Air Compressor?????

[johnnymac46]

I am shopping for an air compressor, however I need something fairly small in size(60Gal). I could do a 90Gal but that is space I need. Its going in my ONE car garage, which also houses my 68 Camaro.

I dont want to spend my unborn childrens college funds on it. I would like to keep the price around or below 1000


I have been looking around on Northern tool, Homedepot, and other similar places. Im not sure on what CFM I will need for most Air tools.

Anything recommendations come to mind?

Just to show you what im working with here......

there is a couple inches i can use behind the car for the compressor

[JamesJ]

Do you have any of your air tools yet? The CFM they use will/should be listed...

I would just get something like this. It can run anything you need and with just you using it then 33 gallon is plenty of reserve.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&blockType=G24

[ProdigyCustoms]

You want a 5hp unit and are looking for at least 14 CFM at 90PSI. Even that will not keep up with a air grinder, but will be close. 20+ CFM would be great but your looking for something beigger then a house unit then or a screw compressor $$$$$$$$$$$

[elitecustombody]

Eaton compressors are the best bang for the $$, they have different versions,best part is they run at low RPM's ,which means long life and very low noise

[johnnymac46]

can anyone tell me what the difference between single phase, 2 phase and 3 phase is? and what the different stages mean?

[johnnymac46]

I am thinking something like this:
http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catal...747/172993.htm

I will be using grinders, sanders, air hammers, and doing some painting probably only primer and smaller things like firewall and Jams and leave the body to the for the Pros

[brans72]

Trust me it is all about cmf and psi! I have a 5 hp IR 60 gallon one with like 15 cfm at 90 psi and it laughs at some of my air tools and I buy top notch since they make my living! Spend little extra on compressor! I plan on leaving mine when I sell my house and get bigger/better next time. You can pay them now or pay twice later!!!!

[ProdigyCustoms]

Yeah, 15 CFM will piss off a air grinder. I ran my shop for years on a Home Depot special 80 gallon / 5 HP / 19CFM with me and 2 guys. I could do everything but sandblast and even then I could for 20 minutes or so before I had to let the compressor catch up.

Inly thing I see if I would think for space savings you will want a vertical.

As for phases, that refers to different types of power supply. Houses have single phase power, most businesses have single phase, some have 3 phase.

Dual stages means the pump makes pressure on both strokes

[johnnymac46]

I think with the horizontal i can put it under my work bench i built in the front of the garage, next to where my welder will be. I just need to get back from this desert.....only 2 more weeks though

[Tuske427]

I highly recommend a 2 stage air compressor. It's more efficient in air pumping/ energy and typically a lot quieter. your ears and neighbors will thank you. You can read more info here (or do your own searches, too):

http://www.ehow.com/about_5103936_tw...ompressor.html

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4913962...sor-works.html

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home...icient/1275131

I'd also recommend (as mentioned already) getting the best one your budget will allow. Larger tanks hold more air/ volume at the same psi so you'll get more use out of your tools before refilling. As you shop look if it comes down to a couple of choices I'd also consider the one that runs at a lower rpm to make the same air psi/ volume (typically means a more efficient compressor pump) as well as less noise, power usage, etc. I'd also consider the brand. name brand/ major retailer will likely have a better warranty, easier to get parts or service replacement, etc..

Understood about your space issues, but if you get a vertical tank you can put it in the corner and plumb some pvc or copper piping throughout your garage to make multiple air fittings. Then you don't need to lug your compressor out every time you wish to use it. Just turn it on, plug in and go. They also have a smaller foot print so they should consume less space.

I started out with one of those single stage 33 gallon 6 hp sears craftsman units. It was loud, vibrated when running (would literally move around and not stay still) and could only temporarily run an air grinder. It really wasn't powerful enough to handle my current firebird project. I recently stepped up to a home depot 80 gallon 220 volt (single phase) 2 stage compressor. It's powerful enough to run my sand blaster cabinet and air tools all day long. I hope it's the last air compressor I will have to buy.

The single phase (not stage) has to do with how it is wired up/ 220 volt circuitry.

I hope this helps.