Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Anyone care to recommend a air compressor?

Dave Seitz · Mega Poster

7hp 2 stage 60-80 gallon tank not cheap to do all that.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200445372_200445372

Anyone have experience with this one.

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Ingersol-Rand makes nice air compressors.

John D · 2K+ Club

The unit you linked to, frankly IMO, isn't much good for more than filling tires or running one air-nailer at a time.

The things to look for in a good, long lasting compressor are:

Pump RPM - slower the better, and quieter.
Cast iron cylinders
Bearings on critical parts (not bushings or alum on steel)
CFM @ 90psi (Most air tool requirements are listed at this psi.)
HP rating of the motor
120v, or 220V, (if 220 do you have single or 3-phase power)
Pump or splash lubrication

I've owned a Cast-Air unit for 10+ years now, built in Chaska. (6hp, 220V, 2-stage/V-twin, 60gal)

http://www.castair.net/about-us.html

Before buying I went to the shop and got a real education on compressors. Running even a small blasting cabinet will tax the capacity of twin-cyl, 6HP, 60gal machine!

bwild70ss396 · Active Member

You need to check out the CfM needs for the tools you wish to run. My compressor is a 6.5hp 220 volt unit with 10.3 Cfm and it runs most of what I need. Media blasting and some paint guns need more then that. As John D said Cast- Air makes nice units. I used to work at Northern part time and would see the cheap $200 units get bought back the most in the oil less ones. Most cheap ones are oil less

Derek69SS · Founding Member

I've always wanted to get a big 80 gal 2 stage, but decided that if I waited until I could justify $1500 and losing ~9sf of garage floor for a compressor, I'd never get one, and it sucks not having any compressor at all.

I settled for a Porter Cable unit at Fleet Farm that was the only portable one they had that wasn't "oil less"... happened to catch it on clearance too for around $250. Things like air grinders will run it out of air faster than it can pump it, but for small jobs it's not a big deal. It does 95% of what I need done at 1/8 the cost and takes up 1/4 the space as what I really wanted. Being portable is nice too, if you need air more than 50ft away from the compressor.

My only advice is don't buy an "oil less" one. They're noisy and don't last.

-- Edited by Derek69SS on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 09:37:09 AM

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Thanks for all the replies.

ron fuller · Active Member

I built my own using a cast air pump. Like John said the lower the pump rpm the quieter. I have a large compressor and its nice to beable to have a conversation with someone and not have the compressor droned you out. Or make the kids jump when the compressor kicks in. The people at cast aire are very helpful. they helped me size the motor pulley to work with my setup.

John D · 2K+ Club

One thing to consider doing as well (for everyone). If you go with a "fixed position" unit (no wheels), spend a few bucks in the plumbing aisle at Home Depot. Get the fittings/elbows/pipe necessary to run the intake up into the garage attic. Just doing this will cut the noise in half!

I made a manifold out of a combination of copper & pvc. The inlets to the cylinders are 1", So the "main" pipe is 2". There's a similar manifold in the attic where the air filters are re-attached to.

(How the unit got up ON the workbench in the corner is another story)

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

I still havent ran mine yet.. have to plumb and get an electrical pigtail.. anyone interested in a plumbing party at my garage this spring?

John D · 2K+ Club

anyone interested in a plumbing party at my garage this spring?

Cash in (what's left of) your 401K for the copper, line up the fitter "pushrod", and we'll do it up! If you can solder wires, you can sweat pipe.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

So John, whats the total that you have into the set-up?

John D · 2K+ Club

Geez, it's been "amortized" over so long... but I'm guessing about a grand... about $800 for the unit, with install accessories (flex pipe, cork biscuits, hoses), then another $200 for piping, fittings, regulators, etc.

Lost in the 60s · President

Tony Hoffer wrote:
I still havent ran mine yet.. have to plumb and get an electrical pigtail.. anyone interested in a plumbing party at my garage this spring?
Why wait till Spring ?? I'm done with work after next week and then have surgery November 8th. I should be good to go by mid Decmenber. I can't see using copper when you can use steel pipe. I have 65 feet of it in the ceiling to cool the air with 3 drops for the moisture to fall out. Works well and much cheaper and easier to install. If you don't plan to move the compressor around, I'd hard wire it to the breaker box. I ran a separate circuit to a junction box behind the compressor and a flex cord to that for vibration.

Lost in the 60s · President

jim larson wrote:
Looking for an air compressor. Would like to be able to preforme most tasks; like painting, media blasting, air tools, etc. Any good experiences with certain brands? Good prices, etc? Thanks,
You may not remember the Ingersol I have. It's a 5hp, 2 stage 175 psi on a vertical 60 gallon tank. I have run that for thousands of hours now with only a few oil changes. Certain air tools, especially body tools run it out rather quickly and the blasting cabinet will keep it on 90% of the time I am using it. I doubt you'll have a 3/4 impact like the one I use on the Pete either... I've always wished I had gotten a 7 hp/80 gallon tank combo but was strapped for cash at the time.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Good discussion. I can see myself spending $1000. I can do all the wiring, etc. John, do you also have a fork lift that you used to get that unit up on the bench top?

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Tony Hoffer wrote:
I still havent ran mine yet.. have to plumb and get an electrical pigtail.. anyone interested in a plumbing party at my garage this spring?
Why wait till Spring ??

Money..
I get a good tax return every spring.. thats when I spend.. Not a big fan of credit card debt.

Lost in the 60s · President

Tony Hoffer wrote:
Lost in the 60s wrote:
Tony Hoffer wrote:
I still havent ran mine yet.. have to plumb and get an electrical pigtail.. anyone interested in a plumbing party at my garage this spring?
Why wait till Spring ??

Money..
I get a good tax return every spring.. thats when I spend.. Not a big fan of credit card debt.
I have ~$200 in plumbing. It's all black iron pipe with one flex hose to the wall. You're welcome to come see it for ideas.

Lost in the 60s · President

Jim, this is the compressor I have.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200318461_200318461

This is the one I wish I had.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200414703_200414703

John D · 2K+ Club

When I built the workbench I had the compressor location in mind. There are 4) 4 x 4 pressure treated "posts" under the benchtop (in the location of the legs) that go to the cement floor. The mounting bolts go through the benchtop into the posts. The load is transferred to the floor, not the benchtop. I also extended the tank drain through the benchtop, and elbow'd it over & out to the front of the bench with a petcock. I can drain the tank from the face of the bench.

I used a little mini chainfall hoist rig on a roof rafter to get it up there (I've got 10' ceilings). A little scary, but I got it up there myself.

It sits on 1" thick cork & rubber biscuits, using 6" lag bolts through the benchtop into the posts below. When it's running you can barely see ripples in a water glass 15' down the bench.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Is it unwise to look at a used unit like: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/tls/2653788934.html

Chris R · 2K+ Club

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/tls/2653788934.html

Nothing wrong with looking for a used unit. But for that price, I would look for a used one with a known quality brand. Not that the one you show isnt a good one. But there are lots of IRs, CP's, Castair's, Sanborn's etc out there that are resonably priced in used condition.

Ive also seen fairly decent used compressors being auctioned off from places like Auction Masters and K-Bid.

Chris R · 2K+ Club

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/tls/2661260394.html

Here is an 80 gallon for the same price. Doesnt say much about the brand name but it might be worth checking out.

Bowtieman427 · Active Member

Chris R wrote:
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/tls/2661260394.html
Here is an 80 gallon for the same price. Doesnt say much about the brand name but it might be worth checking out.

I like the 100 PSI: 17.5. -CFM That will run a lot of stuff. I have a 5HP 60gal and when I blast it is working most of the time. This one is definatly worth checking out.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Chris R wrote:
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/tls/2661260394.html
Here is an 80 gallon for the same price. Doesnt say much about the brand name but it might be worth checking out.

found a new one with the same ID #

http://www.amazon.com/Industrial-Air-IV5248069-80-Gallon-Compressor/dp/B002MKP5L0

Looks like a good price for a used one of this quality?

Dave Seitz · Mega Poster

I had a Puma I had picked up in a deal and never plugged it in until I sold it. That thing was fast and quiet to 135 psi. Check their stuff and remember if you do not heat your shop compressor oil is like engine oil. Attempting to start a compressor at -20 the oil is as thick as can be so it will burn up the motor with a high current start.

Bowtieman427 · Active Member

Jim, I will go check for you and if it is NO good I will get to you ; ) This sounds like a great AC. I really think you should call them and check it out.

Cast iron, industrial duty, two stage compressor pump delivers maximum CFM at 175 PSI; provides enough power to operate more than one air tool or device at one time
Heavy duty industrial type motor protects the motor from voltage fluctuations so no magnetic starter is required
Equipped with integrated control panel for added control and convenience
Large capacity 80-Gallon ASME air receiver
Maximum pressure: 175 PSI; CFM at 175 PSI: 15.8; CFM at 100 PSI: 17.5; RHP: 5.2; voltage: 208-240

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Sent him a email to get his phone #. A cell. email is from a Marik Ural. What nationality is that? Supposedly ran it when he worked at an auto garage for 3yrs, got it as part of his wages. To expensive to put 220 in the garage, so he's looking for a 60 gal 110v stystem. Does this sound legitimate?

John D · 2K+ Club

Sounds plausible, but a few flags come up:
- No 220 means you can't hear it run
- "got it as a part of his wages" indicates to me the shop went under, couldn't make payroll, etc. and that would imply no funds for compressor maintenance...
- 3 years time on it while he was there, how long was it there before he was employed.

(just being devil's advocate here...)

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Those were some of my concerns. Along with an uncommon name like Ural. Lots of scams and stolen property out there.

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

While we are on the subject of compressors.. what type(s) of filtration and end of run pressure regulation is recommended on a hard plumbed system?

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

I have my compressor and blasting cabinet.. so now Im getting ready to finally hook everything up.. "plumbing".. Was all set to go with copper till I saw this.. It looks very simple and easy.. also does anyone have any recommendations for a solid durable retractable air hose reel?

http://www.rapidairproducts.com/pdfs/airnet_flyer.pdf

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

Its becoming increasingly difficult to post anything to this forum... a link to an air plumbing system and a youtube video of assembly gets sent into moderation?
I give up.

bowtie · Secretary

must be a setting that needs changing?