New tools

[jcalisi]

Finally got some $$$ together to buy some tools. I want to get an air compressor first and wanted to know what everyone else is using and where they got them. I'm in Nashville so I should have plenty of places to look. Anyway, nothing professional just something I can us in my garage and be happy with. I think I want something that uses oil so it isn't as loud???

[Cethern]

I have a little 2 horse 20 gal Craftsman that I found on the road one day it fell out of a truck when I got there ppl were just driving around it. I wounder what that guy said when he went to get it out for work that day .
Hit the pawn Shops you can find some good deals get one big enough to run DA sanders and such if you plan on doing any body work that is.


Ceth

[JimKshortstep4x4]

If you are going to paint and run air tools a five hp is not too large. We have a 5 hp Curtis 2 stage that works real well and it was made in Ohio!

Jim

[chevytruckfan]

I love my Craftsman 6hp 30gal tank. I will power most air tools including my DA sander. Sanders use so much air a smaller compressor will not have enough tank to keep up and you will waste a lot of time to use the duty cycle for the compressor to refill and cool off otherwise the motor is constantly running. Anything smaller will not handle a sander. I got mine on sale at $270. Just make sure you get a water separator at a minimum. I bought a inline water separator and an oiler so that I am not wrenching on the tools everytime I use them to oil them. Just make sure you do not use an oiler with a paint gun. After that the three tools I use the most is cutoff wheel, impact and ratchet, DA sander, and spray gun.

[doughby82]

i have the craftsman 6 1/2 60 gallon,as far as it works its great,but it is noisy as hell.i would suggest not to buy an oil less compressor they are very annoying.buy one that is belt driven

[busterwivell]

I have the same thing as doughby82. I put it outside the shop, on a slab with j hooks. Built 3 walls and a roof around it, and it's still loud. I can't run a DA constantly, I have to wait some times for it to catch up.

[jcalisi]

Thanks guys. I have it down to Craftsman 7hp 60gal 40psi will push 12.4 and 90 psi will push 10.2 $500

Campbell 7hp 60 gal 40 will push 15.1 and 90 will push 13.5 $647
Campbell 7hp 60 gal 40 will push 11.8 and 90 will push 10.3 $429

If I got the cheaper one I would be able to afford some tools to go with it, but I would rather buy something now that will handle anything I'm going to throw at it.

Thanks for the comments on the oil-less, I'm sure my neighbors will appreciate it...

[70ChevyLongbed]

I got the Craftsman Professional 25 gal. Air Compressor, 3-1/2 hp, Vertical Tank, 2-Stage Oil Free Pump



... and I'm already trying to sell it. I wish I would have been active here or checked around to find out that it would not run all the tools I thought it would... Live and learn.

Good luck, let us know what you get.

<edit> The compressor works great, I just want to do more than it is designed for.

[fine69]

I bought a "blackmax" from Sam's Club. 220 volt. 2 stage 80 gallon tank. Got it 9 years ago for $699 on sale. I knew not to skimp. Glad i didnt. Go the extra mile on a air compressor. Airtools can be bought cheap. At any time. Its harder to cough up $7 or 8 hundred bucks at one time. But i dont need to tell you that. Shop around though. If you find the one you want tell them "so and so" had the same one for $50 bucks less. They will price match usually and aint got the brains to check.
You can build a room around the compressor and insulate it. Install one of those cheapie interior doors in the front. Dampens the noise tons. I will get a few pics of my setup for ya. Give you an idea. I have gotten lots of complements on it.

[Jeepster376]

Originally Posted by jcalisi

Campbell 7hp 60 gal 40 will push 11.8 and 90 will push 10.3 $429

I have this one, I bought it new 20 years ago, and have worked the snot out of it daily for all those years, it has certainly paid off.

About 6 years ago I had to replace a cracked valve flapper and the belt, and thats it.

I would honestly prefer to have a 2 stage pump, but it does OK. If i'm running big sanders or something it may run pretty constant but I don't have to stop and wait. One day I'd like to replace the pump on it with a 2 stage unit.

I've got it mounted in the garage on a wooden platform, setting on three small block chevy motor mounts, and I adapted a snowmobile air intake silencer to the pump intake, so you can barely hear it running from inside the house. I have it plumbed with 1/2" copper water pipe to air outlets around the garage, and down to my basement workshop. It's so nice having air tools in my shop with no noisy compressor.

[70ChevyLongbed]

Originally Posted by fine69

I bought a "blackmax" from Sam's Club. 220 volt. 2 stage 80 gallon tank. Got it 9 years ago for $699 on sale.

Wanna trade?!? I'll meet ya half way!!!

[whitesswj]

i've got nothing fancy - i work at walmart and i bought the CampbellHause 5hp 8gal comp and it keeps up w/ the grinder, ratchet, impact, and paint gun well paid 3 bills for it you can find just as good in the pawnshops.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I got a small 5 gallon 31/2 hp compressor that don't keep up with anything but a tire don't go this route....

[Cruiser71]

I use a 6hp 30 gallon Craftsman 220vdc belt driven, and it keeps up with everything I use. Its now 20 years old and still works great. Stay away from any oil less compressor. They are junk.

[1972C10]

I got a farmhand From TSC 6.5 HP 12.3 cfm it came cutting off at 125 but that was a tad low to operate my tire machine so i cranked it up to 140

Guy i used to work for got an ingersoll with similar specs i think his pumped up quicker and it was super quiet I mean Super quiet mine is an oil type and its not as loud as some but that ingersol was a good one It may have just been from being new no telling Im sure it will never see maintence and will eventually lock up due to lack of oil or something like that But It was around 380 390 I gave 379 for my cambell back in 00 Never regretted it untill i saw that ingersoll rand and i still dont regrett becuase ingersolls like mine were 700 back then ,

SHop around alot! There is always a better deal if your willing to look.

[Bernie]

I got a Quincy from Harbor Freight. They had a deal with free shipping. It does all that I ask of it.

[jcalisi]

I think this is the one I'm going to get today. Anyone using it? Good or bad? Its a bit more than I want to spend but I generally buy tools to last.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/detail....productID=1270

[1972C10]

Its a good one Thats a two stage compressor it will pum up quicker at maintain a higher pressure it cuts off at 175 as opposed to 135 that most do . I wish i had one like that It would run a tire machine alot better

[jcalisi]

Actually this is the one I was looking at. The other is about 200 bills more... Very nice though. What do you think about this one?

http://www.tractorsupply.com/detail....productID=9181

[1972C10]

the 5 hp 80 gallon two stage?

5 H.P., 80 Gal. Air Compressor

Register/log in for local price

TSC # 3496129
Please check with your local Tractor Supply Company store for current prices.

17.1 CFM @ 90 P.S.I. 230V Two-Stage 11.8 H.P. Peak 175 Max. P.S.I. On-Site Service

Thats the one i seen the first time the 5 hp 80- gallon looks like a good one Just be sure to Take time hooking it up I ran 10-2 to mine but If i did it again i would have 10-2 go to a box and have a dryer or oven plug and have a 8 strand go to the compressor its a pita to hook those solid wires on the compressors pressure switch.



EDIT: are you talkin about the 11.8 hp is 200 cheaper than the 5hp? or vice versa

EDIT: AGAIN OHH i see that the 11.8 hp is a single stage it puts out alot more air but doenst get as high of a pressure if your goin to be running something that uses alot of air like a da or a angle grinder you want the higher CFM But the higher the pressure the better impacts work and other things You should be able to get away with the 135 psi its close to what i run and i manage to do alot with mine ive got a ton of air tools and a tire machine,

The only problem with mine is sometimes the tire machine wont have enough pressure to break a really stuck on bead. other than that it suites me just fine.

Oh and sorry for not reading the ad fully an haveing to edit twice.!

[jcalisi]

This one is only a single stage, but I think I will handle anything I throw at it. Besides I can take that 200 bucks and put it towards tools.

Good idea on the hookup. I already have 10-2 ran to a box. I'll stop by lowes and pickup some wire and connections.

Looks like old blue is going to take a trip to town.

[1972C10]

Good luck with your new compressor dont forget to break it in like the directions say they say dont put a plug in the tank but if it was me i would just unhook the line going to the tank and let the compressor freespin for awhile . I guess its to seat the rings At least mine suggested i break it in.