to pvc piping that goes through the cieling to a vehicle air box in the attic. easy to find filters for that box, the filters are larger than the stock filter that came with the compressor, the unit picks up air that is likely cleaner than the ambient shop air since the compressor is close to my work bench where the grinding happens, and the attic air intake is also less noise in the shop. in the winter the attic is cold so the compressor picks up more dense air that has less moisture in it than the warm shop air. my compressor has a timed auto drain unit at the bottom that is connected to the shop lights so if i am in the shop the lights are on and the compressor auto drains into a catch bucket so no water/oil mess on the floor or atomised where you are working/breathing. anyway, i suppose by now you have purchased a compressor. if so, what did you end up with?