Thread: air compressor info

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I have a chance to buy an air compressor, it's a single stage, 60 gal, 220 volt,
it has cast iron pump with an aluminum head made by Nortern Industrial for $260. This is a new compressor. What I wanted to know is if this compressor with the aluminum head is worth buying ??? It's a big enough compressor for what I do but don't want to get ripped off.

Since I just went through upgrading our shop compressor, I might be able to give some helpful info.

It all depends on what you want to do and how much you intend on using it. In the compressor world, more money really does mean a better unit. For years I got by with a little Sears 20 gallon, 2 hp compressor on wheels. Painted several boats and all of my roadster with it. It would also run tools like an impact, but would not do tools that required lots of cfms like DA's or grinders.

About 8 years ago we moved up to one like you are describing. 60 gallon, 6 HP, and it was much better, but still would not support DA's for very long or sandblasters. (It could not keep up and ran continuously) So we added a second identical unit, except 7 hp. They would still run continuously when trying hi demand tools, until the first unit finally burned up and we started to canabalize it for parts to keep the other one alive.

Last month I decided to upgrade, but didn't want to lay out $ 2000 for the one I wanted, so I bought a 3 cylinder compressor head (only) and an industrial 5 hp motor for Eaton compressor co. Although it is only 5 hp 220 volt, this motor is at least twice the size of the other motors I had and weighs 110 lbs. I had to build a special steel base out of 2 x 4 tubing for it to sit on, and used one of the former 60 gallon tanks in conjunction with it.

I finally got it running last week and what a difference. You can't hear it running hardly, and it only runs for a minute to refill when grinding or DA-ing. Haven't used the sandblast cabinet with it yet, but I know it will be much better. I am in for only a thousand bucks doing it this way.

Anyway, if you are just the occasional hobbiest and don't plan on using tools like a DA sander or sandblast cabinet, you will probably be ok. Obviuosly, an aluminum compressor is not as good as a cast iron version, and two cylinders are better than one, but it all depends on your budget and needs.

Hope this long story sheds some light for you.

Don

Hope (since you didn't make reference to it specifically) when you say "...big enough for what I do...." you're referring to cfm of output at working pressure because that's probably the most important spec. People get all wrapped around h.p. and tank size and iron vs. aluminum which is all interesting stuff, but it's where the razzle dazzle snake oil sales stuff happens. First consideration should be cfm output to match the tools you're going to use and the duty cycles. Some folks think you have to have a two stage to get the job done. Two stage is good for building higher pressures, but most of what we do with cars doesn't need over 125psi. Higher pressure is not the same as higher volume. A high volume single stage is just fine if it's a good, and properly sized unit.

As for your specific question, personal opinion here, i'd be a little leary of the difference in expansion rate between iron and aluminum. In the short run, and in light duty service, it's probably a none issue. If you're filling bicycle tires once in a while it's fine. If you're going to be running a d.a., bead blast cabinet, or die grinders all day and the pump has to work constantly to keep up then you probably aren't going to like it.

Look, doing stuff like that tells you loud and clear the manufacturer is building down to a price, not up to a quality rating. So buyer beware.

Edit, I see Don replied at the same time I was typing. Here's the company he's talking about www.eatoncompressor.com. If you read some of the stuff in their "single phase" listings you'll learn more. Not saying they're the only place to buy, but they are a good outfit. I have the same 3 cylinder unit Don describes and it fills the tank faster than I can empty it............that's a big part of what you want.

Bob, I'm glad to see you have done business with Eaton too and are as happy as I am. I have actually purchased two from them, the first one was for our marina. It has been running 6 days a week solid for the past two years without missing a beat, and it gets used a lot. That's why I went to them for mine.

They are a family owned and run business, and you can dial up Matt, the CEO and he will spend whatever time needed to get you good info. Something to be said for that. He also talked me out of spending more money than I did ( ) telling me I would be happy with the one I bought rather than a more expensive unit I had originally called about.

Like Bob said, read their website.........lots of good, no BS info there, even if you use that info to buy elsewhere.


Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

...... and you can dial up Matt, the CEO and he will spend whatever time needed to get you good info.
.......read their website.........lots of good, no BS info there, even if you use that info to buy elsewhere.
Don

Agreed, the kind of business most people say they'd like to buy from but can't find anymore. They're still out there, just have to work to find them.

As for the learning info, their old site was kind of rudimentary, but the good info was right up front and easy to find. Like you I've referred a lot of folks there just for the education. This "high falutin" new layout makes it harder to get the info. Think I'll send Matt an email and suggest he have a separate page for general info.

Good idea, I didn't realize that original informational page had gone away. It was very well written, and you could tell it was not simply a pitch for their products, but rather based on years and years of experience.

Don

All I would be doing is sanding and painting (from time to time) and its only me working by myself so I really don't need a big compressor. But I really don't want to waste the money either. I am concerned about the expansion between the iron and aluminum I had heard from other guys about problems they had with similar compressors.

I just went up and looked at an Ingersoll Rand basically the same setup but with the cast head, the cost was for it was $550 a bit more but I think a better deal. If my shop would take off I'll get something bigger then. I'm going to checkout Eatons website.

Rocky

Rocky,

If you have a Tractor Supply Store near you, they usually have pretty good prices on I-R compressors. They are more expensive than others but good quality.

Originally Posted by Rocky72

All I would be doing is sanding and painting ............Rocky

You need to make the decision that works for you, but just for the sake of all other curious parties who might read this, as anyone who's done sanding with a d.a. and a small output compressor has learned, it doesn't take long to get way ahead of the compressor. For the very casual worker that just means you stop working (kill your momentum?) until the compressor catches up. Then play that game all day. As for the painting let's assume you'll use an HVLP gun so that you get more efficient transfer rate (in other words more paint on the car than on the floor) of the very expensive paint. The H V part of that description stands for High Volume (of air). Again, you can play stop and catch-up, but if you're painting a whole car that's a real pain. Then there's the moisture build up from a contantly running compressor..........................

I have a Delta two stage compressor with an 80 gallon tank, then plumbed into another 60 gallon auxillary tank. It has more then enough CFM to run any air tools and works great with HVLP paint guns... A single stage is going to be working it's butt off to keep up with a DA....The harder it has to work the shorter time it's going to last. Before I bought this one, I figured out the max CFM I would ever need, then got a compressor one size bigger.... I hate running out of air.....

I know what you guys mean about running out of air, I've been painting my cars and my trucks with a 5hp 20 gal oiless compressor I would run low on air all the time and the compressor run it's self to death and would be so hot you could have fried eggs on it. I don't want to have that problem again but I don't want to spend a pile of cash either.


Rocky