help me choose my new compressor

[blazin_blazer]

ok, santa told me to pick out my new air compressor. i have it narrowed down to 3 different ones. they are all $799 each & i honestly am not sure which would be the best compressor for me. they each have their pros & any will out perform my 33gal craftsman oilless. i will post the links to each & list what seems to shine thru on each 1. if your reading this, take the time to look at these & tell me which 1 you would buy & why.


http://www.tractorsupply.com/tools/...hp-60-gal-single-stage-air-compressor-3301332

ok this 1 is at tsc & has a 60 gal tank & 18.1 cfm @ 90 psi ...it also states 100% continuous duty Single Stage all cast iron pump. max psi=135..2 year limited warranty...5 hp & its an I/R

http://www.lowes.com/pd_292655-1126..._prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_quantity_sold|1

at lowe's-80 gallon tank & 16 CFM @ 90 PSI w/140 max PSI ...cast iron four cylinder pump, i believe its also single stage... 3 year limited warranty... 5 hp & its a C/H

http://www.lowes.com/pd_221580-1498...gId=-1&storeId=10151&ddkey=http:SearchCatalog

also lowes- 80 gal tank & 14.0 SCFM @ 90 PSI...155 max PSI... three cylinder single stage pump..3 yr warranty...4.7 hp it is a kobalt.

both lowes & tsc is local. i really would like to hear your opinion.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Either of the first two would be my choice. The more SCFM @ 90psi the better it will be for running tools that use lots of air like die grinders, orbital sanders or bead blasters. The first one puts out more but only a 60 gallon tank and the second one puts out a little less but has an 80 gallon tank. The larger tank size will mean that the compressor doesn't have to run as often. Figure out what kind of tools you'll use on a regular basis then make your decision based on that. If I were buying one though I would buy the one with the 80 gallon tank as my compressor is mounted in the corner of my garage and gets noisy when it's running so for me I would rather have less operating time to keep the noise to a minimum.

 

[runamok151]

i'd go w/ the first one from tsc. yeah, a little smaller tank, but your getting nearly 30% greater flow rate.

 

[CGT80]

My next compressor will be an IR. I would choose the IR in your case, but I think a higher pressure rating would be better.

The IR on the same web site for $999 is only rated at 15 or so cfm but has an 80 gallon tank and a pressure of like 175. I have two used 5 hp 60 gal compressors right now, that only fill up to 125. When running a die grinder or sandblaster non stop the pressure sits at 80-90psi. If I let it fill back up to 90-100 the tools work better.

A compressor rated at 175 should turn back on at 135 or so and hopefully keep you at a higher working pressure. I haven't used that size of a compressor, so I can't guarantee that it would be that much better.

Either way if IR compressors are anything like their composite air tools, they will be some of the best out there, especially for the money.

 

[rjfguitar]

What are you trying to run? 18 cfm is a lot of air for a home garage.

You can do a lot with something in the 10-12cfm when combined with a large tank. Running 3/8 and 1/2" impacts, air ratchets, moderate die grinding, plasma cutter, no problem. It's the big tank capacity that is your biggest asset. You can run some pretty big air tools for a short run when you have a large tank.

I went with the critter in the picture for my garage. It was only $425 too.

 

[4X4HIGH]

What are you trying to run? 18 cfm is a lot of air for a home garage.

You can do a lot with something in the 10-12cfm when combined with a large tank. Running 3/8 and 1/2" impacts, air ratchets, moderate die grinding, plasma cutter, no problem. It's the big tank capacity that is your biggest asset. You can run some pretty big air tools for a short run when you have a large tank.

I went with the critter in the picture for my garage. It was only $425 too.

That is the same compressor I bought. It came from Home Depot and is actually a Campbell Hausfeld if you look at the stamped name plate.

Yes this compressor serves my needs in a home garage. That is why I suggested he go with the one that has more tank and a little less CFM.

 

[Blue85]

Just based on those specs, I like the 1st one. High CFM and rated for 100%. You can always slave in a 2nd tank later if you need more capacity.

The way I look at run time, it's mostly about the pump size. Sure a bigger tank will let it run less often, but it will be pumping a lot longer, especially if the pump is smaller. For any given job, the total time the pump runs is just the amount of air you use. You start and stop with a full tank. The bigger tank is an asset when your tool(s) is drawing more air than the pump can supply. Also, a higher pressure switch will increase the run time a lot. The higher the tank pressure, the less efficient the pump. If you've ever used a 150psi single stage, they seem to run forever.

IMO, the noise rating of a compressor is very important unless you have a remote place to install it. I didn't see that considered here.

But these are all better than what I have, so I'm no expert...

 

[onetonbb74]

I have that same Home Depot 60 gal. Ive had it for 8 years now, and it needs a pressure shut off switch, which is a pita to find for some reason. Been a great compressor though, I run 1/2 50' air line to a manifold that feeds 3 3/8 50' hoses in my garage. It does get noisy, and I originally had it mounted in an old water heater house on my sideyard so I didn't have to hear it, but that was a few houses ago.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I have that same Home Depot 60 gal. Ive had it for 8 years now, and it needs a pressure shut off switch, which is a pita to find for some reason. Been a great compressor though, I run 1/2 50' air line to a manifold that feeds 3 3/8 50' hoses in my garage. It does get noisy, and I originally had it mounted in an old water heater house on my sideyard so I didn't have to hear it, but that was a few houses ago.

You haven't looked too hard then. Grainger sells the pressure switch as does most hardware stores and IIRC you can get one for under $20.00.

 

[blazin_blazer]

i now have another good 60 gal horizontal tank thats behind my shop & plumbed in thru the wall w/my 33gal craftsman.(93 gal reserve) it helped out alot. but since volume isn't in question now, i'll go w/the best compressor per dollar. the 1st link, the ir went up $50, the middle link isn't available, & the last 1 went down $50. i have been toying w/getting that 18cfm @ 90psi ir. its max press is only 135psi. the last 1 is 155psi max but its only 11cfm @ 90psi. i havent bought 1 yet & i've been watching them closely.

these 2 sorta confuse me a little, but 1 of these will find its way into myshop.
1= 18.1 cfm @ 90psi w/135 psi max. w/60 gal for $849 total of 120gal tank

2nd= 15.8 cfm @ 90psi w/175 psi max. w/80gal for $999 total 140gal tank

so i can lose 2cfm @ 90 psi & gain 40 psi more max. or would i be better off w/40 psi less max & 2 more cfm @ 90? i've set a $1000 limit & have narrowed it to these 2..it will see d/a & media blast use. so is cfm or max psi more important?

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tools/...hp-60-gal-single-stage-air-compressor-3301332

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tools/...80-gallon-2-stage-air-compressor-5-hp-3496129

 

[rjfguitar]

I'm no expert, but I think it depends on what it is you plan to do. For one, 15.8cfm is a decent amount of air anyway. If I planned to do a lot of media blasting or sanding, I think I would want max cfm flow because you aren't going to be able to hold 175PSI, besides the fact that you probably don't want that much pressure anyway with blasting.

For running guns, that higher pressure can be nice at times because most guns gain a lot of power from high pressure. You can also fill tires faster too.