Air Compressor help

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fl 71

fl 71

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This has more than likely been kicked around before but just moved to the Milwaukee area and looking for a air compressor for home use in the range of 5hp. 60 gal. 2 stage. Not looking for the cheapest but the most bang for the buck. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Anything belt drive. Direct drive are noisy and dont last.
 
fl 71 said:
This has more than likely been kicked around before but just moved to the Milwaukee area and looking for a air compressor for home use in the range of 5hp. 60 gal. 2 stage. Not looking for the cheapest but the most bang for the buck. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Craigslist will be your friend on this one.
 
I bought a Campbell Hausfeld about 20 years ago and still use it. Replaced the motor once and the comp unit once. Model # VT627504AJ. I use this thing almost every day.
 
I got mine from Northern Tool about a year ago. It's the size you are interested in, but it's a single stage. They make the same thing in two stage. I like mine a lot, mostly because it runs quietly. I got a pretty good deal on it, I think it was about $550 delivered.
 
Screenshot_20190122-184810_Chrome.jpg
 
If possible you want a belt drive cast iron pump. NO "oil less." Go by CFM and by wary of that and be wary of modern motor HP ratings., "They lie."

Also be wary of used tanks. They can explode. If possible devise your own hydro test
 
any sandblasting?

CFM, CFM, CFM.
 
If you will be doing body work or just running a small impact!? Your use is the question. If me, get the most air for the $$ that YOU will need. Make a room of it too!
 
Two stage 60 gal are not as numerous as the 80 gal models but there are some. I have been looking at the Quincy shown above, at Northern Tool. There is a store in West Allis you can pick up at. At least when you buy new you should have a warranty to fall back on but that $1400 sticker price has been too hard to swallow. Harbor Freight has a 60 two stage for $800 that gets decent reviews and is likely the best you are going to do new. CL is a crap shoot for availability and quality. Might do better looking at the local industrial auction sites.
 
I got my 32 CFM true 5 HP Bel-Air former body shop compressor maintained with Amsoil for $700 off CL about 5 years ago.

Has been a GREAT investment.

Before that I had a 9 CFM 110/240 DeWalt/Emglow, and while the 110/240 was nice, the 3 HP dual voltage motor crapped out and was $800 to replace, or $500 to replace with a 110 only motor. At 9 CFM that unit was marginal for sandblasting anything larger than a bracket.
 
fl 71 said:
This has more than likely been kicked around before but just moved to the Milwaukee area and looking for a air compressor for home use in the range of 5hp. 60 gal. 2 stage. Not looking for the cheapest but the most bang for the buck. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

My old Campbell Hausfeld unit finally threw a rod. I went to Harbor Freight before the tariffs kicked in and got a 2 stage 220v unit. I changed the oil in it after the first air pressure cutoff, and will change it again after the next few dozen air pressure builds. After that, it will get Amsoil synthetic air compressor oil.

I replumbed the old 60 gallon tank into the new unit's tank to increase my air capacity. Also, don't forget to run 100 feet of galvanized pipe slanted upward after the air compressor and before your water trap to cool down the compressed air and condense the water vapor. I've never even gotten a drop of water in my water trap, but drain significant amounts of water out of the ball valves at either end of the galvanized pipe.
 
Check Eaton compressors. I have one in my equipment shop and one on service truck. I have Ingersoll that I bought out of Dodge dealership
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As for power...

For several years I ran mine off of a 125' pre-made #10 metallic flex cable run purchased at Lowes.
Just use the white for the second leg of the 220.

#10 is rated for 30 amps even at 125'
If your motor draws less at startup, #12 is rated for 20 amps.

A 220 motor is more efficient than a 110
 
I worked for Ingersoll rand years ago. IR is proud of their stuff but it is good. I like Quincy compressors too. They are not #1 and may have something to prove so they might be better on price if you are buying new. In the used market you may find a jewel or a fund.
 
Get the largest tank and the most CFM your budget can afford. PERIOD. End of story.
 
Agree, but,

... more CFM will make up for tank size real quick.
 
#19-

That's a good deal.

Hard to find more than 10 CFM under $1000.
 
YY1 said:
#19-

That's a good deal.

Hard to find more than 10 CFM under $1000.
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No doubt. Those numbers are almost the same as the Ingersol 60 gal two-stage that costs twice as much.
 
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