air compressor time to drop some knowledge on me please

[blazinzuk]

My head is going to explode, been looking at compressors.

Best bang for the buck is what i am after, 1000 would be pushing it. 1200 would mean some sacrifices i might be able to make.

My compressor is having issues and it is way to small for what i need

 

[imiceman44]

My head is going to explode, been looking at compressors.

Best bang for the buck is what i am after, 1000 would be pushing it. 1200 would mean some sacrifices i might be able to make.

My compressor is having issues and it is way to small for what i need

Did you try craigslist or any local classifieds?
I got my $2000 compressor for $250 with a vertical band saw.
SANBORN dual stage 220v 60 gal upright.

 

[blazinzuk]

Yep and will continue to do so

Seems like they are either so cheap they get sold immediately or almost the price of new.

My area is not as large as others so not as much to choose from either

I missed a sanborn yesterday

 

[blazinzuk]

Okay I know the basic rule is get as big as you can afford.

Well in my price range there are a whole lot of compressors.

So what is the best spec to buy off of. SCFM@ a certain PSI. I know higher is better here. But I have seen 3 hp 60 gallons compressors with higher numbers than a 5 hp 60 gallon. There are even a couple that have higher numbers than a 5 hp 80 gallon.

I want at least a 60 gallon tank. That seems to be reasonable in my price range. But I can get a 5 hp 80 gallon 155 psi max for a very similar price as a 5 hp 60 gallon 175 psi max compressor. Who wins that one?

I have never had a large air compressor and the only real experience I have with large ones were 15 hp and above with 150 gallon or larger tanks, all 3 phase.

Whats the best spec to look at. I assume more gallons will mean the compressor will kick on less in intermittent use. Am I wrong.

Getting tired of looking at stuff cause my eyes get big fast and before you know it I am drooling over stuff that is way out of my price range trying to figure out what I can sell or do without to buy said compressor

 

[blazinzuk]

Currently what I am looking at.

This seems to be the best combo of price cfm reputation, etc.

http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/BelAire-216V-Air-Compressor/p4839.html

 

[76zimmer]

Eric, I just went through this, and for a unit that will see a considerable amount of continual use, like body tools, or painting, sand blasting, a two stage is more desireable.
A single stage unit will work its tail off trying to maintain 100# or more, where a two stage compress's it in one stage then compress's it again for the higher pressure.
Of course that means heat, so for air tools, you should have a water separator at the tank and at the point of use. Painting and airtools take two different types of air...airtools would be good to have an oiler in line, and of course paint supply air should have a water/filter combo, and absolutely no shared air lines with anything to do with oil. I use different hoses only for painting, no air tools allowed.

check here....post 7:

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=262091

 

[cybrfire]

CFM is everything as far as i'm concerned. More CFM is more ability to do work.

Generally everything else goes up with higher CFM's. More horsepower, larger tanks etc. Only thing that doesn't is PSI which doesn't really matter as much. Most air tools are rated for 90 psi which is why you always see a CFM rating at that psi. Beyond 90 psi, the only thing more pressure does is charge the storage tank with a higher pressure before shutting off the compressor.

The compressor you linked has a 15.33 cfm at 90 psi. To me that is a little on the low side even for a garage/shop. Not to hard to find a tool that uses 13 CFM at 90 psi. which leaves you very little CFM for tank recovery. With that scenario, once the compressor kicks on, it will run for a long time. Real world, you'll probably be using your tools at a higher pressure. Some of them anyway. Take that one annoying air leak into consideration that you haven't fixed yet and now the air compressor just can't get it done.