Garage Air Compressor

[GMike]

Finally wore out my Rand 3.3hp oil-less compressor after 25 years.

It did OK but looking to go up a step or 2.

Need to break lug nuts loose (which the Rand sometimes wouldn't), light/short sand blasting, etc. That would be the hardest I would work it.

Figuring I could afford the under $800 range.

Even if I could get a good brand name to look at would be a help.

Prefer made in USA, but? Sometimes you cant.

Thanks for any info,

Mike

 

[Grizzly]

I recently purchased a Home Depot Husky brand upright. It's a 2 HP, 115v, 30 gal tank, oil type. Oil type are much quieter than an oil less. This compressor will do anything I want it to do.

george

 

[DGamelin]

I dont know where you live but I have a new one for sale for 600. It is posted on creglist https://post.craigslist.org/manage/4856591300/8dsvh

 

[jhenderson]

I'd look at Tractor Supply. Either Ingersol or Porter Cable. Both are available in oiled, belt driven versions, around 60 gal and 150 psi. Either can be had for less than $600.

 

[Hoefler]

If it is in your budget, step up to a 2 stage with either a 60 or 80 gallon tank. You can find them in the $700 range and up. Lowes, Home Depot, and some other places have them on sale for $800-$900 range all the time. I can not run mine out of air fast enough that it can not keep up.

 

[hcole]

I dont know where you live but I have a new one for sale for 600. It is posted on creglist https://post.craigslist.org/manage/4856591300/8dsvh

That motor is a single phase. The giveaway is the 2 capacitors mounted on top of the motor.

 

[DGamelin]

I think it is also but people call and want to argue about it so I just tell them I don't know.

 

[mwilson]

I bought this one several years ago from Sears. I recall it was around $450.00.

Very happy with it. Makes all the air I need. I use my big 1/2" air gun a lot.

 

[GMike]

Grizzly....I am going back to the depot and Lowes and give them a real good look. What slowed me before was the 2HP verses the 3.3HP listed on my Rand. However my Rand has 90 PSI max and as I remember the depots was higher PSI with less HP.

The Rands SFCM is 40 PSI=10 and 90 PSI=3.7. Guess I will look at the SFCM rather than HP.

DGamelin...I am in Idaho, you are a Upper. We have been there and really like it.

jhenderson..Will check out Tractor Supply also. If they carry Ingersol-Rand it is worth a look as this old one lasted 25 trouble free years.

Hoefler...Will check on the 2 stage also. Might be more than I need, would love it but size is an issue also. Need 115V at 20 AMPS start. I am not familiar with "2 stage" but will check it out.

awilson... 150 PSI, gadzooks 7HP. Would be very nice but don't have 240V where it needs to go. Maybe I should checkSears also.

Thanks so much for all your replies. I have lots to look at now and Monday will be a busy day.

Sorry for the late response on my part but my comp was updated the other night and everything went haywire.

Thanks again to all

Mike

 

[Bob V]

Compressor HP really doesn't mean anything anymore. Look at the amp draw will tell you more about the power of the motor. The motors don't have a HP rating,they say "special"

 

[Bill Stockard]

I bought this one several years ago from Sears. I recall it was around $450.00.

Very happy with it. Makes all the air I need. I use my big 1/2" air gun a lot.

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I have owned a Craftsman 4-hp 240-volt twin cylinder air compressor for nearly 40 years. It's been completely trouble free with an occasional oil change and a cleaning of the air intake filter and is still running on the original multi-grove drive belt. It easily keeps up with my 1/2-inch drive impact wrench, and in the past, has run two nail guns during a building construction for weeks at the time. I have no idea what I paid for it new.

Bill

 

[Bob V]

Bill, that one is probably a true 4HP motor with belt driven cast iron lined compressor, both made in the USA. Almost everything now is made in China and the quality is NOT the same. There are still some good ones out there.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Another vote for two stage. I bought one about 2-3 years ago and now I kick myself for not buyin sooner.

 

[jgillott]

I have owned a Craftsman 4-hp 240-volt twin cylinder air compressor for nearly 40 years. It's been completely trouble free with an occasional oil change and a cleaning of the air intake filter and is still running on the original multi-grove drive belt. It easily keeps up with my 1/2-inch drive impact wrench, and in the past, has run two nail guns during a building construction for weeks at the time. I have no idea what I paid for it new.

Bill

I have a Craftsman that my father purchased in ~1980. Still going strong after all those years.

 

[rscurtis]

I would suggest an older used compressor if you really want quality. Three phase is better yet if you have it available. I have a 1967 John Wood 1HP vertical tank compressor with a real Westinghouse pump on it. In its first life, it ran 4-5 days per week all day for 9 years, and I expect it to last many more.

 

[crabman]

Buy a compressor that is bigger than you 'think' you will need & you will never regret it.

 

[mwilson]

Buy a compressor that is bigger than you 'think' you will need & you will never regret it.

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What he says X2........

 

[mrgreystone]

Hi all, new to the forum. I'm looking for for a new air compressor, mainly to power impact wrenches and ratches. But it has to run off of 110 volts because I don't have 220 in the garage and my breaker box in the house is all tapped out. Yes, I realize I could spend more money and find a way to get 220 to the garage. But that's not going to happen.

I've explored the SCFM ranges of all the compressors in the 20 to 30 gallon range (Dewalt, Porter Cable, etc), and many have great ratings and are advertised as being able to run an impact. But I'm worried that rating is only for lug nuts and other easy stuff. I'd like something that will buzz off an axle nut or even a crack pulley if necessary.

Another limitation is price. I'd love to spend no more than $600, so try to keep that in mind when making suggestions.

 

[jhenderson]

Pressure is pressure. If it makes 120 psi or more your gun doesn’t care. Tank size and cfm at pressure matter much more. You can do with a little less cfm at rated pressure with a larger tank. Recovery is what cfm at higher pressure is all about. Most list cfm at 90 psi. If possible an oil filled compressor is more desirable than an oil less model because the compressor itself will last longer.

 

[mrgreystone]

If possible an oil filled compressor is more desirable than an oil less model because the compressor itself will last longer.

Yes. I understant it, thank you.