Compressors

[GregWeld]

Okay -- here's the only way to MATE your compressor with your job requirements...


Go find your air tools you plan to use..... they will be "rated" with a minimum CFM (cubic foot per minute) at a specified PSI....


So if your die grinder needs 3 cfm at 90 psi..... then to buy a compressor with anything less than capable than that -- you'll be waiting for the SOB to make pressure --- and the thing will be running continuously.


My commercial Champion 5 hp with an 80 gal vertical tank will produce about 19 cfm at 125psi --- and will keep up with my hand tools... but anything much less would be a complete PITA.

[bdahlg68]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Okay -- here's the only way to MATE your compressor with your job requirements...


Go find your air tools you plan to use..... they will be "rated" with a minimum CFM (cubic foot per minute) at a specified PSI....


So if your die grinder needs 3 cfm at 90 psi..... then to buy a compressor with anything less than capable than that -- you'll be waiting for the SOB to make pressure --- and the thing will be running continuously.


My commercial Champion 5 hp with an 80 gal vertical tank will produce about 19 cfm at 125psi --- and will keep up with my hand tools... but anything much less would be a complete PITA.

Yeah, I've looked at that. Highest consumption right now is 5-5.5 CFM @ 90 PSI. Thinking the 7.1 @ 90 is enough especially with 60 gal.

[Fluid Power]

Guys, I own a Fluid Power distribution company and deal with air systems for a living. Like Sieg said, speed $1500 and buy an industrial grade compressor and then forget about it for the rest of your life. Atlas Copco makes really nice compressors (we do not sell them) with 5hp Baldor industrial grade motors. These motors are about twice the size of the motors seen on the big box stores compressors (and the link) and are true rated motors. The Copco that we test all our equipment on is super quite and will push 19cfm at 125 psi as well. It is a 5hp model. We paid $1600 for it. Look around at some auto body supply shops, fluid power distributors etc. or an industrial compressor dealer. Ask them questions.

Darren

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

My commercial Champion 5 hp with an 80 gal vertical tank will produce about 19 cfm at 125psi --- and will keep up with my hand tools... but anything much less would be a complete PITA.

Originally Posted by bdahlg68

Yeah, I've looked at that. Highest consumption right now is 5-5.5 CFM @ 90 PSI. Thinking the 7.1 @ 90 is enough especially with 60 gal.

I think you missed Greg's key point........subconcious attempt to favor your budget?

[GregWeld]

I'm a firm believer in buying good tools -- particularly the type that you'll buy ONCE and use forever... I consider these "investments". A good compressor is worth every dime you spend on it every time you use it -- and will be worth as much as you paid for it - 15 years from now.

It's like buying a Snap-On wrench -- you only buy it ONE TIME and use it 'til you die. I'm thinkin' that's a pretty good buy.

[bdahlg68]

Greg - agreed. I don't want to buy twice. But, I also don't want to buy more than what I need. I'm willing to buy a good product and pay for it. I'm not willing to buy a $5,000 compressor that spits out huge CFM as that doesn't appear to be what I need. I haven't seen a tool that I would use that requires over about 6 CFM at 90 PSI. Most of those also won't run 100% of the time so as to not run into duty cycle problems.

Any experience with Quincy compressors? Seems I can step up CFM without stepping up noise or cost. 12.4 CFM and 50% duty cycle seems like it would cover my needs.....

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...9713_200479713

[GregWeld]

The Quincy compressor specs are FAR better than the original version you asked about -- and Quincy is a good brand name.

It's still "not enough" compressor -- but will work... and the price is certainly cheap. I will stick by my guns though and say -- for large items like this -- it pays (in the long run) to buy a REAL version you can grow with. But I also understand people have budgets to live with too.

I bought a lift from EAGLE -- that I thought "was good enough".... and was about 1/3rd less than the Rotary Lift I really wanted. 6 years later I gave the Eagle lift away for less than half what it cost... and bought the Rotary. Saved a bunch of dough on that deal....

[Fluid Power]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

The Quincy compressor specs are FAR better than the original version you asked about -- and Quincy is a good brand name.

It's still "not enough" compressor -- but will work... and the price is certainly cheap. I will stick by my guns though and say -- for large items like this -- it pays (in the long run) to buy a REAL version you can grow with. But I also understand people have budgets to live with too.

I bought a lift from EAGLE -- that I thought "was good enough".... and was about 1/3rd less than the Rotary Lift I really wanted. 6 years later I gave the Eagle lift away for less than half what it cost... and bought the Rotary. Saved a bunch of dough on that deal....

EXACTLY. Nothing short of an industrial compressor is satisfactory. Nothing from the big box DIY stores or northern tool etc. Call somebody that deals in compressors.

Here is who we use:

http://www.aircompressors.com/produc...tlas-copco/kt/

Buy a KT5V80. Shouldn't be more than $1500.00. Whisper quite. Last the rest of your life. I went thru 2 Craftsman compressors before this.

Buy it once.

Darren