Need a new air compressor

-
SGBARRACUDA

SGBARRACUDA

ROY
Legendary Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2006
Messages
22,009
Reaction score
10,662
Location
PLANT CITY FL.
Well my old Compair-Kellog 220 single phase 5 HP air compressor is getting weak. Since I have found out it was only made a couple of years 1984-1985, there are no parts available for me to rebuild the pump.
I need some real life feedback on a good compressor. I need at least 12 CFM @ 90 PSI.
I’d like a 60-80 gallon tank. I also like horizontal style but most are vertical style. I’ve read all the BS on different ads and quite frankly I’m tired of having smoke blown up my ***. I would like to hear from you guys as to what really works and has a track record. Thanks in advance.
 
NorthStar Electric Air Compressor — 3.7 HP, 60-Gallon Vertical Tank | Northern Tool

I have this one and have been very happy with it. I've had it about four years or so. It got light use in the beginning, but lately I've had it humming for hours at a time using the needle scaler and it keeps up no problem. I also like that it is pretty quiet. It can be running and you can have a conversation standing right next to it.
 
Quincy has 5 horse 80 gallon vertical compressors. QT series. Here's a link. Download the QT pdf file. It's the sales brochure for them.
Something like 17+ cfm delivered at 175 psi @ 1060 rpm.

QT
 
halfafish said:
NorthStar Electric Air Compressor — 3.7 HP, 60-Gallon Vertical Tank | Northern Tool

I have this one and have been very happy with it. I've had it about four years or so. It got light use in the beginning, but lately I've had it humming for hours at a time using the needle scaler and it keeps up no problem. I also like that it is pretty quiet. It can be running and you can have a conversation standing right next to it.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. The specs on that one are 11.5 @90PSI. My biggest issue right now is with my blasting cabinet. The one I have now doesn’t begin to keeping up with it, but it is old. The cabinet calls for 12@ 90 PSI. I’m afraid this one isn’t quite big enough.
 
blast cabinets take tons of constant air get a screw compressor but they are way out of most every bodies budget especially mine good luck
 
Definately a Quincy.... they sell them different places, but I get the TIP TOOLS catalog, so they advertise them in there, and if you call them.. I believe they also offer free shipping on them, sometimes. Just a note..... my best friends grandfather worked at a average size shop back in the day called AIR ENGINEERING, and I believe they had 4 workers, and they could fix any kind of air tool they made, as they were all rebuildable. His g-pa said QUINCY is THE BEST!!! RIP WALT..95 yrs old and a great man!
 
I just bought a Quincy QT5 80 gallons, runs strong and quiet, got a good deal locally. Made in USA. Thanks to @toolmanmike

F808B6E2-1B8D-41F5-BACA-2D7D22D9482D.jpeg
 
Heads-up. I have an old blast cabinet too. I have up-graded it with larger window, more efficient lighting and a better simple gun. The new gun has replaceable jets to more tailor it to the smaller compressor that I have. Now I can blast much longer w/o running out of air. My compressor is 5hp, 60 gal., 10cfm at 100 psi, 220v.
 
SGBARRACUDA said:
Thanks for the reply. The specs on that one are 11.5 @90PSI. My biggest issue right now is with my blasting cabinet. The one I have now doesn’t begin to keeping up with it, but it is old. The cabinet calls for 12@ 90 PSI. I’m afraid this one isn’t quite big enough.
Click to expand...

Blast cabinet says it all.... A 15CFM will do pretty good. There could still be some interruption to be honest. The one I have at home now is over 20 and it will cycle off using the cabinet.

As for brands, it's all about your willingness to spend. The one in my garage now is a twin cylinder Husky that got the brakes beat off it for about 5 years (production environment.) The one at my dad's which has seen a ton of use (blast cabinet also) came from Northern tools in the mid 90's. Both have been trouble free....

Quincy and IR do make some nice stuff. If you are going to upgrade consider a stand alone water separator while you are at it. It's a game changer...

JW
 
I do have a inline water separator and I plumbed the lines with a drop pipe and water drain valve just inside the shop ( compressor is outside the shop)under a lean to. Is this sufficient?
 
Hi Roy,

Maybe this is or is not your cup o tea. But a 220V twin piston pump 60 gallon upright husky is what I have. It will maintain 90psi running constant. Enough to use a china freight bucket sand blaster. I made a 1/2" thick aluminum plate for under it out of two 1/4" plates I cut out, clamped and had somebody TIG weld together for me. I bolted on old craftsman tool box castors.

Some people say that will make it walk around the shop. It doesnt. If you set the wheel locks it wont move, and actually cushions the noise a little. Plus I can easily wheel it outside on cold days, close the shop door and let it make all its racket outside. I added a short brass standpipe to the drain, with a 90° elbow on the bottom and a 1/4 turn ball valve. The plate has a hole in the middle for the pipe to drop below it. Attached to the ball valve is a clear vinyl hose. There is a hole drilled in the bottom of my shop wall that the hose pokes out of. Periodically I open the valve to drain the tank, and it blows into the yard. The brass standpipe collects the water and it prevents it from sitting in the bottom of the tank and rotting it out.

Hope this helps
Matt

20200606_183613.jpg


20200606_183547.jpg


20200606_183601.jpg


20200606_183539.jpg


20200606_183443.jpg
 
Last edited:
This is what I’m using now days. It was a great unit that has served me well. Just can’t keep up with the demand.

A5B2E6F6-5CBE-4F0F-BFA2-089630BB734C.jpeg
 
SGBARRACUDA said:
I do have a inline water separator and I plumbed the lines with a drop pipe and water drain valve just inside the shop ( compressor is outside the shop)under a lean to. Is this sufficient?
Click to expand...

What's your budget, Roy? I know you want a good one. Why not call Air Compressor Sales in Macon since you come this way every now and then?

https://aircompsales.com/
 
toolmanmike said:
Quincy has 5 horse 80 gallon vertical compressors. QT series. Here's a link. Download the QT pdf file. It's the sales brochure for them.
Something like 17+ cfm delivered at 175 psi @ 1060 rpm.

QT
Click to expand...

Ahh the sales literature trick.... listing a high pressure of 175psi. The uninformed folks would think it’s a great air compressor (compared to the 100psi rated unit beside it) without realizing hardly any tools require 175psi and free air delivered is a lot lower at that pressure compared to 100psi. Plus cranking your pressure up exacerbates cfm lost to leaks. There’s not much need to operate any system above 100 psi unless you’re blowing PET bottles or the odd application that requires 125 or 140 psi.

Some peeps then get lured by the crazy cfm ratings too. A good rule of thumb for a piston compressor is no more than 4cfm/hp at 100psi. 15cfm from a 2hp compressor at 90 or 100psi isn’t going to happen.
 
Last edited:
Quincy is the way to go. Ingersol rand used to be good but they went cheap and only the high end ones are good quality. Here is the quincy I bought a few years back. I dont regret it one bit. It will keep up with sandblasting all day long and run any air tools with no problems. Two DA sanders at once...no problem.
Just make sure you have sufficient electric to run it. If not, step down to the 5 hp model.
Quincy QT-7.5 Splash Lubricated Reciprocating Air Compressor with MAX Package — 7.5 HP, 230 Volt, 1 Phase, 80 Gallon Vertical, Model# 271C80VCBM | Northern Tool

Oh, another huge plug about this thing is its amazingly quiet. (1750 rpm motor is key)
22.6 cfm @ 175psi!!
 
Last edited:
Or keep your old tank in conjunction with the new compressor and its tank. Use the old tank for additional volume.
 
moparmat2000 said:
Or keep your old tank in conjunction with the new compressor and its tank. Use the old tank for additional volume.
Click to expand...

Very good tip here. Many systems do not have enough storage capacity. Adding a receiver (tank) at the opposite end of the system will help out a lot.
 
I have a Husky at home. 5hp 60 gallon. Only single stage tho. I dont sandblast at 90, I try it at 50-60 psi 1st, then go up if need be. Media lasts longer that way I think.
At the water plant I run we use a Quincy to operate some plant equipment. We use something else to run tools and auxiliary stuff. If your tank is good dont get rid of it, reuse it as Matt and Moparmike said.
What about a 2 stage? I haven't looked deep into it, but will when I start looking at compressors
 
The main reason I’m not considering a new pump is that I don’t know the condition of my old tank. It is 36 years old.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top