Shop Compressor Recommendations
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 564
Likes: 1
From: Saint George Utah
Shop Compressor Recommendations
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.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,593
Likes: 173
From: Clayton NC
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
Dave
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
From: New Caney Texas
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.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 267
From: Richmond Texas
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.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,474
Likes: 16
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13
This what I run in my shop. Continuous duty, great price. Whisper quiet.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too..._211720_211720
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too..._211720_211720
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 564
Likes: 1
From: Saint George Utah
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?
Any thoughts about a similar Craftsman?
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,593
Likes: 173
From: Clayton NC
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...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,474
Likes: 16
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13
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.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,470
Likes: 1,548
From: Camp Verde AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C1 of Year Finalist
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
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,743
Likes: 146
From: Chuckanut WA
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.
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.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,397
Likes: 1,190
From: Lexington,NC,USA
C1 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
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
Charles
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 5
From: South Dakota
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
http://www.eatoncompressor.com/page/page/504747.htm
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 374
Likes: 2
Which Compressor?
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.
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.
Advanced
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
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.
