Air Compressor??

[wolfpack]

Hey guys I have a general question about an air compressor? At walmart they have a Campbell Hausfeld 5 horse air compressor for about 197 is this a good compressor you can run a air sander with, and use impact wrenches and stuff don't know much just wanted some input on it any help would be greatly appreciated...Thanks Terry

[jor]

I have a Sears 5hp, 150 psi but it isn't big enough for some jobs. You can run an impact wrench but it won't push an air sander properly and it certainly will not run a sand blaster. If you need to do either, I'd get a larger one.
jor

[FORDification]

It depends on what you're going to use the compressor for. Read this thread for some good info on air compressor selection:

http://fordification.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=592

[wolfpack]

thanks for the infor keith really appreciate it...Terry

[FORDification]

Another thing I thought I'd mention is that many people incorrectly think that a bigger tank (or adding a second tank) gives you a lot more volume to run your tools...but that is just plain wrong! I know some people will have a hard time accepting this, but it's a fact! A bigger tank WILL NOT help your compressor keep up with a tool that is using more air than the pump is producing. The purpose of the tank is to control the on-off cycle rate and it is impossible for the tank to make a compressor produce more air. The common misconception here is that the tool will be running on stored air, but that can't help because the avaliable stored air volume will be used in a VERY short time (usually a matter of seconds) when using somthing like a DA sander with a 10 CFM pump and a 60 gallon tank compared with a 30 gallon, then you'll have to wait longer for the tank to recharge, so you gain nothing. The bigger tank/volume myth is probably the biggest misunderstanding about compressors and is pushed by a lot of air compressor manufacturers, because the customer can see that big tank but they can't see CFM, which is what runs your tools and is what really counts. In the end, the laws of physics ALWAYS win, there is just no way around it!

Just food for thought....

[Comet]

Another thing I thought I'd mention is that many people incorrectly think that a bigger tank (or adding a second tank) gives you a lot more volume to run your tools...but that is just plain wrong!

Keith, I know this is just semantics here, but a bigger tank will in fact give you more volume. That is exactly what a larger tank is...more volume. It does nothing for your recovery rate, however, which is your point on the compressor motor.

[FORDification]

yeah, I guess I worded that a little funny. A larger (or second) tank DOES give you more volume initially, but it will also cause the compressor to run for much longer periods of time, exceeding the factory-recommended duty cycle, which in turn could likely burn up the compressor. I just wanted to make sure that people understood that adding a larger/second tank wasn't a fix for a small compressor.

[wolfpack]

ok thanks guys i have a lady in town that her husband passed away about almost a year ago and she said she has an older compressor that is belt driven i'm thinking it might be an older two stage compressor if so what is it worth? thanks Terry.

[ttyR2]

Another thing to think about is that electric motor HP ratings are HORRIBLY inaccurate. Manufacturers quote all sorts of useless ratings. The little compressor I have has a 5HP SPL rating, SPL being special, whatever the hell that is.

If you're going to run any sort of big impact wrench (3/4 drive and up) or a decent sized sandblaster, you really need something in a true 5+ HP compressor, 17CFM or better. And that's the minimum rating. Quincy makes very good units, onpar or better than Ingersol Rand, and way ahead of Campbell Hausfeld and the like at Home Depot.

If I remember correctly, real 5HP motors usually draw over 20A or so at 220VAC. So, if you have a 5HP motor rated at 12A, you know it's not putting out anywhere near 5HP. Someone more up on electrical specs can correct my numbers.

[Yellow72mavrick]

I have a DevilBiss 6.5 horse 80 gal 2 stage 175 psi unit in my garage. It does anything I need done

[zakt]

I have a Lowes 80gal 2stage 175psi iron force compressor 220V... and it is all I need especially with the die grinder going. I had a 20% off coupon for that so $800 something instead of $1100..

[mrung0wa]

What! 325psi!

Brother you are a madman!

My Craftsman professional has a 175psi blow-off valve.

I guess at 325psi you could snap off lug nuts witha 1/4" ratchet!


Lawrence

[Leadfoot]

Ya, if didn't blow the tool up first!
Mostly I was worried about the tank. I like using a big one off the old school bus fleet, they are big. I thinking it's like a big bomb sitting behind the cab.
I really don't know the rating on a old rusty propane tank, My bets it's low.

[mrung0wa]

Mine is a 60 gal. tank and I drain it about every 3 or 4 days so that the condensation doesn't turn into Sludge and Rust. I have 3 Water Filters/Regulators at each of the farthest ends of my plumbed 1/2" PVC lines, plus a ball valve at the bottom of the tank for quick drainage.

It's actually not too shabby a set up for My Home "Garage-Ma-Hall".


Lawrence

[spartman]

How would that york setup work as a shop compressor?

Does anybody know what the duty cycle on one would be?