Air Compressor Advice

[Chief Brody]

"Ya'll know me...know how I earn a livin'...I'll catch this bird for ya'...but it ain't gonna be easy"...Capt. Quint 1975

Anyway...I am about to pull the trigger on an air compressor and would like more opinions...
I know I am a noob and consider myself a noob working under the advice and borrowed supervision as such experts as Ryoken...obviously I am doing a driveway restoration and in most instances a normal compressor would work...but I find myself occasionally needing to do something more advanced and requiring more cfm....

I have done my research....and here are some options currently available:

Economy:$399 HF single stage 60 gallon Air delivery: 12.8 CFM @ 90 PSI
http://www.harborfreight.com/35-hp-60-gallon-130-psi-compressor-3848.html?hftref=cj

Mid: $850 Ingersoll Rand Model# SS5L5 — 5 HP, 18.1 CFM @ 90 PSI
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_211720_211720

High: CFM @ 90 PSI:15.9$1375 Quincy 5-HP 60-Gallon Two-Stage 15.9 cfm @ 90 PSI
http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Quincy-2V41C60VC-Air-Compressor/p855.html

The Quincy is listed as a "commercial" grade compressor.

The Ingersol Rand has great reviews

The HF...ehhh

 

[89GMCK5]

We use Quincy's at work, and I have experience with my prior employer as well, over the last 5 years at least. Very reliable and well built compressors in an industrial setting. I have not used any thing from them as small as what you have listed above, but their larger units are solid. I had a decent little Porter Cable in the garage before someone stole it. Now I'm rocking the no name little "yard sale" $20 rig.

I think either of the I/R or Quincy will do great for a driveway build, or a small shop setting for that matter. Just make sure you keep the maintenance up on it, keep the air dry, and use synthetic compressor oil in them as required by the mfg., and you should be fine.

As far as HF, I love the place. Just not for me on a purchase this big $$$.

 

[jt512]

I'll agree with the above, I consider HF stuff as "throw aways", a compressor is not something I would put into that category, an extra set of sockets or screw drivers , sure , but a compressor , no.
With that being said, Quincy is supposed to be top notch, I have not owned one, but have friends that do and swear by them. I have owned some older IR compressors, and they were good solid units.
I vote option 3 or 2

 

[ryoken]

as much as I love the 2 stage high pressures of my Quint-cy, i would say a middle of the road single would be more than fine for ya...

the only things that you may need to wait a bit on here and there are blasting and longboarding.. it'll run any other tool full bore...

and if your COMFORTABLE with that HF brand, it is 1/2 the freakin price...

 

[Chief Brody]

and if your COMFORTABLE with that HF brand, it is 1/2 the freakin price...

I don't know how to define comfortable here...I have read that the safety valves don't work sometimes and that there is welding slag in the tanks and maybe worse of all that they are loud enough to wake the dead...

I am leaning towards the Ingersol Rand...there's one thing I haven't mentioned here is "resale value"...If I find I no longer need a large compressor after I complete the project, I am betting I could get half the price back on the IR or Quincy, but not a chance on the HF...

 

[Chief Brody]

While on this subject, what can I do to prepare for the compressor...what gague wire could I go ahead and run from the breaker box and over the garage and down inside the wall?

Also, does anybody know what it required? Does it have to be in a pipe or do they make Romex that big...I know squat about electricity...

 

[Chief Brody]

Also, I read a nice long article on compressors today and the guy said that "CFM is everything"...tank size means nothing, your focus should be on getting the best CFM for the money without regard for the tank size...
Is that true?

 

[4X4HIGH]

Also, I read a nice long article on compressors today and the guy said that "CFM is everything"...tank size means nothing, your focus should be on getting the best CFM for the money without regard for the tank size...
Is that true?

The quick answer is yes and no. CFM is the amount of air that the compressor makes per minute and the larger that number is the happier you'll be when you start using tools that require larger quantities of CFM. Tank size, well if the tank isn't big enough then the compressor will be running alot more than if it had a larger tank. So if you buy a compressor with a small tank the motor/pump will be working harder than if you buy a compressor with a larger tank.

 

[ryoken]

as Scott mentioned, it's a combo thing.... the tank acts as a buffer.....

 

[Chief Brody]

I found a used CAMAIR TS-10 dessicant dryer system for about $50

Is this worth getting if I can put a rebuild on it?

 

[Confedneck]

IR. If you watch Northern, at times they get the factory refurbs for like 6bills...

 

[British Slave]

While on this subject, what can I do to prepare for the compressor...what gague wire could I go ahead and run from the breaker box and over the garage and down inside the wall?

Also, does anybody know what it required? Does it have to be in a pipe or do they make Romex that big...I know squat about electricity...

You need to know the current draw of the compressor. Find that out, then the distance the wire run will be, then you can look it up or ask again. They make Romax big enough, but it depends on your local electric code. Single wires will have to be in conduit.

 

[British Slave]

Another option for a compressor. Home Depot has a two stage on sale, for $1250,

 

[ryoken]

I paid 1200 shipped to my door for my 2 stage Quincy... think its 1300 now....

i can definitely recommend going with northern... painless... aircompressorsdirect and northern had it for the same price, so i went with northern.. big established company, we've used em for work for yrs.... free shipping, and i ended up getting free liftgate service..