Advise on air tools/compressor??

[AxtellZ]

Hi all!

Well, it's been over a month my babies have been hibernating, so i'm getting anxious to tinker. I've decided i want to replace all of the front bushings of my 260 with polyurethane. As i think about it, it seems time to purchase an air compressor as well as air tools to simplify the job (work smarter, not harder...).

Question is, i'd like to get going on a low budget, but i need opinions about the compressor in particular. What sort of minimums as far as pressure, volume, etc.etc.

Of course i'd love an eight hundred plus dollar permanent unit, but, it won't happen- so can i get away with a $119 2 gallon pancake, or what? I'd hate to waste $ on junk, but if i could make use of hundred dollar WalMart special, i'd have more Z-Bucks to spend!

Any opinions will be greatly appreciated! How about air tools? Anything in particular i need? Is Harbor Freight etc as good a place as any to buy them?

Thanks for any help, Jeremiah

..damn i miss driving fun cars during the winter!!

[2ManyZs]

Northern Tool or Harbor Freight will have most anything you need. They normally carry name brand tools like IR (Ingersoll Rand) or CP (Chicago Pneumatic) as well as a "generic" brand. I've got a bunch of CP tools and have never had a problem with them. I'd go for the mid-priced stuff, just to make sure you get your monies worth.

I'd get at least a 3/8 in air wrench, either a butterfly one or the ratchet style, and a decent air chisel for doing those bushings....One of the mini die-grinders can be helpful if you don't already have a Dremel tool. If you want to really splurge, be sure to get a 1/2 inch impact too, of course if you plan on any body work there is always sanders........

As far as compressors go, I would try to get one with at least a 10-20 gallon tank. The more tank capacity you have, the less the compressor will have to run to keep up with the air tools if you use them a lot. FWIW, Sears has a roll around model with a 33 gallon tank for 300 bucks. I'd stay away form the pancake type as they are more for using with nail guns where you only use a little bit of air at a time, not constantly like you would with an air sander or grinder....

I'm looking at the Northern Catalog right now, they have Coleman Powermate compressors for about $250-$350 for 15-33 gallon tank sizes....better to get something a little bigger than what you really want, I'm on my second compressor and wish mine was bigger.......Runs constantly when using the blasting cabinet and drives me nuts with all the noise.:stupid:

[AxtellZ]

Ya know, everytime i think i can get out cheap......

So, does anyone vote yea or nay for the Blue (campbell hausfield, i think)?? Seems most popular in my vicinity at mass mechandiser, home centers & hardware stores. Is that because its cheap junk, or has a bigger profit margin, or just heavily promoted? In all honesty, mine will see light duty until my kids are older & i work less. Then i can upgrade to really nice stuff! Thanks!

[2ManyZs]

Blue will work as well as red....

Nope, tools ain't cheap, but they sure do make work more "likeable"....

If the CH has at least a 10 gallon tank on it, it will work, it will just have to work a little harder. Make sure it flows at least 4cfm at 90 psi, or your larger air tools will not have the power they are designed to have.

Course if you "flew" south like most Yanks, I might make you a deal on mine..... :cross-eye

[metalmate]

I would recommend getting at least a 30 tank. Also get a compressor with the largest cfm rating as you can afford. While air pressure is one thing, the volume of air flowing to you tools is very important. Sears, for example, has number rating on their compressors, 1, 2,3,4 etc;

Air tools will give the about of air flow and pressure needed to operate properly. In short, plan ahead as much as possible. You'll never be sorry you got too MUCH air but, you'll darn sure be sorry if you get too little.

[kmack]

The Campbell Hausfeld brand will do fine. Basically a compressor is a compressor. I would worry only about the tank size.

I have a Crapsman w/ an 11 gallon tank. It works fine w/ the 1/2" impact, does ok spraying paint, and absolutely sucks while running the die-grinder! Those little air-powered grinders use a lot of volume of air and anything smaller than a 20 gallon tank won't keep up. I can drain my 11 gallon tank faster than the compressor can fill it. All that does is generate a lot of heat, lots of moisture, and burns up the motor.

Btw, have you been following the thread on the email list about moisture in compressors that mperdue started? Look for a decent water trap also.

[2ManyZs]

If anyone else is going to ask "Santa" for a compressor for Christmas, here's a pretty good start on a decent set-up. Not the biggest you can get, but for the occasional use it would be perfect.....

http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summary/productsummary.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0204663428.1040330303@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccfeadchdfhemlgcehgcemgdffmdflh.0&vertical=TOOL&fromAuto=YES&bidsite=&pid=00916554000

[phi22b@ck]

I would strongly recommend the upright tank models. I have an upright 30 gallon and you can move it much like the horizontal if you need to.

I have a really small (and occupied) 1 car garage and needed the upright tank for footprint. All of my friends who have the horizontals have told me if they had it to do over they woudl get the upright for the reduced footprint.

Make sure if you do get one of the big ones you have 240 in your garage already -- otherwise you will end up running an extension cord from the dryer -- I have to do that with the welder and it never makes the wife happy b/c that is always when she needed to do laundry...

My $.02...

p

[owenk]

I have recently done some research on air tools and water knockout setups. From what I have gathered so far is that the discount air tools are ok for home use if you keep them oiled and clean. The basic difference in discount to pro is that the pro versions have tighter tolerances which result in higher efficiency due to less air loss.

Regarding the water nock out, I add an air tool out fit recommend that I run the setup shown in the diagram around my garage door. It can be made out of copper or steel pipe. I was planning to have increase in diameter at the compressor side so that the pressure drop would help drop out the moisture.

Also if you make this out of copper never leave your compressor on 24hrs because if there is a fire the joints would open and you would have a blow torch!

[2ManyZs]

So Jeremiah, what did Santa bring you? Wasn't like this one was it?

[beandip]

I agree with 2manyzs , I have a top quality compresser that works really great , but only with nailers. The smaller compressers that you see on construction sites, no good for air tools , the compressers are fine only not enough storage. I run out of air with the die grinder right away. The compresser will put out 4+cfm at 125 psi but with out the stroage it cannot keep up. I think that Harbor Fright would be fine for home use. I was a contracter thats why I bought the one I have. Does any one know where I can buy a 30gal air tank that I can connect to my compresser????

[AxtellZ]

Well, unfortunately i didn't think of this until too close to Christmas, so i got nothing in the way of compressor or tools:cry: But i do have a very nice set of Carhart Arctic Wear, so i can work & hunt outside without freezing to death.

Next plan, early birthday (april), or perhaps a Valentine's giftROFL I've shopped around alot, and found the best deals are Sears & Penneys, between their sales & discount deals, they are as cheap as anywhere!

As far as just a tank, i think Northern Tool & Supply sells them.

Zya all, Thanks again for the help.

I plan on a 30 gallon upright when the time comes:cheeky: