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Air Compressor buying help

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Old 05-11-2008, 01:33 AM
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Default Air Compressor buying help

Was looking at this one, its on sale for 335 right now. I would like a 60 gallon but cant justify the $600 for it


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92504
Old 05-11-2008, 02:33 AM
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If you can't afford that one a good twin stage is out for sure
Old 05-11-2008, 03:04 AM
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Yea I've been shopping, there are some hi dollar ones out there for sure. I need to be able to run my sandblaster more efficiently. My 12 gallon 30 year old Sears unit cant hack it..
Old 05-11-2008, 03:18 AM
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You really need a twin stage for that
Old 05-11-2008, 03:39 AM
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Just looked at some pricesOUCH!can't afford those..lol
the aluminum doesnt need a whole lof of pressure to blast it clean but the sustained pressure and volume is what I need ... maybe in the future I can step up to a better one...lol one step at a time for now.. all the money is into the car
Old 05-11-2008, 11:14 AM
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My compressor won't help you than.
I have a Sears 30 gal 150 psi 6HP, I have sprayed clearcoat with it before and it worked good.
Old 05-11-2008, 01:13 PM
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That's a pretty good deal. Some of the tools from HF are actually pretty good for the price, as we use some at work in a very heavy duty enviroment. I have been looking at their compressors for a while also. Mine is WWII era, lol, and needs a new electric motor and is currently filled with a small pancake compressor, not good.
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Old 05-11-2008, 03:16 PM
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Let me tell you from experience, for air tools like a grinder and a sand blaster you need a decent compressor. You need volume (60-80 gallon). You also need a compressor built to run for extended periods of time. I've been through 3 cheaper compressors and now have a workhorse 2 stage 80 gallon (which of course are $1500+) and I have a 26 gallon portable husky which actually does pretty good. Trust me when I say this.... get a cast iron pump. The aluminum ones will go bad quick and they are alot louder. For your price range this would be the best choice in my opinion.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...0003+90401+895
Old 05-11-2008, 03:25 PM
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It really comes down to what you need though. If you need to blast for 15 minutes at a time and do it routinely... you better buy a good air compressor or you'll pull your hair out and/or burnup the compressor. Also, you really need 220 for a workhorse type compressor. If you don't have 220, then buy the biggest tank you can fit 80+ because you're only gonna get XX cfm out of the pump and it won't keep up. Even my dual stage that pulls 30amp won't quite keep up. For example, I can port throttle bodies for hours on end with my big compressor. With the 26 gallon, I can't finish one without letting it catch back up.

Don't look at HP ratings or cfm because they lie... it's marketing.
Old 05-11-2008, 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Jantzer98SS
Let me tell you from experience, for air tools like a grinder and a sand blaster you need a decent compressor. You need volume (60-80 gallon). You also need a compressor built to run for extended periods of time. I've been through 3 cheaper compressors and now have a workhorse 2 stage 80 gallon (which of course are $1500+) and I have a 26 gallon portable husky which actually does pretty good. Trust me when I say this.... get a cast iron pump. The aluminum ones will go bad quick and they are alot louder. For your price range this would be the best choice in my opinion.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...0003+90401+895
I was actually looking at that one but wasnt sure how durable it would be.
The next step was to spend $600 on an Ingersol Rand. Just didnt want to have to do it.
http://www2.northerntool.com/categor...143+771258.htm
Old 05-11-2008, 04:08 PM
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This is what we have used for the past 5 years here at the shop. I change oil often and and do regular maintance.

We do not do alot of port work but it does get heavy use. I have never had it run out on me but I do take care to give it cool down time
Old 05-11-2008, 04:44 PM
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My take is if you need more air or can wear out the $400 home depot one, then the smaller ingersol rand isn't enough compressor either. You need to step up to $1600 and get a nice industrial 2 stage on 220.

How much sand blasting do you plan to do?
Old 05-11-2008, 04:48 PM
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Not for hours at a time thats for sure. I need it for like 1 hr of blasting at a time at the most I think. Its a small cabinet blaster though not a big gun. Then I have some painting to do under the hood for now.. whole car later if all goes well. Various shop tools air wratchets and stuff. SO you think the HD husky will be good then.
Old 05-11-2008, 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by 99blancoSS
Not for hours at a time thats for sure. I need it for like 1 hr of blasting at a time at the most I think. Its a small cabinet blaster though not a big gun. Then I have some painting to do under the hood for now.. whole car later if all goes well. Various shop tools air wratchets and stuff. SO you think the HD husky will be good then.
Yes I do. It doesn't sound like you plan to do it everyday.
Old 05-11-2008, 08:40 PM
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almost ANY air compressor you could afford will have problems with a non stop one hour blast
Old 05-11-2008, 08:43 PM
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Well.... Maybe we need to start a buy a compressor for the poor guy fund..LOL


Its got to be better than what I'm doing now. Blast for 30 seconds and then wait for 2 minutes
Old 05-11-2008, 08:52 PM
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ANY of the compressors listed will do beter then that.

I am guessing to go completely non-stop would take an industrial rotary style compressor
Old 05-11-2008, 08:58 PM
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Here is agood one. It has Free shipping!
Old 05-11-2008, 08:59 PM
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Even my 80 gallon will only go 5-10 min without letting it catch up some.

Another option if you have room is to get an extra 80 gallon tank to hook to your compressor so you have more reserve. When i get heavy into work again I will run two 80 gallon compressors hooked to each other so I have twice the power and twice the reserve. Set them to come on at different pressures.

Just get the home depot one for now, it's cheap for what it will do for you now.
Old 05-11-2008, 09:07 PM
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I've heard a lot of good things about those rotary screw ones.. but alas the money thing..

I do like the idea of another holding tank though, that would give me more air before having to wait for air. That darn homedepot one is $470 delivered to


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