Good compressor?

[GO 4LO]

I'm looking to buy a compressor for home use in my detached garage. 240V hookup.



From my reading through the archives, I understand that I need to look at a unit with a 2-stage compressor and a 60-gal or larger tank. Looking to spend under $1k or so. A friend told me that U. S. General stuff is pretty good for the price and that they use rebadged Ingersoll Rand parts. Is this true? What do you think of the compressor below?



http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93274



To be honest, I'm a little afraid of buying big ticket items like this through Harbor Freight...



Any better deals out there? Thanks.



Chris

 

[rbattelle]

To be honest, I'm a little afraid of buying big ticket items like this through Harbor Freight...

Me too. It's been my experience with HF stuff that it "works", but there always seems to be several "catches" with them. Like they work okay, but not great, and you usually end up making excuses to yourself why you need to live with the flaws since you paid so little.



Here's the one I'd like to buy some day: Eaton Compressor



And here's a few other threads on the subject:

Small compressor

Compressors

Compressor



Not sure about General using rebadged IR parts, but to be honest it wouldn't surprise me. I believe most of IR's cheaper lines are Chinese imports.



One interesting idea you might consider if you've got the time and patience: rebuilding an old unit. The old ones seem to be super heavy-duty, and often US-made. [Note: lately I'm a little obsessed with old machinery, so my judgement in this area might be a little clouded! ]

Nice looking IR

Another nice IR

Never heard of Alemite, but it's got a Westinghouse plate on it!



I know some of those are 3-phase, but compressors are pretty easy to convert to 1-phase by swapping motors.



Anyway, there's some things to think about.



On edit: this was so cool I had to post it.



Ryan

 

[MSchweigert]

You need to check out Campbell Hausfeld they have been in the air compressor and air tool business for more than a few years. They build a very reliable product that will set you back less than $1000 and give you many years of dependable service.



http://www.everyaircompressor.com/Air-Compressors-C25385.html

 

[sdstriper]

Eaton get's my vote. There are several rebadged generic versions out there for cheap and the Eaton is not that much more to get real quality.

 

[sangell]

A couple of things to look at is motor RPM and pump RPM. The HF, Home Depot, CH, etc is going to be 3450 rpm motor stuff. The slower the motor RPMs and pump RPMs the longer the unit will last and also the lower the RPMs the less noise the unit makes. The Eatons are nice units as are Quincys. Spend a couple hundred more dollars and get a Eaton.



Scott

 

[cojhl2]

A couple of things to look at is motor RPM and pump RPM. The HF, Home Depot, CH, etc is going to be 3450 rpm motor stuff. The slower the motor RPMs and pump RPMs the longer the unit will last and also the lower the RPMs the less noise the unit makes. The Eatons are nice units as are Quincys. Spend a couple hundred more dollars and get a Eaton.



Scott

That was one of the most important criteria I looked for a few years back when I purchased my compressor.



But,, re Harbor Freight. It depends on the risk of a breakdosn vs cost. For most of us we are hobby shadetree mechanics so if something happens where we miss a day or so due to breakdown that is a different story than with those who make a living depending on the product.



For my part, I don't hesitate to buy Harbor freight stuff in miost cases.



For what I pay it serves the purpose.

 

[Dieselnut59]

We have had good service out of our three Champion and one Ingrosoll truck mounted compressors. I have a nice 80 gallon Ingrosoll in my home shop that I bought used. It has a 5 horse 3-phase motor and the same "T-30" pump as our truck mounted Ingrosoll. It is very quiet and a nice commercial compressor. I gave $900 for it (used). Stay away from the discount compressors. A good compressor willl last you a lifetime. You should look around for a good used one. You might get lucky like I did and find a true commercial compressor for a good value.

 

[Philip]

If this compressor is going into the same area you are working. You want it as quite as possible. So look at motor RPM. If the drive motor is 3600 RPM then the compressor is going to be around 2400 RPM. This will be a loud compressor if your in the same room.



A lot of the cheaper brands use the same compressors. They just spin them faster to get a higher CFM rating. They don't care about how long of life it has.



I have a IR T30 air compressor. It has a baldor industerial motor that turns 1400 RPM. The compressor is around 775 RPM. I can work with it in the same room. The compressor is all cast iron. Not cast iron sleves in a alumin bore and block. The valves are screwed in. Not reed valves that are held in by small screws.



You get what you pay for in compressors. I would look at Ingersol Rand,Champion,Gardner Denver,Sul Air. (I am not sure if the last 2 still make piston compressors any more).



Someone above mentioned Camble Hausfield. When your look at them ask if you can get replacement parts. Most places that sell them do not sell parts. Sear is about the only one that does. Sears branded compressors used to be CH. I am not sure about now.

 

[GO 4LO]

Thanks for the help, everybody. I'll have to look into these options some more. That Eaton in particular looks interesting - I just need to figure out a way to justify the extra expense to myself .



Chris

 

[mberry]

Thanks for the help, everybody. I'll have to look into these options some more. That Eaton in particular looks interesting - I just need to figure out a way to justify the extra expense to myself .



Chris

I tell my wife that if I spend more money now and get the quality tool/item I need, then I don't have to buy the same thing, but cheap knockoff, two or three more times. Gets her every time. I have been trying to get her to stay away from those $0. 99 stores and wasting "our" money too.

 

[BJMarshall]

When I bought the last large one, 35hp Champion, I got a good deal on a rebuilt one. If you can stop by a local shop that does air compressor work they may have something inexpensive.

 

[MFalkinham]

One interesting idea you might consider if you've got the time and patience: rebuilding an old unit. The old ones seem to be super heavy-duty, and often US-made. [Note: lately I'm a little obsessed with old machinery, so my judgement in this area might be a little clouded! ] Ryan

As usual, Ryan has provided sage advice. You may not even have to rebuild one. It's not hard to find an older industrial-type compressor at auctions or at companies that are going out of business. I found mine at a motorcycle repair business that was closing it's doors. It's old and I don't know what brand it is, but it's got the biggest cast iron pump and flywheel (3 belts) that I've ever seen on a 220V single-phase compressor. With the horizontal tank it probably weighs close to 1,000 pounds, so moving it wasn't easy, but now that it's in place I doubt that I'll ever have to service it other than oil changes and belts. I've also got an older Westinghouse unit that needs to be rebuilt someday when I have "free time".