Recommend me an air compressor

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Originally Posted By: Chris142
A cutoff uses huge qmounts of air. A small compressor wont work with that tool
No mater how large a tank you have once it's running on the pump it's all over and NEVER keeps up.
 
Originally Posted By: dave123
Originally Posted By: Chris142
A cutoff uses huge qmounts of air. A small compressor wont work with that tool
No mater how large a tank you have once it's running on the pump it's all over and NEVER keeps up.
Ours at work will. It keeps up with our sandblaster thats large enough to put my peterbilt hood in! But our compressor is huge too
 
Originally Posted By: Johnny2Bad

With 120V/15A, you are pretty much limited to 5 HP (no matter what the spec claims).

115v wont even run 3 HP never mind 5, 1.5 HP is about the max for 115v, figure 10A per HP.
Don't believe some of the outrageous HP claims for air compressors, eg oil less Craftsman with 3.5 HP on 115v is 100% fraudulent. True HP is not even 1 HP.
A 5 HP Quincy or Champion 2 stage weighs in at over 500lb and draws big amps from a 230v line.
 
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746 watts equals 1 horsepower. So, the max is about 2 horsepower on a 15 amp circuit. Biggest tank, and highest psi is the only way to get the most out of a 120v compressor. 5 hp 2 stage, 80 gallon is the best way to go in the long run, with a refrigerated air dryer. Took me many years, and dollars to figure that out. Most single stage compressors cannot maintain constant line pressure that most air tools need, like a 2 stage can.
 
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I have the IR 20 gallon upright Garagemate. It's an excellent DIY compressor and has no problem running impact wrenches. But most of the time I use my cordless tools.
 
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Originally Posted By: Traction
746 watts equals 1 horsepower. So, the max is about 2 horsepower on a 15 amp circuit. Biggest tank, and highest psi is the only way to get the most out of a 120v compressor. 5 hp 2 stage, 80 gallon is the best way to go in the long run, with a refrigerated air dryer. Took me many years, and dollars to figure that out. Most single stage compressors cannot maintain constant line pressure that most air tools need, like a 2 stage can.

You need to take starting surge into account. A true 2HP compressor motor will blow a 15A circuit breaker every time it tries to start.

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The resulting start up power required can be as much as 6 times the rated power of the motor. Compressor manufacturers usually make a token gesture at reducing the starting currents by having a solenoid pressure release valve that evacuates the line between the pump and the non return valve feeding the tank every time the pressure switch switches off the power to the motor.
 
Originally Posted By: dave123
Originally Posted By: Chris142
A cutoff uses huge qmounts of air. A small compressor wont work with that tool
No mater how large a tank you have once it's running on the pump it's all over and NEVER keeps up.



I agree, it depends though on what he wants to do with the cutoff tool. If he only needs it to cutoff bolts and such, the 30 gallon tank will let him use it in bursts, not optimal at all but it can be used. If he wants to cut body panels and so forth no way.

So if he wants to use an impact gun for lugs and light work and only wants to have a cutoff tool for " just to have it" for really small jobs, a 115 compressor will work.
I got away with one for 10 years.

He really has to let us know what he plans to do with the tools, op stated not for everyday use.

Op, what do you want to do with the cutoff tool?

I just wired up my single stage 240v 60 gallon compressor, a lot of people consider that a small compressor, but i'm just a guy that works on my own cars, not a professional.
 
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There is a huge jump from anything 115v to a 60gal single stage 230v

then another big increase to 2stage 230v 80gal..

after that you have professional solutions.
 
Originally Posted By: Johnny2Bad
You can make a relatively low power compressor do a lot of work if you just insure it's got a good storage facility.

Look into buying a larger tank, or add a storage tank to whatever you do get. They are the lighter part of a typical compressor setup and don't really cost that much either, compared to the compressor itself.

With 120V/15A, you are pretty much limited to 5 HP (no matter what the spec claims).

If you own the property where it will be installed, you can also look at distributing the air around the shop with black pipe and it's relatively simple to incorporate water and oil filtration into the system. Minimizing hose length is tidy and efficient as hose tends to reduce available pressure (leaks, inside diameter affecting pressure, etc).

But every inch of distributing pipe is also additional storage, and it adds up pretty quick. A little rattle-can paint seals up pipe very well and looks the part.


A normal 110v 15amp outlet can power 2.412 HP. Or less. No way a 5HP motor. Unless your using something worthless like "peak HP".
 
Originally Posted By: spasm3

So if he wants to use an impact gun for lugs and light work and only wants to have a cutoff tool for " just to have it" for really small jobs, a 115 compressor will work.
I got away with one for 10 years.

He really has to let us know what he plans to do with the tools, op stated not for everyday use.

Op, what do you want to do with the cutoff tool?

I just wired up my single stage 240v 60 gallon compressor, a lot of people consider that a small compressor, but i'm just a guy that works on my own cars, not a professional.



I plan to use the cutoff tool for small jobs only like fixing my leaking gm oil cooler lines (no body panel work).
 
Originally Posted By: cdm1993
I plan to use the cutoff tool for small jobs only like fixing my leaking gm oil cooler lines (no body panel work).


Specifically, what cut-off tool do you have?
 
Originally Posted By: Ramblejam
Specifically, what cut-off tool do you have?


I don't have one or any air tools yet. Planning to buy at least an impact and a cutoff, maybe an air hammer, though the hammer may not work well with the compressors I am considering.
 
Originally Posted By: cdm1993
Originally Posted By: Ramblejam
Specifically, what cut-off tool do you have?


I don't have one or any air tools yet. Planning to buy at least an impact and a cutoff, maybe an air hammer, though the hammer may not work well with the compressors I am considering.


With your requirement that it's limited to 120v, a cutoff tool would work for a few seconds at most. I only get 10 seconds or so out of a blow gun before my 30 gallon compressor drops from 150 PSI to 100 and kicks in. Quite honestly, a Dremel and a flex extension would be better for sustained cutting. Even a cheap angle grinder used with a healthy dose of respect and good discs would do a better job.

An air hammer would work for intermittent use. Again, 30 gallons isn't enough for sustained use. Unless you're willing to pause to let the compressor refill. I know, I have a 30 gallon compressor since it's the largest compressor my garage wiring can power.

A smaller compressor almost forces getting more efficient air tools. Without as much capacity, getting lower CFM tools that do the same work as higher CFM tools is critical to make use of the available capacity.
 
Originally Posted By: sciphi
With your requirement that it's limited to 120v, a cutoff tool would work for a few seconds at most. I only get 10 seconds or so out of a blow gun before my 30 gallon compressor drops from 150 PSI to 100 and kicks in.


Conflating these two is foolish.

The top rated cut-off tool on Amazon (Dewalt DWMT70784) is more than enough for what OP is doing, and utilizes 4.4 CFM @ 90 PSI.

You'll notice the compressor I selected above is rated 5.9 CFM @ 90 PSI.

The cheapest little blow nozzles ($5, or so) pull 10 CFM, whereas the top rated gun on Amazon maxes out at 34 CFM.
 
Originally Posted By: Ramblejam
Originally Posted By: sciphi
With your requirement that it's limited to 120v, a cutoff tool would work for a few seconds at most. I only get 10 seconds or so out of a blow gun before my 30 gallon compressor drops from 150 PSI to 100 and kicks in.


Conflating these two is foolish.

The top rated cut-off tool on Amazon (Dewalt DWMT70784) is more than enough for what OP is doing, and utilizes 4.4 CFM @ 90 PSI.

You'll notice the compressor I selected above is rated 5.9 CFM @ 90 PSI.

The cheapest little blow nozzles ($5, or so) pull 10 CFM, whereas the top rated gun on Amazon maxes out at 34 CFM.



I stand corrected! For some reason I thought they used a lot more air.
 
Keep an eye on Craigslist. Patience is a virtue as I was looking for a compressor a few years ago and stumbled across this nice older compressor in my neighborhood for $60.
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