Home shop air compressor sugestions.

[gundog]

My air compressor just died broken connecting rod. It was an oil less and I am glad its dead sorta I didn't want to replace it right now. This one was a standup tank single phase 220 volt 5HP. I use this thing a couple times a week and this one made it 10 years. Has anyone researched these things I want to replace it soon and I don't want another oil less it was very noisy. I run a few air tools and use it for an air supply for my mill mister so it gets a lot of off and on.

What have you guys got and do you like it? How much did you have to give? Should I replace the whole thing the tank seems ok maybe just the compressor & motor. I don't think I can reuse the motor because the compressor portion seems to be all bolted together in one unit.

I would like to maybe go to a 2 stage.
Any advice would be great I need a new one yesterday. Cost will be a factor of course I want the best for nothing just kidding.
Thanks Mike

[Dawai]

www.eatoncompressor.com

they got smaller ones too.

The best compressor I could find. Cheap as the "lied" output CH one nearly. A monster V4 10hp compressor running 7.5hp motor geared slower. A true 1750rpm motor, requires a 50 amp circuit to it thou. pressure switch set at 150psi, has a unloader valve you toggle to run full time, switches the valves in and out for sandblasting. Has a sight glass for oil level. Two air filters.

Problems? the paint job they put on it sucks. I got red paint on my hands as I unloaded it. Quiet thou, you can talk on the phone in the same room with it running.

You need help putting it into place, I did, but I did it alone. Heavy enough if it body-slams you, you stay there. I could snatch and move the CH one. It did cut me to the bone once thou, not deburred.. I leave the big red one alone.

Anyways, after a while, I'd buy another.. I hope this one lasts me a long time thou.

[motomoron]

No more oil-less compressers. Ever.

I lived with a succession of those miserable, noisy things for years, and started searching for a "proper" compressor when I was down to one 5hp-25 gallon DeVilbiss that was on it's last legs.

My criteria were:

5-7 hp
60-80 gallons
American made
Cast iron 2 cylinder pump
Preferably 2 stage
Nice condition
Under $750

I looked at eBay, surplus sites, Craigslist in a 250 mile radius, asked people-essentially beat the bushes for 6 months. I looked at a few dogs, looked at a nice one that was local but on ebay and was bid out of sight.

Finally, on the local Craigslist I found a perfect condition Speedaire 5hp-60 gallon, cast iron, 2 stage compressor that had literally been used to inflate tires at a shop that worked on handicapped transit vans. The shop was closing and the seller was very motivated. I got it for $350, and also ended up with a nice Millermatic 185 mig for another $450.

Keep looking, the one you want is taking up valuable space in someone else's basement or garage. Buy American if you can. An Ingersoll-Rand T30 is nice, as are Quincys. Search for Forrest Addy's treatise on selecting a compressor, it's sage advice as one would expect.

[lenord]

Yeah, what David and Motormoron said.

IIRC, there is a place on the practicalmachinists site that has Forrests article on compressors. Worth a read for most anyone.

Lenord

[dp]

My air compressor just died broken connecting rod. It was an oil less and I am glad its dead sorta I didn't want to replace it right now.

Show up in Bellevue WA with a hunnert bux and a pickup truck and you can have this gorgeous classic - the tank needs to be tossed, but the pump is rock solid. http://HawglyDavidson.com/uglypump/

I was going to refurb it but age, a failing heart, and opportunity are passing me by and I don't have time left even for the important stuff. You have to have a fondness for old stuff which I do, but this really is a neat old pump. Flyweights and mechanical pressure relief - oil bath bottom end. Your tank and motor and this pump and you have a pump that's been working for nearly a century and will probably go into the next.

[Dawai]

The site above, they sell bare compressors, motors too. You don't save much like that thou. by the time you add in the extras throwed in on the big arsed compressor like the water dump, and other things. That water dump solonoid, I'll get busy welding or something concentrating, that thing will Pop and blow and I will nearly wet myself.

If you had a motor, you'd need a pump, you need both. If you plan on painting cars, you need more than 5real hp. If you plan on sandblasting, really you need 10 or more.

Forrest did a story on air compressors here a year or so back. Good reading.

[Ron Horton]

Greetings everybody, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
About 10 years ago, I needed a compressor for a cabinet shop-- I found one at a place that sold military surplus equipment in Sacramento, CA.-- It was a 220 V 3ph, 7.5 HP motor driving a huge 2 stage compressor, all mounted on a 70 gal tank-- I never could use all the air this unit produced, and it was quiet-- I paid $350.00, and they loaded it on the truck-- Plus a 1 year warranty-- When I need another, I'll look at a surplus sales place first-- I know this had been reconditioned, but for the money, who cares-- Hope this helps--- Best regards, Ron

"I know I just had it a minute ago"

[speedy]

I have had no problems with Fusheng pumps. For homeshop use the TA65 is a good, solid, simple unit. 3 cylinder and they last for years. I see that this crowd have them over your way; there must be more suppliers though?

http://www.airtekltd.com/fusheng_a.htm

[A.K. Boomer]

I have had a Puma for the past 14 years, just a little 3 horse 30 gal tank, its a V/2 with a cast pump, oil, U.S.A. and priced very reasonable, its only a single stage but when i first got it i removed the head gaskets and tweeked the pressure switch --- it was rated for 90 or 110 psi but its been kicking out 150 psi for over 14 years with moderate use, never a prob. -- major neglect, broke it in and changed the oil, thats the one oil change she's ever had, has a sight glass and the level has stayed the same and the oil looks brand new...

[hitnmiss]

I'll second Boomers Puma reccomendation. I have a 110V two cylinder (not two stage) vertical. It's one of the quietest "home style" compressors I've ever seen. Quiet was #1 on my list of requirements when I replaced my 2 month old oiless. The oiless would literally chase you out of the garage.

I often wondered if you could interrogate Saddam Hussein with one of those things, park him in a garage with a oilless for 10 hours and ask him what you need to know, no answers=10 more hours of that miserable compressor!