Gas Powered Air Compressor for Home Use?

[rbattelle]

I've been thinking a lot about air compressors lately. I'm torn between wanting one with enormous capacity, the need for an affordable unit, and the electrical requirements associated with a large electric compressor.



Today it dawned on me that maybe a gas powered compressor would be a good choice. It conveniently solves the problem of needing a very high-current electrical source for a large electric compressor, and offers portability as well (I do some work at friends' homes where the ability to bring my own compressed air would be handy).



This is the model I'm looking at.



How loud are these types of compressor relative to an equivalent electric compressor? Would something like this be too annoying or cumbersome for regular home use in a garage (assuming I pipe the exhaust fumes out)? If the gas engine is loud, are aftermarket mufflers available that quiet them down significantly? Am I crazy for thinking something like this would be a good option?



-Ryan

 

[Koa Man]

I have both types, my 5. 5hp Honda gas compressor is pretty loud, like a lawn mower and putting on a bigger muffler does not help, I tried. My electric compressor is also pretty loud when running, but when the tank is fully pressurized, it is silent. The gas compressor will drop down to idle, but it is still noisy. I generally do not run my gas compressor at home. 100 ft. of air hose will get to anything I need to around my house. My electric compressor has a 60 gal. tank.

 

[KSommer]

i would get electric, your friends have electricity at thier houses, right? you could always save up for a generator if you feel you need it.

kent

 

[BTighe]

you can get an electric one the same size for alot less. my uncle had one and it was quieter than my emglow/dewalt 4 gal. what are you air requirements (cfm)?

 

[Dieselnut59]

Even better

We have diesel powered units made by Champion on our service trucks. They work GREAT! They use the 10. 5 horse Yanmar air cooled engine, which is electric start, with its own charging system. They come with either a built in fuel tank, or an electric transfer pump. We have the transfer pump type because we draw out of our truck's fuel tank (Dodge/Cummins, of course, see sig!). They have a 30 gallon tank and a made in USA 2-stage pump. We have been running the Champion units for several years and have had NO problems at all. The engines use very little fuel, crank easily, even with the rope back-up starter, and are no more noisy overall than the gas versions by Ingresol, etc. On the other hand, I have a 5 horse 3-phase electric T-30 Ingresol 80 gallon upright compressor in my shop which is very quiet and efficient. You could run a single phase version of it with a current draw similar to a large well pump, electric clothes dryer, electric water heater, range or welder (about 40 amps). Great thing about a diesel unit is it is portable.

 

[fkovalski]

A while back I recall a conversion kit for air cooled VW motors where 1/2 of the horizontally opposed engine was converted to be a compressor run by the other side. Old VDub engines are not as common as they used to be, and do not know the availability of the compressor conversions- tried doing a search, but could not find anything. Just a thought.

 

[MMiller]

I used to run a service truck that had a gas powered air compressor. Talk about a pain. Noisy, even at idle they made noise, and even with larger mufflers they were too noisy. Another thing to remember is how are you going to get it to set still? Mine was bolted down to the truck with rubber mounts, and it would vibrate the truck enough to slowly shake tools off the back of the truck. I'd run the compressor, then when I was done with it for a few minutes, I'd shut it down. The truck was diesel powered, and then I had to carry a gas can too.



My new service truck has a pto driven compressor that us mucho better, even with the cat engine straight piped, its much more easier on my ears then the kohler power compressor.



Unless you are planning on needing air out in the middle of no where, get an electric one. They are at least quiet when not running.



Michael

 

[Nate]

Yeah I don't a gas powered compressor for your garage to be very practicle. Get a decent sized electric one.

 

[rbattelle]

My real problem is I don't know what I want, except that I want a horizontal tank, magnetic starter (for electric), and disc valves. Eaton's 60-gallon horizonal is precisely what I want. Part of me says "that's too large for right now, get something smaller". Okay, so if I'm going to get something small I might as well get a portable unit. That means 120v, oil-less pump, low capacity, and loads of noise.



I had hoped that maybe a gas powered portable unit might be quiet enough to be tolerable in the garage. I didn't even consider the vibration issues. You guys have definitely set me straight.



If I'm going to get something small, portable, and 120v, I'd like one that offers at least 14 CFM at 90psi and is nice and quiet (cast iron oiled pump). Such a beast doesn't seem to exist.



On edit: this one seems to exactly fit my specs (for now)... don't know why I didn't see it before.



-Ryan

 

[MMiller]

On edit: this one seems to exactly fit my specs (for now)... don't know why I didn't see it before.



-Ryan

Holy smokes!! I'll have to go check what mine is, but I think 18 cfm is a bunch ain't it? Especially for a portable unit. That ought to do anything you need it to. I added an extra 30-40 gallons of air volume to my compressor and it really doesn't work any better. Just takes longer to kick on and then longer to kick off. Tank size anymore doesn't mean as much to me.



Thanks for the link, did you see you can get just the pump for $199? I have to go a look to see what my motor make for power now, might need to upgrade.



Michael

 

[Nate]

That is not very cheap!



My Dad has a Campbell Hausfeld in teh garage. 2 cylinder, 60 gal tank. I think it's good for 16cfm. Was around $400-500 I believe.

 

[rbattelle]

That is not very cheap!



My Dad has a Campbell Hausfeld in teh garage. 2 cylinder, 60 gal tank. I think it's good for 16cfm. Was around $400-500 I believe.

True, but Eaton's compressors are industrial-duty.



-Ryan

 

[Nate]

Yeah but do you really need an industrial duty compressor? If it's just for weekend projects in the garage, some like this will be perfect: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000189GJM/103-5995394-9589457?v=glance&n=228013



And I have no idea what Amazon.com (bookstore) is selling Air Compressors



My Dad has in in the upstairs of the garage and you can barely hear it running.

 

[GWest]

VW Bug air compresser

A while back I recall a conversion kit for air cooled VW motors where 1/2 of the horizontally opposed engine was converted to be a compressor run by the other side. Old VDub engines are not as common as they used to be, and do not know the availability of the compressor conversions- tried doing a search, but could not find anything. Just a thought.

The company is called "Dunn-Right Inc. " there email is -- email address removed --

tel# 1-864-296-9316 They work super!

 

[rubberneck]

The company is called "Dunn-Right Inc. " there email is -- email address removed --

tel# 1-864-296-9316 They work super!

There was a company called volksair at one time, i wonder if it is the same company?

 

[rbattelle]

Yeah but do you really need an industrial duty compressor?

"Need" is pretty subjective. I learned a long time ago that there's no point (for me, anyway) in buying anything other than absolute top-of-the-line in stuff like this. If I finances weren't an issue I'd have a 25hp 240 gallon 3-phase unit with 89 cfm at 175 psi. Why? I LOVE never worrying about having "enough capacity". That's why my commuter vehicle is a 1-ton Cummins!



-Ryan

 

[Nate]

To each their own!



I'm not one to buy cheap Harbor Frieght junk, but there is a limit to how good quality I will go. Like a Snap On wrench set for $500 or the same set from Craftsman for $90. hmmm.



If your running a shop I could see where a industrial compressor would be a good idea. But just a garage compressor to fill tires, run the impact gun once in a while, etc. it's just not practical IMO. Even that 60 gallon I posted is a bit overkill.

 

[Grizzly]

I have three compressors. My favorite is a twin tank, 6 gal, DeWalt, oil type. It is a lot quieter then a non-oil type and it is portable enough that I can pick it up and put it in my truck. It will run up to two nailers and do anything you want it to.