Compressor 80 or 60
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 450
Likes: 6
Compressor 80 or 60
What brand compressor is good but not over doing it. I think I want an 80 gallon so I can run a sand blaster and air tools without issue but would like to hear what peoples thoughts are.
There seems to be so many opinions on the brand its hard to get honest reviews.
There seems to be so many opinions on the brand its hard to get honest reviews.
Last edited by Mikesfreetime; Dec 17, 2013 at 10:13 AM. Reason: Add word
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
I got a 60 gallon Husky at Home Depot. I think it's made by Campbell Hausfield and I have never had a problem with it. I don't use a sand blaster but I did use a needle scaler for long periods of time. But if you think you want an 80 gallon, get it. You will never regret having more capacity than you need but you will regret not having enough capacity.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
80 gal will certainly give the home shop all you will ever need. I have a 60 gal kobalt. I don't think I could justify going up to the 80. The 60 runs my bead blast cabinet, die grinder, and hvlp spray gun just fine. Plus it takes up a little less floor space.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
In my experience If you want to do a significant amount of sandblasting you need a compressor that puts out at least 12 to 18 cfm at 90 psi and if you want the compressor to last you can't regularly exceed the duty cycle.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
I have a 60 gal Kobalt also that I bought from Lowe's probably 7 years ago. Never had a problem with it and it gets used a lot. 60 gal's seems to be plenty for me.
More than enough air to keep up with a bead blast cabinet, paint cars, and run all the air tools. For the $$$ its a great hobby compressor. A 2 stage would be nice, as its' a lot quieter, but this one is fine for what I use it for.
Here's the specs on it:
More than enough air to keep up with a bead blast cabinet, paint cars, and run all the air tools. For the $$$ its a great hobby compressor. A 2 stage would be nice, as its' a lot quieter, but this one is fine for what I use it for.
Here's the specs on it:
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 450
Likes: 6
I have a 60 gal Kobalt also that I bought from Lowe's probably 7 years ago. Never had a problem with it and it gets used a lot. 60 gal's seems to be plenty for me.
More than enough air to keep up with a bead blast cabinet, paint cars, and run all the air tools. For the $$$ its a great hobby compressor. A 2 stage would be nice, as its' a lot quieter, but this one is fine for what I use it for.
Here's the specs on it:
More than enough air to keep up with a bead blast cabinet, paint cars, and run all the air tools. For the $$$ its a great hobby compressor. A 2 stage would be nice, as its' a lot quieter, but this one is fine for what I use it for.
Here's the specs on it:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Yes, you're not going to notice much difference between a 60 gal and an 80 gal, the CFM output is more important. Ask about the duty cycle on the compressor, if its 50% keep in mind that you should only have the compressor running 1/2 hour out of every hour. I had a 60 gal 12 CFM at 90 psi compressor which handled most everything I wanted to do with it but it had a 50% duty cycle but I often ran it for an hour or so continuous and it did eventually give out. Sandblasting generally requires the most air compared to any other compressor use in autobody. If you're doing small parts you won't have any problem, but a whole frame for example is going to use up all of 12 cfm @90 psi for the entire time you're blasting.
Last edited by Priya; Dec 17, 2013 at 01:23 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
The sandblasting will kill you and realistically you need at least 18cfm@100psi if you don't just want to play around forever.
Forget all the box store lookalikes and get a real industrial one, used. Will last you a lifetime. The best ones run about 600-700 rpm and are quiet.
Search for an IR Type 30 5hp minimum.
PS
You can always add extra/bigger tanks in the system any time and in doing so makes a big difference in compressor runtime.
Forget all the box store lookalikes and get a real industrial one, used. Will last you a lifetime. The best ones run about 600-700 rpm and are quiet.
Search for an IR Type 30 5hp minimum.
PS
You can always add extra/bigger tanks in the system any time and in doing so makes a big difference in compressor runtime.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
Sandblasting. Wow. That will eat an air compressor alive. Between that and my die-grinder, I'm surprised my 5hp 60 gallon Craftsman is still alive.
Bigger is better. Bigger tank is better. Higher storage pressure is better. More HP is better. All 3 combined is better-better-better.
Bigger is better. Bigger tank is better. Higher storage pressure is better. More HP is better. All 3 combined is better-better-better.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I think whether you're going to need a 12 cfm@90 60 gal compressor or an 18cfm@90 20 gal compressor is going to depend on how much you intend to get into autobody. If you're just planning on doing your Corvette, even if you plan on blasting the frame I think the smaller unit will do for you as a fiberglass car needs a lot less air tool work than a rusty metal car. If you plan on doing several cars and most of them metal you're going to wish you had the bigger compressor. As you can see from the responses many figure the 60 gal/13cfm unit is adequate and many think you need at least 80gal/18cfm - its because there's a lot of variation in what people do with a home compressor.
I used to run a 12CFM@90 60 gal 5 hp compressor and also had a 6.3@90 2hp 20 gal compressor I'd link into it for higher demand jobs like sand blasting. Between the two I never had insufficient air and most of the time the 12CFM unit was adequate. Having said that I blew both of those up eventually and now have an 80 gal 30CFM@100 compressor which so far considerably exceeds my needs, lol.
I used to run a 12CFM@90 60 gal 5 hp compressor and also had a 6.3@90 2hp 20 gal compressor I'd link into it for higher demand jobs like sand blasting. Between the two I never had insufficient air and most of the time the 12CFM unit was adequate. Having said that I blew both of those up eventually and now have an 80 gal 30CFM@100 compressor which so far considerably exceeds my needs, lol.
Last edited by Priya; Dec 18, 2013 at 02:16 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 450
Likes: 6
I notice tractor supply has a 5 HP 60 gallon IR for 600+ and Lowes appears to have the same one for 1300+? Are they made by diferent resellers or am I missing somthing?
http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/...=&cm_vc=-10005
http://www.lowes.com/pd_494723-28309...3D1&facetInfo=
http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/...=&cm_vc=-10005
http://www.lowes.com/pd_494723-28309...3D1&facetInfo=
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Not sure what the difference is if any but I note they have 100% duty cycle which is a big bonus. I think you'd be happy with that unless you're doing a number of rusty metal cars.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,890
Likes: 7
From: Newcastle Oklahoma
Get a eaton or quincy. Get as much as you can afford, it will last a very long time. Get one with a good drain system.
Here is good layout diagram. The layout is very important, running the down pipes as shown will really help on the water problems.
https://www.tptools.com/tech-metal-piping.dlp
Here is good layout diagram. The layout is very important, running the down pipes as shown will really help on the water problems.
https://www.tptools.com/tech-metal-piping.dlp