Air Compressors - CLOSED

[Ah Pook]

It's time to upgrade the air compressor. I just need more volume.[Coffee]

Mostly been doing online research. Are there any stores with a decent selection?

Wish list;
Looking to keep it under $450.
60gal
Above 10cfm@90psi
+ max 125psi
Oil Lub.Here are a couple that look interesting.

1st choice, so far.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202636579/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

http://www.harborfreight.com/35-hp-60-gallon-130-psi-compressor-3848.html

Thanks :D

[Mtn.man]

Man I am really pissed at Harbor Freight. Everthing besides a pair of gloves or a throw away screwdriver is JUNK.

Metal shear, junk
1/2 drill, junk
3 ton Aluminum jack, junk
etc
I wouldn't by anything with a motor or moving parts

Home Depot probably made in China as well.
Some good deals on made in USA older stuff on Craigs.

[Busta Prima]

I've even had bad gloves from Harbor Freight . . . . consider anything you buy there temporary and disposable.

I bought a Husky upright 30 gallon from Home Depot and so far it's been great. They have one that looks just like your first link but it's a Husky brand. I'm sure they're mostly made in China anyway but unless you want to spend closer to a grand (or perhaps a lot more), I'd go with the Husky.

The important features are twin cylinders, oil bath with pistons, cast iron head and filtered air intake. Other than that it's not a real high tech device . . . just make sure you drain the condensation often. Compressing air makes it HOT and even in our dry climate, condensation will form every time.

If you do want a high quality one, another forum I'm on had a lengthy and informative discussion about all types of compressors and I learned a lot there but again, for the budget you stated, I really don't think you can go wrong with the Husky or that one you found from Home Depot (if it has those 4 features I mentioned above).

[Marlin]

Check and see if they are the same thing under different brands.

Then more or less the same things that MM and Busta said.

Personally, I'd trust HD a little more than HF.

[Bailey Guns]

I have a really nice US-made compressor but it was almost 3 times your budget.

For the money, I've had good luck with the Campbell Hausfeld compressors. I think they're mostly Chinese import machines which sucks. But I've had a couple of the smaller ones and they always worked...really loud, though.

[rondog]

Yeah, I wouldn't even consider HF for something like this. I reckon a lot of it depends on what you intend to use it for and how hard you intend to work it. Lots of body work, painting, bead blasting, sandblasting, etc., you'll be better off spending the big bucks for something that'll hold up under hard use. Typical shade tree mechanic stuff, you could get by with something less.

But just like a DeWalt tool from a professional tool supply is a far different animal than a similar DeWalt tool from Home Depot, I'd assume the same for compressors. They may look the same externally except for the prices, but pro stuff is usually far different internally than the stuff made for us unwashed consumers, like metal gears vs. plastic gears, bearings vs. bushings, etc. Pros that use their tools daily and use 'em hard know the higher price is cheap insurance.

Kinda like guns, I reckon.

FWIW, I found this one on Craigslist for $150. It's a cheapo, not a pro model, but does what I need it to do. My beadblaster will get it huffin' and puffin', but it does fine no more than I use it. I was lucky and called dibs on it as soon as I saw the ad and hauled ass there to put down a deposit. The seller said the phone rang constantly after I called, but I was first. He sadly realized he'd priced it way too cheap.

Oh, FWIW, I've read that if you intend to plumb your shop with steel air lines, if you use the large 1" pipe that will increase the volume of your air system by a lot. Essentially the large pipe is like adding another storage tank. So I've read anyway.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/compressor/Dcp_0051.jpg

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Dont do Harbor Freight!! My heating / boiler system works on air! Pretty sweet design. I up graded to Sears up right tank compressor and I can run the heating system, Bust lugnuts, run my air tools and no problems! [Beer]

[sniper7]

my dad has a large craftsman upright. not the professional but, just the red one.

it does great for everything air tools, pumping tires, blowing out stuff with great pressure, blowing out sprinklers etc.

[Ah Pook]

Thanks for all the replies. Good info!

Yes, the HF unit was close to the specs I need but I keep reminding myself that it's HF. Looks like Husky and Campbell Hausfeld are the same unit.

I have a Craftsman 25gal the does just about everything. It can even bust nuts with a 1/2" impact, I'm looking at a body swap, on the truck, this summer. This compressor is just too small. Looking at something that can handle soda/media blasting. Plumbing the garage is also in the cards.

CL was some help. Saw a Seeman pig with double motors. <insert Tim the Tool Man roar>. Nice unit but bigger than the space I have. Also saw a 7hp/60gal Huskey. I think I know the seller.

If I was making my living with tools, I'd definitely be buying better quality.

Rondog, nice welder in the background. Those are fun. [Coffee]

Thanks again.

[espAmerica]

I looked long and hard for a higher quality but affordable compressor. I went with the Lowes Kobalt brand. I have the 30 gallon version of the this one

Kobalt 3.7 HP 60 Gallon (http://www.lowes.com/pd_54284-1126-VT6362_4294795218_4294937087_?productId=3370356&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_quantity _sold|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Air%2BCompressors_4294795218_4294 937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_prod uct_quantity_sold|1)

[smchop]

I would just keep an eye out for a nice used 2 stage compressor on craigslist, especially if you are gonna try blasting with it. Avoid HF, like everyone else has already mentioned on an item like this. Ingersol Rand, campell hausfield, etc.

[Tweety Bird]

Well, I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that I have that HF compressor (or one very similar) and it's been serving me well for 8 or 9 years. Granted, I don't use it every day but I've had absolutely zero trouble with it since the day I brought it home.

[Byte Stryke]

Well, I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that I have that HF compressor (or one very similar) and it's been serving me well for 8 or 9 years. Granted, I don't use it every day but I've had absolutely zero trouble with it since the day I brought it home.

about 10 years ago HF was putting out some OK Stuff.

in 2011 however...

[Marlin]

Well, I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that I have that HF compressor (or one very similar) and it's been serving me well for 8 or 9 years. Granted, I don't use it every day but I've had absolutely zero trouble with it since the day I brought it home.

I'm not saying all of it is junk,. Heck, I have a few things from there that I have had for years.


about 10 years ago HF was putting out some OK Stuff.

in 2011 however...

This, A few years back, needed a knockout set capable of making 3" holes in the top of gear. They went and got one from HF. Broke the cup on the first hole, and screwed up the pump, so it was almost useless.

They took it back and got a new one that kind of worked.

So, I still go with the hit or miss with most of the stuff they sell.

[gnihcraes]

Get one that is two stage, and CAST IRON. I have a portercable from Tool King, and it is the same model they sold as Sears Brand, it works good, but after a year or two, it needed some head gaskets and the head bolts wouldn't tighten because of the aluminum.

Cast IRON!

Check Tool King down here in Lakewood, good selection of porter cable, dewalt and a couple others I believe.

[earplug]

Consider checking some of the local auctions and military auctions for good used compressors.

[Ah Pook]

Check Tool King down here in Lakewood, good selection of porter cable, dewalt and a couple others I believe.
I forgot about Tool King. Thanks.

I get regular emails from some auction houses. I just don't have time to go to the auctions.