TroyPyles

I'm looking at inexpensive 80 gallon, 5 hp, two stage compressors. I'm a bit leery of Husky and Kobalt sold by Lowe's and Home Depot. Any thoughts on Ingersol Rand - about $1000 at Tractor Supply? What other reasonably priced compressors of this nature to recommend? I'm somewhat suspicious that many are made by the same company and sold under various names.

shemp

My husky has been working fine for 4 yrs now. Shemp

Hitch

I have a 60 gallon two stage from Sears and it's performed well over the last eight years and I use it a lot. I sand blast a lot of parts so it will run for a long time when I'm blasting. With all that being said when it goes I'm going to get a nice Ingersoll-Rand.

Dave

TroyPyles

The Tractor Supply website has good reviews for the IR compressor and the $1000 price looks very good.

White 64

Check Champbell Hausfeld website, I got 5hp, 2-stage, 80gal, free shipping, no tax, made in Ohio.

SledgeHammer 2.0

From what I have heard (very loudly) is Make sure it is belt drive. I got a Sear non belt drive compressor and man is it loud. My buddy has a sears belt drive compressor and it's at least half as quite.

MiguelsC2

This what I run in my shop. Continuous duty, great price. Whisper quiet.


http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too..._211720_211720

TroyPyles

That one is similar to the one I'm looking at but its one stage and only 60 gallons. Problem with the Tractor Supply compressor is it is an in-store purchase only and there are no stores in my state.

Any thoughts about a similar Craftsman?

Hitch

You never really said what you were going to be using it for? If you were going to be sand blasting I would recommend the largest you can stand...

TroyPyles

Bead blasting and some sandblasting. Along with the typical air tool and painting uses.

kskid

The way the economy has been I would check out some pawn shops. Now days some are like walking into a tool store.

MiguelsC2

If you aren't doing large or lengthy sandblasting jobs? The IR single stage I am using is more than enough.

If you do that type of work on a professional basis? You should move up to a two stage unit with more HP.

The first 2 stage IR unit is around $1300.

AZDoug

Though not real cheap, the Quincy 2 stage as available from Northern Tool is good medium usage compressor, by medium, i mean small shop, daily use; Craftsman type are more hobbiest, infrequent use machines, get into the $2000+ range and you are good for continuous use every day. Go for a 100 gal scroll comp, and you will not only be quiet, it will last forever, but those are $$$$.

Your usage hours per day, are what should determine the comp.

I currently run a single stage belt drive SpeedAire comp, that is really too small for my needs, but it only runs 15-30 minutes total a day (sometimes an hour), though everyday.

I think i would upgrade to a Quincy 2 stage unit sometime shortly, as the SpeedAire doesn't like extended running based on how hot it gets.

Doug

K2

For a given horsepower a single stage will put out more volume if you don't require pressures above 90 PSI. It will also heat the air less and therefore produce less water in you tank and lines. You need a two stage only when you need pressures exceeding 90 psi. In a two stage there is a larger piston which compresses the air in the first stage from which it passes into a smaller cylinder which compresses it further in the second stage. Typical air pressures for two stage are 150 to 180 PSI.

For running air tools and glass bead blasting in a home shop, a 5 hp single stage works just great. Get the largest tank you can.

cbernhardt

I have an IR compressor that is about 12 years old, 80 gal, 7 HP, single stage. It ran great until last summer. It was about 95 deg out and I was sandblasting some parts, so the compressor was running continuously for about an hour until it suddenly started to make some strange sounds. The compressor had a plastic air filter which had a plastic fitting screwed into the top of the compressor. The plastic fitting had melted and little pieces of plastic had been sucked into the compressor. I thought about just getting a new compressor, but decided to clean the old one up and see if it would still work. I cleaned the head and replaced the two gaskets on the head and it has been running ever since. It now has a filter with a metal case and fitting.

Charles

builder

Go to this site and read the descriptions. There is a lot of information on what to look for when purchasing an air compressor. I own one of these and am very happy.

http://www.eatoncompressor.com/page/page/504747.htm

jimh_1962

Might I suggest craigslist??? You can find lots of used compressors for a cheap priice.

Midyearnut

I heartily recommend an Ingersoll-Rand
Mine is a T-30 80 Gal. 2 stage Vertical. It's over 20 years old, had the air filter & oil changed twice a year & is still going strong.
It's blasted quite a few full frames & countless suspension parts plus
hundreds of different parts. The list is endless. The point is, if you want a unit that's dependable, relatively quiet, long lasting, & one that you can find parts for, if necessary, go with a name brand, even if you have to stretch a little to get it. Down the road you will not regret it.
Good Luck w/ whatever you get. Bob L.

UberXY

This was the best piece of shop advice ever given to me.

I am currently using a tractor supply upright and have had no problems with it in 6 years. The ideal situation would be to build a small watertight shed up against the back of your garage and put the compressor in there.

Doc Fillem

Have had the Campbell Hausfeld from Harbor Freight (upright model) for 8 years or so. Works great, no probs. American made too.