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K.B.-826 06-19-2005 21:08:53 24.197.210.71 155048 Report to Moderator	How big of an air compressor do you need to actually do somthing? I'd mostly like to run small air tools and a paint sprayer, what kind of PSI, tank size, horsepower, CFM rating, ect. do you need there? I guess if you're going to spend that kind of money, it would be nice to run a 1/2" impact too. So, what should a guy look for? [Reply]   [No Email]
Kevin Bismark 06-21-2005 22:01:16 152.163.101.8 155193 Report to Moderator	Re: air compressor size in reply to K.B.-826, 06-19-2005 21:08:53   Get the biggest one you can afford, picked up an ingersoll rand 24.3 CFM one last summer, like the other guy's said, the HP ratings on most of them is just a scam anyway, it's what it put out that is the thing to look at, it just play's with the sandblaster I use..   [Reply]   [Send Email]
Kendall 06-21-2005 14:24:32 207.191.127.82 155170 Report to Moderator	Re: air compressor size in reply to K.B.-826, 06-19-2005 21:08:53   Go by CFM. Horsepower ratings are smoke-n-mirror trick. A REAL 5hp motor would draw over 30 amps at 120v. I was looking in a Sears tool catalog recently and they have CFM ratings on all the air tools. Check on what tools you want to use and use that as a guide. Best to get as much CFM as you can afford or you might find your compressor running all the time trying to keep up with your DA sander or some other tool (like mine, wish it were bigger)   [Reply]   [No Email]
Rod in Smiths Falls, ON, 06-21-2005 14:43:40 209.71.222.55 155171 Report to Moderator	Re: air compressor size in reply to Kendall, 06-21-2005 14:24:32   As Jay says, I bought the biggest one I could afford: a King, 5 gallon, double tank unit weighing 68 pounds. This model is widely available on the Internet for prices from $70 to $300. I have used it extensively for nailing and driving cleats for a hardwood floor. A half-inch impact wrench, to my surprise, works quite well, though it gets breathless from time to time. The guy who works on my tractors recommended the little compressor -- lent me his to try, actually. He has 150 feet of hose on his shop compressor but still bought a little one for jobs outside its radius. I may buy a heavier compressor later on, but I like the portable one for now.   [Reply]   [Send Email]
jay87t 06-20-2005 16:57:04 69.159.56.41 155107 Report to Moderator	Re: air compressor size in reply to K.B.-826, 06-19-2005 21:08:53   trust me, if you can get the biggest compressor you can afford, even if you have to wait abit and save, do it. With air compressors bigger is better, get a compressor with a 60 gallon tank or more.   [Reply]   [No Email]
TimV 06-20-2005 07:20:51 67.136.204.74 155067 Report to Moderator	Re: air compressor size in reply to K.B.-826, 06-19-2005 21:08:53   KB: About 5 years ago I bought a Craftsman 30-gallon 5.5 hp nominal (ignore horsepower ratings on the smaller compressors--if they say anything over about 1 hp they're playing fast and loose with the truth) which is a good size for a home shop. It will run a 1/2" impact, an air drill, air ratchet, die grinder, etc. with no problem. However, the key here is that it will not run any of these for any length of time without stopping to let it catch its breath. If you're doing standard homeowner stuff like spinning 5 lug nuts off a wheel then it's fine, but if you're doing extended wrenching or most certainly if you're doing things like sandblasting, grinding, sanding, or other things that require a steady stream of air then you're going to need a larger compressor. I ended up getting a good deal on a Quincy 325 (5 real hp, 80 gallon tank, 200 PSI) and my small compressor mainly now serves as a tire-pumper-upper.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Life Long Learner 08-16-2005 18:49:06 68.255.251.127 157815 Report to Moderator	Re: air compressor size in reply to TimV, 06-20-2005 07:20:51   I have a question about the bus. I just purchased a 7HP 60 Gallon air compressor. I am considering using 1/2" hose. However, I noticed that the outlet feeding the air to the hose is 3/8". Does this not negate the use of 1/2" hose. Will I get any benift if this bottleneck is in the system?   [Reply]   [Send Email]
txgrn 06-20-2005 05:03:13 209.151.116.91 155058 Report to Moderator	Re: air compressor size in reply to K.B.-826, 06-19-2005 21:08:53   Having had large and small, my current preference is about $300 and is an airless atop a vertical roll around tank. The tank is 30 gallon as I recall; stands about chest high. I run everything I want with it and being roll-around it is convient roll to the work rather than plumb the whole shop which seems to leak all the time. Also the motor is just small enough to run off a 15A 117v ac outlet. The 30 gal tank is large enough for reserve on big jobs, but small enough to pump up for just a quickie. I normally leave mine off till needed to save electricity and wear and tear on the pump. Sometimes it's a week between uses. Mark   [Reply]   [No Email]
lucasss 06-20-2005 04:59:17 209.240.205.63 155057 Report to Moderator	Re: air compressor size in reply to K.B.-826, 06-19-2005 21:08:53   get at least 60 gallon tank and 9-10 cfm.. the more cfm the better. lucas   [Reply]   [No Email]
old 06-19-2005 21:30:43 207.69.138.199 155050 Report to Moderator	Re: air compressor size in reply to K.B.-826, 06-19-2005 21:08:53   At least a 20 gallion tank, PSI is almost standard at 120. CFM is the big one 7 is just enough for most things but and heres the big one 7 will just get you by for most air tools, paint gun its good if not over kill but for an impact, drill or grinder you should lok for some thing around 10cfm or more. In this case bigger is better and you will always be happy with it if you go bigger.   [Reply]   [Send Email]