compressor advice needed

[68Timber]

I've got a Craftsman 5hp 30 gal noisy job. Works pretty good but now I've got a steel building coming and don't want to suffer that one inside. I need a larger quiet one but it's gotta be less than a grand OTD. It will see regular blast cabinet, die grinder, and DA use. Need something that will keep up, not finish off what's left of my hearing, and leave some moolah in the wallet. I'm not a brand-snob as long as it works.

[68Timber]

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-hp-60...sor-93274.html

This one looks pretty good if its reliable but is a 3400 rpm motor.

This is funny, a youtube video of this model and the one that looks identical to what I have:

US General / Harbor Freight 93274 compressor...

What I'm reading is that I need at least 60 gal and two-stage and want something at 1500 rpm instead of 3400 rpm motor. And a 1K purchase price might not be realistic if its name brand but also a lot of stuff on the market is rebadged so paying for the name isn't necessarily smart. And as always, used is probably smartest money. The building I bought is not very big at 12x20 and I don't want to have to enclose the compressor so noise is a factor. I'm open to suggestions.

[_Ogre]

if your compressor is big enough for you, just build a room to put it in.
vent the room to the outside so the heat goes out too.
i have stairs in my barn, i built my compressor room under my stairs.
oilless compressors are noisier than belt drive, all the 5hp 30gal craftsman compressors i've seen are oilless
i have a 5hp 60gal belt drive craftsman than works great (under the stairs )

[68Timber]

This Quincy pops up as #1 rated on a few sites but it looks just like the Central Pneumatic above at half the price.

http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/...ssor/p855.html


But this Puma costs less and has a bigger tank:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5343_200455343

[68Timber]

I'll answer my own questions since I've been doing a lot of digging and this will come up in a search. The primary stats advertised are HP and tank size but you need to know how much cfm @ 90 psi you'll need based on the biggest air-hog you'll run. Shop based on that figure. I need at least 14 cfm @ 90 psi.

These two meet my specs:

The Harbor Freight Central Pneumatic: http://www.harborfreight.com/5-hp-60...sor-93274.html

The equivalent Puma from Northern Tool: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5343_200455343

One first one is $799 and the second is $1049. My only decision is whether to take a chance on the CP or go ahead and spend $250 more. I'm reading somewhere that CP's are (or used to be) rebadged Belaires. Maybe more digging is in order.

[bighaas79]

I would throw c-aire brand in there as well. American made. Just bought a 7.5 horse 80 gal. for my shop. 27.3 cfm at 175 psi and it only runs at like 670 rpm so the noise isn't bad at all. Obviously you probably wouldn't need one quite that big but just to give you an idea...

[motornut]

I'd go around to the stores
i was in homedepot the other day,saw a guy bough a huge one,somebody returned and it was a huge campell housefeild it was a $2000. machine for about half price

[ETsC10]

Originally Posted by motornut

I'd go around to the stores
i was in homedepot the other day,saw a guy bough a huge one,somebody returned and it was a huge campell housefeild it was a $2000. machine for about half price

motornut's got a good point there. "Open Box" items nearly anywhere go for much less...
You might find a good deal with even a few simple phone calls.

[smoknbarrels]

well you are getting way more compressor from nothern tool then that cp unit, I'll tell ya that!
there is also a noticable difference between 60 to 80 gallon tanks, and on top of that the puma is 175psi. its nice not having a compressor start every 30 seconds becuase its only 120psi.
I have two units on the farm, a 5hp 80 gal tank, 2 stage 150 psi cut out... and a 5hp 3 cyl single stage 60 gal tank 120psi cut out... use a simple cut off tool and the smaller compressor is running all the time, i wouldn't waste my time sand blasting with the small unit.
for what you need you'll be happy with the performance of the puma for the money spent.

[t300]

A lot of good reading on garagejournal and jalopyjournal on 'hobby shop' compressors (ie, 60-80 gallon, 8-12cfm ish). Most guys steer away from IR nowaways, they just aren't what they used to be. I have a IR 2stage 5hp (model 2340 i think) that has great cfm, bought new around 4-5 years ago. The junk Emerson motor on it lasted a year and a half, local IR rep didn't care. I found a new Century motor locally for a good price and put that in, no problems in the last 2 or 3 years.

[68Timber]

I guess I'm down to these two.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5340_200455340

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5343_200455343

I know either one will be more than adequate but it's going into a 12x20 steel building, and I'll be in there with it, so I'd like something that doesn't run 100% running a blast cabinet. I'm already deaf enough, but with one kid in college and two more still in the house, maybe a cheaper compressor now and a hearing aid later is the way 2 go. I'm still thinking about it.

[ETsC10]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

I guess I'm down to these two.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5340_200455340

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5343_200455343

I know either one will be more than adequate but it's going into a 12x20 steel building, and I'll be in there with it, so I'd like something that doesn't run 100% running a blast cabinet. I'm already deaf enough, but with one kid in college and two more still in the house, maybe a cheaper compressor now and a hearing aid later is the way 2 go. I'm still thinking about it.

Hehe---sounds like the blast cabinet needs it's own shed.
We can call it your quiet place.

[mark 66]

I would suggest keeping an eye on craigslist. I found a nice 60 gal. 5 hp 2 stage for 500. the guy had to sell it cause he was moving. its like brand new. it sells at grainger for over 1200. just be patient they do come along now and then. you just gotta jump on it quick. good luck

[cdowns]

yep i see really good deals on a regular basis on craigs down here// people movin and they are sooo big and heavy they are all sorts of frazzeled by havin to move // the garage is last and when they get around to the compressors they cant deal with it

[BossHogg69]

I just got the Quincy QT-54 you posted above. I also had an oil less 30gal Craftsman that I had to wear earplugs around. I'm working out of my two car garage, so the noise factor was a big deal. The Quincy is really quiet for the air it puts out and has a 50,000 hour pump life. Glad I spent the extra money.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by mark 66

I would suggest keeping an eye on craigslist. I found a nice 60 gal. 5 hp 2 stage for 500. the guy had to sell it cause he was moving. its like brand new. it sells at grainger for over 1200. just be patient they do come along now and then. you just gotta jump on it quick. good luck

I've got to wire this steel building and insulate it, I'm going to wall it in with peg board... ETC. But yeah, craigslist is the ticket. I'm in Atlanta on a pretty regular basis, so I'm watching for a used Quincy or Puma at the right price. This isn't going to run a commercial shop, but I want it to run two air hogs at once - my boys are young but getting there.

[bighaas79]

Your gonna need a lot more cfm than what you are lookin at to run 2 air hogs. They are air gobblin muthers. More capacity will be needed as well

[68Timber]

98% of the time the worst thing going on will be a blast cabinet. I'm pretty sure I've got a handle on what I need for normal and worst-case use. But I do appreciate all advice.

[joel.e]

in case you need another opinion... you might want to look at one with an unloader valve which saves your starter and some electricity from starting and stopping a lot. I have an eaton compressor and when I'm blasting parts I turn on the unloader. Quiet was also one of my main concerns since I killed my craftsman (oil less) noise maker blasting parts.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by joel.e

in case you need another opinion... you might want to look at one with an unloader valve which saves your starter and some electricity from starting and stopping a lot. I have an eaton compressor and when I'm blasting parts I turn on the unloader. Quiet was also one of my main concerns since I killed my craftsman (oil less) noise maker blasting parts.

I thought I'd googled this to death but I haven't heard of one of those. I appreciate that, I will check it out.

[KSWes]

I shopped online for a compressor for about a month and had pretty much come to terms that I was going to have to spend some cash to get a compressor that would handle what I needed it for. Kept checking craigslist and found an 2 stage 80 gallon Saylor Beall it's 50 years old but after an oil change and some reworking of the check valve and gauge and safety pop off valve it's purring like a kitten. Paid the guy on CL 250 with the extra parts I put into it I ended up about 360 into it. But I'm glad I was patient and checked CL a few more times before heading to Northern Tool. Good luck on your hunt.

[68c10airstream]

Hi John, have you ever heard of water blasting using a pressure washer with a $100.00 attachment? I did it for the first time recently and you would never believe the fast cutting action with no dust, and no warpage as the water prevents the warpage. A pump output with at least 3,000psi and a minimum of 2 1/2 gallons a minute output. Watercannon.com has info and parts, etc. You can re-use the blasting media (sand, blackjack etc) at least twice, just dry it and filter it. I live in the salt belt up north and blasted a fullsize gm rearend complete using 3, 50lb bags of silica sand. This wet blasting is osha approved without a mask, you just need goggles. Look it up on youtube. Good luck, Brian F.

[Rufton]

I have two 5 HP compressors (two garages). When doing a lot of media blasting I connect them w/ a hose. This allows me to use larger nozzle and blast much quicker. 30' sloped to drain metal pipe eliminates most water; down stream water separator typically dry.

[truckdude239]

Look for an old champion or ir co.pressor on craigslist . We runn an old 80 gallon sideway 5hp 3 phase champion at work and a 60 gallon sideways ir 5 hp 3 phase with the old 30t pump on it. We have them plumbed together for more air storeage but only run one at a time to fill both never had any issuses the champion is going on 15 years old and still pumping 175 all day long from 8-6 7 days a week
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