Kobalt 60gal Air Compressor at Lowes?
03-12-2008, 08:00 PM
#21
Granted, I've never painted a car, but if anything you might need to be patient. I used my 30 gallon craftsman to paint all of the cabinets in our kitchen and it worked ok. I kept the pressure constant at the gun, but the compressor ran continually it seemed. So going with a bigger compressor and a more powerful one can only help.
03-13-2008, 09:46 AM
#22
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (14)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Kobalt compressors have tags on them stating what they are good for and only marginal for. You probably could find that info on there webpage too.
01-02-2010, 09:04 AM
#25
My Then, it was downhill from there.
1. Motor took a ****. Thier "warranty" is bullshit. Read the fine print. Then, try to deal w/ the "warranty center". On hold for 1/2 hr! Never did get a live pickup.
2. Pressure switch contacts went south.
3. Store mgr gave me a ration of BS, as I was going to take it back. NOPE!
We rewired the system to use low amp draw on the pressure switch. [Installed a relay]
Ended up getting a GE 7HP motor from Tractor Supply. It started 1 time, and blew up. No replacement. "we don't handle that anymore. Too many problems".
Went back to the original motor, took it apart, and wired the power directly to bypass the shitty little push on connector board.
Been working fine, since that fiasco.
Bottom line: Compressors are no different that other tools..Cheap **** doesn't last.
01-04-2010, 03:46 PM
#27
Yeah, I got rid of my 60gal Kobalt after it died. Got about 2 years of hard use out of it though. Paid 445$ and sold it with a blown pump in a garage sale for 175$. 
Picked up an 80gal Ingersoll-Rand T30 single phase 2 stage and it can't do any wrong! You get what you pay for in some situations.
Picked up an 80gal Ingersoll-Rand T30 single phase 2 stage and it can't do any wrong! You get what you pay for in some situations.
01-04-2010, 04:32 PM
#28
I ended up getting an older Craftsman 2-stage, 60 gallon, 175psi unit that was in pristine condition. It had been sitting for 2-3 years after a dealership shutdown. I brought my bro-in-law with me who has worked as a mechanic at dealerships for 20+ years and has serviced quite a few compressors. He was impressed with it. Considering I got it for $250, I was quite happy. It's now been running trouble free for well over a year without a hiccup. It kicks on at 150psi, and shuts off at 175psi and takes about 30-40 seconds to do that.
I have my reguator turned down to 100psi, and the extra capacity and psi is nice. I actually mounted the compressor in the basement, adjacent to the garage and ran the line up into the garage. So now the compressor is actually quieter than the furnace in the basement, and I gained floor space.
I have my reguator turned down to 100psi, and the extra capacity and psi is nice. I actually mounted the compressor in the basement, adjacent to the garage and ran the line up into the garage. So now the compressor is actually quieter than the furnace in the basement, and I gained floor space.
01-13-2010, 06:58 PM
#30
TECH Resident
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: On the coast of somewhere
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
We paint airplanes with that same size. Yes, it is a pain at times and we beat it to death. I really suprised it still runs after 3 years. To answer your question, yes it'll shoot paint for a car just fine.
06-16-2011, 09:12 PM
#31
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looks like a couple of the Kobalt compressors are on sale for fathers day. The 80gal is 20% off at Lowes: $639. Plus what should be 5% off with a Lowes credit card. Is this a great deal? I've got my eye out for something of that size, but I'm not quite to the stage of wiring up my new garage for electricity. So I don't need it yet, but if it's well worth it I may want to grab it now. But I don't really want to burn 8 months or maybe even a year of the warranty if I'm just storing it until I get the electricity finished (yes, I'm busy and slow and doing it mostly myself). Plus I'd HATE to find a better deal later. Any opinions?
06-17-2011, 07:49 AM
#32
Looks like a couple of the Kobalt compressors are on sale for fathers day. The 80gal is 20% off at Lowes: $639. Plus what should be 5% off with a Lowes credit card. Is this a great deal? I've got my eye out for something of that size, but I'm not quite to the stage of wiring up my new garage for electricity. So I don't need it yet, but if it's well worth it I may want to grab it now. But I don't really want to burn 8 months or maybe even a year of the warranty if I'm just storing it until I get the electricity finished (yes, I'm busy and slow and doing it mostly myself). Plus I'd HATE to find a better deal later. Any opinions?
Since you're not ready for it yet, I would just wait.. thats just more time to find a great deal.
06-20-2011, 04:53 PM
#35
12 Second Club
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Allen, MI
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I picked up the 80 gallon the other day. It is not the exact compressor that I want, but for the price it is a good value. I really wanted to buy an IR unit, but could not justify ~$300 more dollars. Not to mention the IR has a 60 gallon tank. Now the dilemma is to sell my 26 gallon Coleman that is 9 years old or use it for the tank. I am going to be doing lots of sand blasting and repainting my trailer. The kobalt should be able to keep up longer than I want to sand blast in the hot sun. It will be nice though to not have to wait for the compressor to catch up every few minutes like I did with the poor Coleman.
What compressor oil and filters/water separators does everyone use? I think I am just going to pick up some no name synthetic oil and an IR filter from TSC.
What compressor oil and filters/water separators does everyone use? I think I am just going to pick up some no name synthetic oil and an IR filter from TSC.
08-01-2011, 06:05 PM
#36
I bought the older 60 gallon unit that Lowes had on sale last year, snagged it for 429. It's been in my garage for a year now. Only issues I had, was when I got it home it had a faulty check valve at the compressor to tank line, guy came out and had it fixed in about a week. Kind of sucked that it was bad right from the factory, but knock on wood, it's good now.
Other issue I had was the water drain on mine was under the tank, which was a pita to get to, and when the oring on that went to hell and it was leaking, I put a couple fittings on there and a 1/4 turn 1/4 inch ball valve, and now I can easily drain the water out of it my reaching in with the toe of a shoe, which is nice. if you don't have that ability I would highly recommend putting an elbow on , an extension pipe and a small ball valve. About 20 bucks in hardware total if I remember right.
The compressor, runs alot when I'm using air tools, but it never gets to the point that the tool actually starts losing power. I have the tools regulated to 90 psi, and I plumbed an air system in my garage, 2 hose reels, a filter with a cheap dryer on it @ the start of the system. 1st hose reel has an auto oiler on it, that one gets all the use with the air tools. 2nd hose reel, gets used for tires, the "air broom" for the garage/cleaning stuff off, etc.
Came out pretty good, and so far, I'm happy with everything.
I don't know if it would support painting a car... it might, but you better be quick about the coats and let it sit and rebuild pressure between coats. FYI the older one I bought is a 10.2 cfm unit @ 90psi. The newer ones are a little more then that and probably will do even better then what I have.
Other issue I had was the water drain on mine was under the tank, which was a pita to get to, and when the oring on that went to hell and it was leaking, I put a couple fittings on there and a 1/4 turn 1/4 inch ball valve, and now I can easily drain the water out of it my reaching in with the toe of a shoe, which is nice. if you don't have that ability I would highly recommend putting an elbow on , an extension pipe and a small ball valve. About 20 bucks in hardware total if I remember right.
The compressor, runs alot when I'm using air tools, but it never gets to the point that the tool actually starts losing power. I have the tools regulated to 90 psi, and I plumbed an air system in my garage, 2 hose reels, a filter with a cheap dryer on it @ the start of the system. 1st hose reel has an auto oiler on it, that one gets all the use with the air tools. 2nd hose reel, gets used for tires, the "air broom" for the garage/cleaning stuff off, etc.
Came out pretty good, and so far, I'm happy with everything.
I don't know if it would support painting a car... it might, but you better be quick about the coats and let it sit and rebuild pressure between coats. FYI the older one I bought is a 10.2 cfm unit @ 90psi. The newer ones are a little more then that and probably will do even better then what I have.
08-03-2011, 08:22 AM
#37
On The Tree
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
we have the Kobalt 80 gallon unit and it works well BUT when it come's time to get them to work on it you will get the run around before it gets fixed if you are lucky .we had to fix it with out them.We got it from LOWs
08-04-2011, 07:51 AM
#38
My $.02 My Kobalt experience: NOT GOOD>>
5hp/80 gal, 2 stage.
1. 6 mo's in.. Pressure sw fried, took out the contact tips, fried the connectors in the motor.
2. No motors available. Found the same motor[GE], at Tractor Supply. It lasted exactly 1 start and puked. Took it back.. "Sorry, that was the last 1. We've had so many problems, we quit selling them".SOL..
3. Rewired the orig motor,[Cut the cheap assed push on lugs off and used wire nuts], added a remote relay, controlled by the NEW psi switch.[Low amp draw on the psi sw.] That worked OK...For a while.
4. 1 mo B4 the warranty expired, the compressor took a dump. Company, [once I got a live body on the line], sent me a new compressor. Unit has worked ok, for about 10 mo's.
READ what the warranty REALLY covers. That 3yr BS on the tank, may be
misleading...
This is a hobby shop operation, 1 man show, compressor used MAYBE 2 hrs/month.
I discussed compressors w/ a REAL compressor builder/repair shop:
A. Cheapos don't usually have the advertized output.
B. Look at the motor rpm...
C. The cheapos won't last long on a sand blaster of any volume.
D. And the best advice he gave me>>>>Buy a quality unit, and buy it once...
[My prior shop had a $1500 unit from Grainger.. Ran it for nearly 20 yrs...Changed the belt and the oil, cleaned the intake filter...]
NUF said!
5hp/80 gal, 2 stage.
1. 6 mo's in.. Pressure sw fried, took out the contact tips, fried the connectors in the motor.
2. No motors available. Found the same motor[GE], at Tractor Supply. It lasted exactly 1 start and puked. Took it back.. "Sorry, that was the last 1. We've had so many problems, we quit selling them".SOL..
3. Rewired the orig motor,[Cut the cheap assed push on lugs off and used wire nuts], added a remote relay, controlled by the NEW psi switch.[Low amp draw on the psi sw.] That worked OK...For a while.
4. 1 mo B4 the warranty expired, the compressor took a dump. Company, [once I got a live body on the line], sent me a new compressor. Unit has worked ok, for about 10 mo's.
READ what the warranty REALLY covers. That 3yr BS on the tank, may be
misleading...
This is a hobby shop operation, 1 man show, compressor used MAYBE 2 hrs/month.
I discussed compressors w/ a REAL compressor builder/repair shop:
A. Cheapos don't usually have the advertized output.
B. Look at the motor rpm...
C. The cheapos won't last long on a sand blaster of any volume.
D. And the best advice he gave me>>>>Buy a quality unit, and buy it once...
[My prior shop had a $1500 unit from Grainger.. Ran it for nearly 20 yrs...Changed the belt and the oil, cleaned the intake filter...]
NUF said!
08-04-2011, 07:56 AM
#39
I got the I guess that's what one can expect, when dealing with the constant turn over in such places...
The store mgr, once I found him actually working, got an ear full.
In the FWIW dept>>> Tractor Supply sells a good compressor w/ remote relay start, etc.
08-04-2011, 08:01 AM
#40
I agree 100% that they're not up to the standard of an ingersoll or the like... if you're buying it for your home, depending on how much you use it, I think it will work o.k. But, if the price is not the driving factor, I would go with a better one.
In my case I always wanted, and needed a compressor to run in the garage, and when I saw the 60 gallon job go on sale for 429 I figured what the hell.
Fwiw, the repair guy told me when he came out that he generally doesn't go look at the 60 gallon ones very often, he said it usualyl is the 80 gallon ones that have issues...
And, he also told me that a different compressor and motor can go on very easily if either die on me.. it's nothing more then a mounting plate away from being doable. Still only have a 60 gallon tank, but like the service guy told me, I could replace the pump, and the motor and the pressure switch for less money then it would cost me to do another one so ya still really didn't go wrong.
Tank, as long as you keep the water drained, should last for a very long time.
In my case I always wanted, and needed a compressor to run in the garage, and when I saw the 60 gallon job go on sale for 429 I figured what the hell.
Fwiw, the repair guy told me when he came out that he generally doesn't go look at the 60 gallon ones very often, he said it usualyl is the 80 gallon ones that have issues...
And, he also told me that a different compressor and motor can go on very easily if either die on me.. it's nothing more then a mounting plate away from being doable. Still only have a 60 gallon tank, but like the service guy told me, I could replace the pump, and the motor and the pressure switch for less money then it would cost me to do another one so ya still really didn't go wrong.
Tank, as long as you keep the water drained, should last for a very long time.