Help a noob pick out first air compressor.

[trouper]

I have decided that my next tool is an air compressor. Problem is that I don't know much about them. I would only be an occasional user and see using it for nailers, filling tires, and impact wrench working on the car (that bolt that you just can't loosen). I doubt I can see myself doing any spray paitning with it. I have to buy one from Amazon.com as I have saved up credit there. I want to stay around $250 or so.

Looking through the site there seem to be 2 ways to go. Firstly there are Dewalt and Makita "hot dog" 4 gallon oil compressors in that price range. It's nice they are portable looking, but when i see how much they weigh, they really aren't that portable. The other option I see is 20 - 30 gallon reconditioned Campbell Haussfeld compressors (the no oil type) for about $200 or so. They aren't always there, but they do pop up every week or so. They seem more powerful but I question life span of no oil. While not portable I could hook on a 100 foot hose or so and just leave the unit in the garage.

Does anyone have any recomendations for me? There really isn't much information I can find on air compressors compared to table saws and such.

[Warren]

For what it's worth my Porter Cable pancake (oil less) has been going five years now without a problem. It's only operated two or three hours a week on average. I only drive nails with it, probably not more than a couple of dozen a week. My only complaint is the noise. I understand that oil less are noisier than the others.

I'd love a bigger capacity unit to paint with but haven't the room for an enclosed finishing area.

[just4funsies]

The best advice I can give is to base your decisions on what type of tools you'll be using today AND TOMORROW. Many types of tools require a surprising amount of air volume (measured in CFM's), and many compressors just don't have enough grunt to deliver the goods. Look up the CFM requirements for tools you might want in your arsenal, and go from there. Keep in mind what power supply you have available (if you're talking about an electric compressor) and what space and/or transport limitations you may have. Then get the biggest one you can deal with, because NOBODY ever complains that their compressor is too much dog for the fight. The reverse cannot be said.

[cwsmith]

Trouper,

Oil-less compressors (at least those for the consumer market), are usually high-speed, small displacement units made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. They are generally rather noisey (75-90 dB), and have a lifespan of somewhere around 1,000 operating hours. These include most, if not all, of the so-called "pancake" compressors and both vertical and horizontal wheeled-tank units up to 33 gallons or so, which sell from $150 to $350. C-H, Craftsman, Huskey, Cobalt, and Coleman are probably the most popular names.

Cast iron or aluminum w/ cast-iron cylinder liners are usually the materials used in "lubricated compressors. These are a bit larger in displacement (usually), run at fewer RPMs, and employ splash-type lubrication (oil-in-crankcase). These lubricated units usually have lifespans of 3,000 to 4,000 operating hours and often cost $400 and up... with the better branded/consturcted units closer to $700 and more. Top brands are probably Ingersoll-Rand and Campbell-Hausfeld.

As far as application, that is the key to buying a compressor; you really need to know what your particular tool application is going to require, both in operating pressure (psi) and in volume (scfm). Short action tools like nailers, staplers, and impact wrenches usually require higher pressure and minimum volume, while more continuous operating tools like spray painting will require less pressure at much higher volume.

Probably the best, and easiest, thing I can point you to, is pick up a Craftsman catalog and take a look at their compressor section. They have a nice chart which provides a list of applications and the recommendations of particular models. Be aware that many tool catalogs don't give you a lot of information about what a particular air tool requires or, for that matter, what a particular model of air compressor will proide. Home Depot's Husky line is a good example of that... their $300 models performance is almost a secret. Both tools and compressors should list their specs with two numbers: "scfm @ 40 psi" and "scfm @ 90 psi" These are the two critical numbers to useful tool performance. The tools should tell you their required pressure (psi) and the volume (scfm) that will be required for them to perform. HP or running HP isn't as important as scfm@ psi specs.

Regarding the tank size, well that's your operating reserve. There you have to make the decision of stationary vs portability. Wheels are helpful, but long hoses work better.

I hope this helps,

CWS

[Deadhead]

Regarding the portability, I really like being able to put my 6 gal. PC pancake in the truck and take it wherever I need to. Right now I don't have the room for a large stationary right now, so I bought the PC combo. I will most likely get a larger one eventually, but for now, I'm doing everything I needed to do with the small one.

[trouper]

Well here are some of the ones I am looking at, maybe someone can comment on suitability:

DEWALT D55153 Heavy-Duty 1.1 HP Continuous 4 Gallon Electric Hand Carry Compressor
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=228013

Factory Reconditioned Campbell Hausfeld WL66080RRB 32 Gallon Vertical Air Compressor
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=228013
It's in stock every few weeks

Makita MAC2400 2.5 HP TwinStack Air Compresso
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=228013

Dewalt claims to be able to do 4.5 CFM at 100 PSI, that would be enough to run an impact wrench if true.

[MBG]

If you don't have any nailers yet I would recommend this one. It is plenty big for my framing nailer too. I bought this for portability but probably use it more than my 20 gal. compressor due to cycle time to initially fill.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...68066?n=228013

[WEG]

Hi Trouper;
I owned that Campbell Hausfeld "oilless" rebuilt compressor. At first it seemed fine, a bit loud, but bearable. It then suffered a broken connecting rod which I replaced. It then suffered another broken connecting rod which I again replaced and found the support bearing for the compressor flywheel/motor shaft support was "walking" out of place which caused the connecting rod to contact the flywheel (I think I remembe this right) and break. I secured the bearing and then the motor overheated and burned out. That was it for me with this thing and "oilless" compressors. Too hot, too noisy...
I bought a cheapo $149 Harbor Freight 8 gallon model on sale for $98 and tied it to my old tank. So far, only a few months, so good.
A lot of words to tell you I wouldn't get an oilless especially a Campbell Hausfeld, Sears, Husky, or Harbor Freight. I think they are all made by the same folks. Maybe the Porter Cable, Makita, or Ingersol Rand might have better quality/performance, I don't know.
I agree get the biggest you can afford, oiled, belt driven (quieter), can usually get a pretty good one for around $450?? My $.02. Hope this helps you out.
I figure my next one will be a 220v 60 gallon high output unit that I can plumb all over the shop and garage. I can hardly wait for this cheapo HF to give up the ghost.
WEG

[Greg.B]

This is the one that I have an love it. It can be found on the internet for around $230.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=228013

[just4funsies]

I have a Campbell-Hausfield 7.5-hp 220-v oiler unit with horizontal tank and wheels. It's a monster, and not very portable, but it fits well under a standard bench, and I've got it plumbed through the walls and ceiling to various points in the shop. It's big enough to run any tool I've encountered, and multiple smaller tools at once. It's also LOUD, but I can deal with that.

[scorrpio]

Check out latest (May 2006) Fine Homebuilding. They got a real nice feature on compressors there.