1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

[Bob W.]

I am looking to buy a compressor for my garage to run a small blast cabinet, should I be looking at a maximum pressure or CFMs? The blast cabinet requires 5 CFMs at 100 PSI. The compressor I am looking at is 4.7 CFMs at 90 PSI and has max pressure 125 PSI. Will this compressor work or should I be looking at other ones? (P.S. I have access to a large cabinet at another location)

[Paul J.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

I am looking to buy a compressor for my garage to run a small blast cabinet, should I be looking at a maximum pressure or CFMs? The blast cabinet requires 5 CFMs at 100 PSI. The compressor I am looking at is 4.7 CFMs at 90 PSI and has max pressure 125 PSI. Will this compressor work or should I be looking at other ones? (P.S. I have access to a large cabinet at another location)

Bob, I'm not an expert on compressors, but you want the compressor to have more CFM than the job requires, or it will not keep up and the pressure will drop. It will also work your compressor harder. Also, is this the only thing that you will ever use the compressor for? What about a media blaster (not in a cabinet), paint guns, air tools, etc. You can plan for these things by looking up air requirements for tools online, and planning for them accordingly. I would think that the last thing that you would want to do is to buy a new compressor and have to replace it in a year or two because it won't meet your needs. When I purchased my compressor, I bought one large enough to handle all of my future needs.

Paul

[Gary C.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

Bob,

5 HP 2 stage compressor with 80 gallon storage is adequate for most jobs. However, it will have to catch up periodically when bead blasting as it takes at least a 7.5 or 10 HP to provide enough volume for constant use.

Gary
....

[Jimmy G.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

Cast Iron Case not aluminum is preferred Hard to find also,

[Rich C.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

I bought a Coleman 5 h.p. 80 gal, 2 stage about 18 years ago. It has been awesome, no problems. Runs on a 240V 30 amp circuit. I've used it with my sand blaster, which yes every once in awhile it'll run to catch up, but for a hobbyist it's fine. Any bigger and you will be dimming the lights in your house every time it cycles on. Most important is a good water trap/filter!

1973 LS-4 454 coupe owned 24 years
1996 LS-4 CE coupe owned 6 months

[Joe R.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

Bob,

All of the above advise is incorporated into the Quincy line of compressors. Large tank, cast iron cylinder, dual stage, more than enough CFM, High pressure etc etc. Please do not buy from Harbor Freight as they will not support their products with spare parts if you need them. I have had my Quincy for thirty years with no trouble. It has pained a dozen Corvettes, sand blasted several frames and powers a glass bead cabinet. Check them out!

JR

[Gary C.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

Bob, please read this thread a tank water drain. Gary....

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?103604-compressor-blew-up-lost-leg&p=687488#post687488

[Kurt G.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

Do yourself a favor and buy the biggest you have room for. I had a 30 gal Campbell Hausfeld that did ok with a paint gun, but when I tried to blast with it I spent 3 times as much time waiting for pressure as I did squirting. I broke down and bought an Ingersoll Rand TS4N5 from Tractor Supply. 5HP dual stage, cast iron pump, 80 gal., 175 max. PSI. Now I can blast for hours and only stop to take out parts or tend to my physiological needs. Shoulda done it from the beginning.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

Second the Quincy suggestion, have had one for fifteen years with no maintenance other than oil changes, also have a Saylor Beall that has been running since 1988. Buy the most compressor you can afford. Look for the cfm rating listed at 175 psi, you may not need that much pressure but by using a pressure reducer you can create more reserve

[Gary C.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

Article written for the Texas Chapter Tailepipe Newsletter and photo of compressor installation with drain and filter. Compressor is a 1970's cast iron 2 stage Dresser. Gary....

PVC pipe, which I used in my other workshop is a big “No-No” to use for air compressor piping. Caution, do not use PVCAir Compressor Plumbing_022214.jpg

[Paul J.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

Bob, the IR compressor below has served me well. It's an older model SS5L5 and I bought it from Northern Tool. I chose IR because of the quality and the parts availability. They are also made not far from me. I also called and talked to them about my needs.

I took a long time to set up my lines and drops. PVC is the easiest and it can hurt you, as Gary said. You should never use it. My lines are Type L copper, with silver solder. It will withstand far more than the 135 psi my compressor puts out. You can use cast iron, but you need to thread it, it's very heavy, and it can rust inside. Aluminum lines are OK but it's sold in a kit with fittings that are plastic with an o-ring and I'm skeptical about their longevity. The kits are also expensive. Finally there is PEX and other cross-linked plastics. I don't know a lot about using this in an air line, but you have to have a special tool for the fittings (like cast iron) and you can't run a straight line with it.

The flexible coupling line from the compressor (first photo) to the fixed lines is a hydraulic tractor line from Agri Supply. All fittings and hangers came from Agri Supply, Tractor Supply, Ferguson, Lowes, and Home Depot. The lines all drain following the air flow to a downstream drain, and the filters/separators turn off the line before each drain (third photo). Once I start painting complete cars with this setup, I will ad better filtration. Flexibility is another advantage of my design.

Paul

IMG_0891.jpgIMG_0892.jpgIMG_0894.jpg

[Gary C.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

RapidAir 3/4" maxline tubing is the easiest way to do an air distribution system these days. Gary....

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/rapidair-34-maxline-master-kit-m7500-p-18860.aspx

[Bill H.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

Well, I'll go a bit against the grain here. I wanted a used Quincy or IR, searched for 6 months and gave up. I ended up with a Husky 3 horse, 60 gallon (10.2 @ 100) for $470 out the door. I'm running a Summit glass bead cabinet (like the free standing HF). The compressor keeps up nicely, I see no difference in blasting with mine vs friends big cabinet and a Quincy. 7 years on the compressor so far, zero problems (with proper maintenance).

[Randy R.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

You can usually purchase a smaller air nozzle for the media blaster that will work better with a smaller compressor. Type M copper with regular solder will work. IMO, silver solder is not necessary.

[Roger W.]

Re: 1st Time Compressor Buyer, NEED HELP!!!!

Paul, Is that 3/4" copper pipe that you used? Very nice system.