Air compressor

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Tadams

Tadams

Tadams
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I've been using a craftsman compressor for 10 years or so. Still works ok but has an 11 gallon tank.
Lowe's has a kobalt 26 gallon unit that looks like it would supply everything I will need. Planning on painting my Barracuda and my dodge ram 1500 this summer.
At $298 is this a good deal
 
Tadams said:
I've been using a craftsman compressor for 10 years or so. Still works ok but has an 11 gallon tank.
Lowe's has a kobalt 26 gallon unit that looks like it would supply everything I will need. Planning on painting my Barracuda and my dodge ram 1500 this summer.
At $298 is this a good deal
Click to expand...

Hello Tadams,
It all comes down to tank capacity,output fitting size, hose size, PSI, and CFM, (to name a few) and the uninterrupted continuous duration you will use a things like a tool or paint gun in continues operation.

As an hypothetical example.
If you use a impact gun that uses 5 CFM @ 90 PSI you would be using more CFM that the compressor is making. Yes it should would work just fine for lets say a car 5 lugs an 4 wheels giving that none of the are stuck and require continues hammering of the gun to brake them loose , But if you were doing a tractor trailer with 10 lugs on 6 wheels then you would run out of capacity (CFM) before your task is done.
Also as you use the tool the if the requirement of the tool exceeds the PSI of the compressor the tool is less effective.
Both the PSI and CFM of anything you plan to use should be known and the compressor should be sized to there needs.
When running the compressor continuous the tank / air in it will become moisture laden and will effect any tool / paint gun you use.
Be sure you use some in line moisture dryer to prevent moisture from getting into tools and guns.
Also oil less compressors are not really good for continuous operation.
Typical DIY compressors.
Tank Capacity (Gallons) 26
Air Delivery SCFM @ 90PSI (CFM) 4.5
Air Delivery SCFM @ 100PSI (CFM) 4.3
Air Delivery SCFM @ 175PSI (CFM) 0
Maximum Pressure PSI 150
If I miss quoted anything please feel free to let me know.
Hope this helps,
happy Mopar:)
Arron
 
Thanks. I may have found a craftsman with a 33 gallon tank and 165 psi. A friend purchased it and disassembled his mustang. He came in as I was looking online. He said I could buy his for 150. Less than a year old. That sounds like a winner to me
 
FYI The farther from the compressor outlet that you place the water filter, the more effective it is. This gives the moisture time to cool and condense so it can be filtered out. If the filter is too close to the outlet, the moisture will still be too much of a gas to filter out properly. Compressed air is hot when being compressed as it cools the moisture separates from the air. 2 stage compressors air much more efficient than single stage and will last much longer.
 
Tadams said:
I've been using a craftsman compressor for 10 years or so. Still works ok but has an 11 gallon tank.
Lowe's has a kobalt 26 gallon unit that looks like it would supply everything I will need. Planning on painting my Barracuda and my dodge ram 1500 this summer.
At $298 is this a good deal
Click to expand...
If you're painting or using any air intensive tools, I'd go with flow and larger capacity if you have the room. I bought an 80 gallon Husky with a 14-15 cfm @90 rating, and works great. Lets me run a cut off wheel at full song long enough to cut an entire 1/4 panel off.
 
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So just because it's 298 it's a good deal? I have lots of cat turds. Would you consider giving me 298 for those?

I'm not trying to be smart here, believe it or not. You asked for advice on a compressor and gave us price ONLY. What's the CFM rating and at what PSI? Is it a cast iron or aluminum pump? Is it single or dual stage? What HP rating? What voltage? I'm not gonna let the hoe turn her trick until I see what she looks like.
 
Tadams said:
I've been using a craftsman compressor for 10 years or so. Still works ok but has an 11 gallon tank.
Lowe's has a kobalt 26 gallon unit that looks like it would supply everything I will need. Planning on painting my Barracuda and my dodge ram 1500 this summer.
At $298 is this a good deal
Click to expand...

RustyRatRod said:
So just because it's 298 it's a good deal? I have lots of cat turds. Would you consider giving me 298 for those?

I'm not trying to be smart here, believe it or not. You asked for advice on a compressor and gave us price ONLY. What's the CFM rating and at what PSI? Is it a cast iron or aluminum pump? Is it single or dual stage? What HP rating? What voltage? I'm not gonna let the hoe turn her trick until I see what she looks like.
Click to expand...

If its this one, run away. FAR away.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-QUI...e-Electric-Vertical-Air-Compressor/1000405189
 
The problem is the 1.6 hp,,, i have a 2 hp ,26 gallon craftsman, will not keep up with spray gun,paint for 5 to 10 minutes, then wait 5 minutes for compressor to catch up, i went to 6 hp 30 gallon and now i can paint for an hour without worring about pressure running low, Look at the brand paint gun or air tool you want to use, it will show the cfm needed for continual use, i think my new compressor is 9 cfm at 90 pounds, even though my spray gun says 6 cfm would be ok, but an air grinder or air file will give your compressor a trial.
 
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A good starting point for air requirements. Anything under 10cfm @90 psi is going to leave you waiting for the compressor to catch up and stressing it. These lower end machines are not typically designed for 100% duty cycle no matter what the marketing spiel says. Painting takes a LOT of air and is probably one area where you don't want to be waiting.
 
Buy one used.
Lots of people shell out for a big compressor - then never use it!
Try facebook, letgo, CL, etc.

I bought a nice 220v 60 gal compressor with a brand new pump for less that that Kobalt.
Also, you can run more than one tank chained together to increase capacity in a pinch.
Yesterday I bought a nice little vintage USA made bench grinder with stand for $40.

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No it's not a good deal. Will it do it, maybe. Will you like the results, probably not.
Take some of the money you save from doing it yourself and get a 2 stage compressor. That alone is not enough, you need to cool and filter the air. Here's my setup, trans cooler and electric fan plumbed between compressor head and tank. Just my opinion, good luck

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RustyRatRod said:
So just because it's 298 it's a good deal? I have lots of cat turds. Would you consider giving me 298 for those?

I'm not trying to be smart here, believe it or not. You asked for advice on a compressor and gave us price ONLY. What's the CFM rating and at what PSI? Is it a cast iron or aluminum pump? Is it single or dual stage? What HP rating? What voltage? I'm not gonna let the hoe turn her trick until I see what she looks like.
Click to expand...
Just so you know, I'm gonna steal " I'm not gonna let the hoe turn her trick until I see what she looks like" for my personal use. I also have lots of cat turds. Hilarious, and at the same time gets your point across... kudos to you, sir. Checked out the post as I pretty much killed my 30 yr old craftsmen compressor last summer.
 
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