Craftsman Compressor?

[Shelby Griggs]

I have never owned a compressor but am thinking of treating myself. This would just be used for house stuff, working on my vehicles, running a pneumatic orbital for polishing the vehicles, etc.



I notice Sears has a sale right now and was looking at buying the model #16732 (2 hp vertical with a 33 gal tank, oil free pump).



The reviews at Sears are mostly decent BUT the noise and tripping breakers seems to be a reoccurring theme.



On sale now you also get 'free' $100 worth of air tools which don't sound to be high quality from the reviews, but they are FREE. The price on the package is $290 which seems reasonable.



Are Sears compressors reliable?



Good deal or not?



SHG

 

[Nate]

They are ok, but loud.

The tools are pretty much junk. Shoot just a decent impact gun is closer to $200 haha

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Thanks for the commets.



How loud is loud? I expect a compressor to be loud, do I need hearing protection, LOL?



I don't expect much from the tools, but hey, if I can spin a few lug nuts, etc. then I guess it is a start since I own zero air tools. Maybe the hose is OK, LOL?



SHG

 

[GOlsen]

I have had that compressor that you're talking about for a few years now, and I haven't had any problems with it. The only times that I tripped a breaker are when I had the comp. and a pretty big heater plugged into the same circuit. As far as how loud it is, I don't think hearing protection is necessary, but it is hard to talk over while it's running. Also, you should follow the break-in instructions to the letter. A buddy of mine rushed his (I think it says to let it run with the drain open for 15 min) and his doesn't quite put out the cfm it says it will. (I don't know why). Overall, I'm very happy with mine, I've even used it to paint cars with. Hope this helps your decision.

 

[InfernoB]

I sold a horizontal version to someone, and he mounted it in a wood frame on a wall. I was amazed at how quite it became. When on the ground, it tends to make some noise, and I needed to block it from moving.



Worked great when I needed it.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Nate, Shoot me an e-mail

Nate,



Can you shoot me an e-mail at -- email address removed --?



I will be on base next week, and then again for probably a week or better in June.



SHG

 

[Matt400]

I bought one in 1984 and it still works well, I only use it at home.

Can't say if the new ones are as reliable but based on my experience I would buy another one.

 

[Nate]

It's loud enough that you have to yell over it. If your just using it once in a while, it's bearable.



From what you wrote, it sounds like this would be a decent compressor for you.

 

[Philip]

That oil less model does not have piston rings. It uses one round leather ring. The beaing on the rod end is a 6203 sealed bearing. There are no provisions to grease it. That bearing can be had at any good parts store. It is a very common bearing.



Check the CFM of that air polisher your looking at.



On any compressor purchase it is all ways better to buy the biggest compressor you can afford. The more you use an air compressor and get used to working with one. The more air tools your going to collect for bigger jobs. Buying to small of a compressor leads to buying a bigger one in a few short years.



I wore out a 5 hp sears 80 gallon tank in about 5 years in my garage.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Thanks for the comments.



The random orbital uses about 8 CFM, which is only slightly less than the compressor is rated for. It seems that most specs jump from around 8 CFM up to around 15 CFM with nothing in between. I don't really have space or the $ for twice the compressor, so was hoping that it really could put out the rated amount.



I am total ignorant on the oil free compressors, but you mentioned a leather ring. what keeps the leather from wearing out in short order?



SHG

 

[TFlory]

I bought the same setup 2 mos ago and have used the compressor and tools every weekend.

Good buy for the shadetree mechanic/do-it-yourselfer.

TIM

 

[y-knot]

For the type of use you are talking about, which so happens to be the same as 80% of all air compressor users, that air compressor or any in the Craftsmen line up will work just fine.

 

[sdstriper]

If you can find someone that has them you really need to hear the difference. I would not have an oil free, when they kick on my heart nearly jumps out my throat. The oil free is cheap to manufacture, there is nothing that makes them superior to a conventional in a garage/shop application, for a portable compressor like used in construction etc it is the portability that makes them desirable. As far as reliable goes, I have several conventional air compressed striping machines that have hundreds and thousands of hours on them with one oil change per year, and that's only confirmed for as long as I have had them. One machine I have is nearly as old as I am, 30 years old, that is reliable. If it's a price driven purchase I would say buy a used conventional, maybe some air tools a little further up the scale too. The belt driven conventionals are not that much more, the black ones at Sears. And like Philip said, consumption should be considered, google an air tool consumption chart.

 

[Philip]

Watch the CFM rateings. A lot of the smaller compressors use 40 PSI for the CFM rateing. The larger ones use 125 PSI or 175.



I dought if that compressor is good for 8 CFM at 125 PSI. My old 5 HP sears was only rated for 10 CFM.



The leather ring it uses actualy holds up very good. I had a friend that was given one of those compressors a while back. The bearing had gone bad. After I removed the two races I went down to a parts store and found the bearing size. We installed the new bearing cranked it up and all was good.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

The CFM is 8. 6 @ 40 PSI and 6. 4 @ 90 PSI.



The pneumatic orbital I was looking at requires 8 CFM @ 40 PSI.



This is about the biggest compressor I see at sears that is vertical (I need a small footprint) and will run on 110.



I looked at the professional series too, but they are all oil less pumps too unless you go bigger and hard wire 220 to them, I could do all that, but I don't think that kind of compressor is needed for my use.



If I could find a vertical oil pump machine that runs on 110 and puts out maybe 10 CFM or better I would maybe get it, but that doesn't look to be at Sears.



SHG

 

[sdstriper]

I think you better look at that rating again. Make sure that CFM rating is not the "displacement" rating, you need the "free air" rating at pressure. It is a common "marketing scheme" for air compressor companies to advertise units using the displacement CFM, same thing with advertised HP, "peak horsepower" is a BS advertising hook. For 110V, it takes about 9-11 amps per HP to make an actual HP. Peak HP is the startup HP a motor will see for a split second.



All that said, there are other compressors with the foot print your looking for. Try TSC, I was just in there today and they had 2 or 3 different brands in that size and style.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Here is the spec. I suspect they probably are stretching the truth, but the numbers look OK here? I appreciate the warning, BUT I bought the darn thing tonight, I need to pick it up tomorrow, so I could still get my money back.



TSC is probably Tractor Supply Company, none of those around here, in fact in the town I live in, Sears is probably my only choice, although COSTCO, Wal*Mart, etc. are within 45 minutes of here, not sure they have much selection either.



http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product. do?cat=Compressors+%26+Air+Tools&pid=00916732000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Air+Compressors+%26+Inflators&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

 

[Grizzly]

If you can find someone that has them you really need to hear the difference. I would not have an oil free, when they kick on my heart nearly jumps out my throat. The oil free is cheap to manufacture, there is nothing that makes them superior to a conventional in a garage/shop application, for a portable compressor like used in construction etc it is the portability that makes them desirable. As far as reliable goes, I have several conventional air compressed striping machines that have hundreds and thousands of hours on them with one oil change per year, and that's only confirmed for as long as I have had them. One machine I have is nearly as old as I am, 30 years old, that is reliable. If it's a price driven purchase I would say buy a used conventional, maybe some air tools a little further up the scale too. The belt driven conventionals are not that much more, the black ones at Sears. And like Philip said, consumption should be considered, google an air tool consumption chart.

I totally agree with sdstriper. I wouldn't have the oilless either. They are much too load and only last about half as long. I have a large oil type in my shop and a DeWalt, twin tank, oil type, portable with wheels. I have never had an oilless, but I have been around them and for my money, they are not worth it.

 

[kelly4463]

The wife got me a sears compressor for xmas a few years back 5. 5 hp 25 gal tank it works great !!

 

[Rattler]

I bought my dad one like that about two years ago. Sure am glad i bought the extended warranty. It didn't last a year. THey sent it back and was told it was unrepairable, so they gave me another one. It has lasted a little better, but my dad only uses it to air up tires and such. In comparison, they bought me a 1 horse oil type with a 15 gallon tank when i was 18. That thing has been to hell and back, and 30 years of hard service. The only thing that has ever gone wrong is the tank rusted threw because my brother never drained the tank( he borrowed it for about 10 years)I repaired the tank and gave it to my 19 year old son. It will probably last another 30 years. RandyOo.